Effects of integrated fertilizer application on soil properties and yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) on Nitisols in Pawe District, Northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

In many parts of Ethiopia, the primary challenge limiting crop productivity is the depletion of soil fertility. Despite being one of Ethiopia's primary cereal crops, the yields of maize are currently believed to be low owing to low soil fertility, continuous farming, and poor crop management. A field experiment was carried out on the Nitisols of Pawe Research Station in northwest Ethiopia during the 2020-21 cropping season to evaluate the effects of the integrated application of farmyard manure (FYM) and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer on soil properties and maize yield. The treatments were a factorial combination of four levels of FYM (0, 5, 10, and 15 t ha^-1) and four levels of nitrogen (0, 34.5, 69, and 103.5 kg ha^-1) in the form of urea. Besides, 46 kg ha^-1 P₂O₅ fertilizer was applied for all treatments. The experiment was arranged in RCBD with three replications. The result showed that combined applications of FYM and N fertilizer significantly (p < 0.05) improved the soil pH, soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable calcium. The combined application of 10 t ha^-1 FYM and  69 kg ha^-1 N recorded the highest maize grain yield (10,035.8 kg ha^-1) and thousand-grain weight (415.97 g), while the interaction of 103.5 kg ha^-1 N and 15 t ha^-1 FYM produced the highest biomass yield (25.83 t ha^-1). The combined application of 10 t ha^-1 FYM and 69 kg ha^-1N is therefore recommended for economical production (net benefit of 81,258.7 ETB ha^-1 and acceptable MRR of 497.96%) of maize and soil fertility improvement in the study area and areas with similar agro-ecology.