Effect of integrated farmyard manure and NP fertilizers use on hybrid maize yield and soil properties in western Ethiopia

Abstract

A study was carried out to assess the effect of integrated Farmyard Manure (FYM) and inorganic NP fertilizers use on yield and soil properties in Bako-Tibe district of Oromia, western Ethiopia. Five treatments (that is, 110 kg N ha^-1 + 46 kg P²O⁵ ha^-1 (T1), 12 ton FYM ha^-1 (T2), 55 kg N ha^-1 + 23 kg P²O⁵ ha^-1 + 6 ton FYM ha^-1 (T3), 27.5 kg N ha^-1 + 11.5 kg P²O⁵ ha^-1 + 6 ton FYM ha^-1 (T4) and the control (T5)) were used in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five replications using five farmers’ fields. Yield and yield related parameters were analyzed using SAS statistical software version 9.0. Economic analysis was performed to compare treatments advantages. The treatment with half the recommended NP (55 kg N ha^-1 + 23 kg P²O⁵ ha^-1 + 6 ton FYM ha^-1) showed superior plant growth performance as compared to other treatments. Pure use of inorganic NP resulted in high Na, K, Ca and P composition of grain while pure FYM use resulted in high content of Mg and Ca composition. The level of P in grain decreased with the increasing of FYM. Soil fertility parameters considered showed no significance difference (P: 0.05) among the treatments. The mean difference values indicated that use of pure inorganic fertilizer increased soil PH, exchangeable Na, and available S. Use of pure farmyard manure resulted in an increase in the soil exchangeable Na, K, Mg, total Nitrogen, and available K and S. The use of half of the recommended inorganic fertilizer and FYM can enhance soil fertility in addition to yield improvement.

Keywords: Bako Tibe, hybrid maize, nutritional composition, participatory approach.