Effect of Blended Npsznb Fertilizer Rates on Yield and Yield Components of Bread Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) Varieties in Mao-komo, Benshangule Gumuz Regional State

Abstract

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most important cereal crop in the Poaceae (Gramineae) family originated in the Near-Eastern Fertile Crescent in the Middle East. It is the second most influential staple food crop after rice, grown in 89 countries with climates ranging from temperate to tropical but the production did not meet demand. The field experiment was conducted during 2020 cropping season in Mao-Komo District, western Ethiopia to evaluate the effects of blended NPSZnB fertilizer on bread wheat varieties. The experiment consisted of five levels of NPSZnB (0, 100, 150, 200, 250 kg ha -1 ) and four bread wheat varieties Kingbird, Danda, Shorima and Ogolcho combined factorially and laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Days to 90% maturity were delayed with increased rates of fertilizer for all varieties. The highest mean plant height (81.4cm), number of grains per spike (52.5), and harvest index (39%), leaf area (30.15cm 2 ), total tillers (6.29), productive tillers (6.1), grain yield (3.54), thousand grain weight (33.83g) and hectoliter weight (81.2) were obtained at 200 kg ha -1 NPSZnB with Kingbird variety. Moreover, the highest straw yield (7.53t ha -1 ) and spike length (8.2 cm) were recorded at 200 kg NPSZnB ha -1 with Danda variety. The highest biomass (9.97 tha -1 ) and hectoliter weight (81.2) were obtained at 250 kg ha -1 NPSZnB with Ogolcho and Kingbird varieties, respectively. The maximum net benefit (85047ETB ha -1 ) was obtained due to use of 200 kg ha -1 NPSZnB with Kingbird bread wheat variety. Due to soil acidity of the study area, use of integrated soil fertility management practices is important to improve the production and productivity of bread wheat.