Seeding and Blended NPSB with Nitrogen Fertilizer Combined Rates Effect on Growth, Yield and Yield Components of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in South Ari, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in South Ari, Ethiopia. However, the productivity is below the national and regional level due to in adequate seeding rates and soil nutrition. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine rate of seeding and blended NPSB fertilizer and nitrogen on growth, yield and yield components of wheat during 2021-2022 cropping seasons. The experiment consisted of three Seeding rates (50, 100, and 150 kg ha-1), four rates of blended NPSB (0,100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1) combined with two rates of Nitrogen (50 and 100 kgha-1) fertilizer and laid out in split plot design with three replications. The results showed that phenology; growth, yield and yield components of wheat significantly affected by seeding rate and blended NPSB with N fertilizer combined rates. Increasing seeding rate and blended NPSB with nitrogen fertilizer combined rate resulted increase in crop phenology, growth, yield and yield components except harvest index where maximum was recorded at 100 kg ha-1 seeding rate and zero blended with 23 kg ha-1 nitrogen combined rate. Therefore, it is concluded that application 100 kg ha-1 seeding rate and no blended NPSB combined with 23 kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizer and or 150 kg ha-1 seeding rate and 200 kg ha-1 blended NPSB with 23 kg ha-1 combined rate found to be significant to impact wheat growth and yield at South Ari. However, further study requested in different seasons and locations under extended rates to exploit the recommendation of present study.