Effect of Integrated Application of Vermicompost and Inorganic Fertilizer on Yield and Yield Components of Bread Wheat in Shashemene District of West Arsi Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) is the combined application of inorganic with organic fertilizer for soil fertility and improving crop yield. A study was conducted in West Arsi Zone, Shashemene District on six farmers' field to determine the combined effects of vermi compost as organic fertilizer and NPS as inorganic fertilizer on grain yield of bread wheat and soil chemical properties. There were eight treatments that were replicated over farmers 'field. The analysis of variance showed highly significant differences (P≤ 0.05) between the treatments in wheat grain yield, plant height, and spike length. The highest grain yield (5130kg/ha) was obtained from T3 where 50% RNP combined with 8t/ha vermicompost followed by T7 (1275.53kg/ha) and T2 (1212.24kg/ha). The lowest grain yield was obtained from control (1944kg/ha). Composite soil samples were collected before compost application and after harvesting to evaluate the residual effect of compost on soil chemical properties. Accordingly, major soil nutrients after crop harvesting were increased at the treatments treated with maximum level of vermicompost. The partial budget analysis was done to recommend economically optimum rate of vermi compost integrated with chemical fertilizer. Accordingly, the highest net benefit (148,678.25 ETB ha-1) was recorded from treatment two where 4ton/ha vermicompost plus 50% recommended NP were applied. Therefore, 50%recommended NP plus half recommended vermi compost (4ton/ha) was economically feasible and recommended for scaling up of ISFM for bread wheat production in the district.