Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizer Levels on Growth and Development of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) at Bore District, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Fertilizer requirement of crops vary from location to location owing to several factors. Thus there is a need to determine site specific fertilizer recommendation for specific crops. Accordingly, an experiment was conducted on the effects of different nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer levels on yield and yield components of barley at south eastern Oromia, Bore, in 2009 cropping season. The barley variety Biftu was used as test crop. It is a newly released variety from Sinana Agricultural Research Center. The experiment contained factorial combination of five levels of N (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 Kg ha-1) and four levels of P (0, 23, 46 and 69 Kg ha-1) laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications. Application of N significantly prolonged number of days to heading and maturity and grain filling period. Number of fertile tillers, total biomass and straw yield were significantly increased by application of N. However, the effect of N on plant height and number of total tillers was not significant. On the other hand, P application significantly influenced all the parameters of growth and development. Contrary to N, increase in P significantly shortened number of days to heading and maturity and grain filling period. Number of fertile tillers was significantly increased by P application. The interaction effect of N and P was significant on days to heading and number of fertile tillers. Therefore, balanced amount of N and P is very essential for appropriate growth of barley.