Effect of lime, blended fertilizer and vermicompost on maize (Zea mays) yield in Assosa district, north-western Ethiopia

ABDISA  ABEBE; MARKKU  YLI-HALLA; LEMMA  WOGI; ABDISSA  BEKELE

doi:10.56093/ijas.v94i1.142727

Authors

ABDISA ABEBE Assosa University, Assosa, Ethiopia
Prof. Markku University of Helsinki, Finland
LEMMA WOGI School of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences, University of Haramaya, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
ABDISSA BEKELE College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, Ethiopia

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v94i1.142727

Keywords:

Blended fertilizer, Integrated application, Lime, Maize, Urea, Vermicompost

Abstract

Application of organic and mineral fertilizers improves crop productivity and availability of plant nutrients. Further investigation into their integral application is crucial to obtaining optimum crop productivity. A field experiment was conducted during 2020–21 and 2021–22 at experimental field station in Benshangul Gumuz, Assosa University, Assosa, Ethiopia to investigate the response of maize (Zea mays L.) yield to lime, blended NPSZnB fertilizer and vermicompost. Two lime levels, three vermicompost levels, and three blended fertilizer levels were factorially combined and laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The integral application of organic fertilizer with blended fertilizer with lime significantly affected the agronomic parameters. Grain yield, number of grains per cob, 1000-seed weights, plant height, and days to 50% tasseling were parameters most affected by the amendments. Integral application of 50% of the recommended rate of blended fertilizer and vermicompost with lime improved maize yield by 53%, while the application of NPSZnB and vermicompost individually improved maize yield by 34% and 22% over the control treatment. One tonne of vermicompost and lime could substitute 38 kg and 23 kg of blended fertilizer, respectively. In conclusion, the integrated application of NPSZnB and vermicompost with the recommended amount of lime was the best soil fertility management option. In terms of grain yield and net benefit, 4 t/ha lime, 2.5 t/ha vermicompost and 100 kg/ha blended fertilizers were recommended for optimum maize production in the Assosa area and similar agroecologies.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abdela T. 2023. Vermicompost and NPSZnB fertilizer levels on maize (Zea mays L.) growth, yield component, and yield at Guto Gida, western Ethiopia. International Journal of Agronomy 2023(1): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/7123826 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/7123826

Abdissa B, Kibebew K, Bobe B, Tesfaye B and Markku Y H. 2018. Effects of lime, vermicompost and chemical P fertilizer on yield of maize in Ebantu district, western highlands of Ethiopia. African Journal of Agricultural Research 13(10): 477–89. DOI:10.5897/AJAR2017.12949 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR2017.12949

Bakala A, Girma A and Sofiya K. 2022. Effect of blended fertilizer on yield, nutrient uptake and economy of maize (Zea Maize L.) in Assosa district, western Ethiopia. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences 21(1): 130–38. DOI: 10.3923/ajps.2022.130.138 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3923/ajps.2022.130.138

CSA (Central Statistical Agency of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia). 2020. Agricultural sample survey 2019–20. Report on farm management practices, Adisse Ababa, Ethiopia 3: 458–59.

CSA (Central Statistical Agency of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia). 2021. Agricultural sample survey 2020–21. Report on farm management practices, Adisse Ababa, Ethiopia 3: 477.

Dereje D, Teshome Y and Abdeta J. 2023. Determination of lime requirement with compost on acidic Ultisols for wheat crop in the Gurage Zone of Ethiopia. Applied and Environmental Soil Science 20(23): 10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/4307448 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/4307448

EARO (Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization). 1998. Annual Report of the Soil Department. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Erenstein O, Moti J, Sonder K, Mottaleb K and Prasanna B M. 2022. Global maize production, consumption and trade: Trends and research and development implications. Food Security 2022(14): 1295–1319. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-022-01288-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-022-01288-7

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 2014. FAO Agricultural Outlook. OECD publishing.

Geremew T, Bobe B and Lemma W. 2020. Applications of lime and phosphorus fertilizer to malt barley for improved yield and soil acidity at Welmera district, Ethiopia. Ethiopia Journal of Applied Science Technology 11: 39–50.

Getahun A, Muleta D, Assefa F, Kiros S and Hungria M. 2020. Biochar and other organic amendments improve the physicochemical properties of soil in highly degraded habitats. European Journal of Engineering Research and Science 5(3): 331–38. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24018/ejers.2020.5.3.1735

Kumar P, Narendra S, Ashish M and Reena L. 2018. Effect of different doses of NPK and vermicompost on growth and yield attributes of maize (Zea mays L.). Journal of Pharmacognosy and Photochemistry 7(1): 2830–832.

Majee S, Halder G, Mandal D D, Tiwari O N and Mandal T. 2021. Transforming wet blue leather and potato peel into an eco-friendly bio-organic NPK fertilizer for intensifying crop productivity and retrieving value-added recyclable chromium salts. Journal of Hazardous Materials 4(11). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125046

Mathewos B, Wassie H and Fassil K. 2023. Characterization and classification of soils of upper Hoha sub-watershed in Assosa district, western Ethiopia. Heliyon 9: 1–13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14866

Meena S.K, Bharose R, David A, Thomas T and Kumar A. 2023. Response of inorganic fertilizers and vermicompost on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) inoculated with Azotobacter, var. DHM-1. International Journal of Plant and Soil Science 35(15): 416–20. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2023/v35i153122 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2023/v35i153122

Melkamu H, Ribka M, Kidist K, Ashenafi N and Belstie L. 2021. Integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers on maize (Zea mays L.) yield and soil fertility in Andisols soil of Sidama, Ethiopia. Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research 11(1): 10–18.

MoA (Ministry of Agriculture). 2000. Agro-ecological Zonation of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Negese W and Wogi L. 2023. Lime and vermicompost application to acidic soils and their effects on maize yield and yield components in Lalo Asabi district, west Wollega Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research 21(1): 28–40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/ajaar/2023/v21i1408

Pisa C and Wuta M. 2013. Evaluation of the composting performance of mixtures of chicken blood and maize stover in Harare, Zimbabwe. International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture 2(5): 1–11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2251-7715-2-5

USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). 2022. World Agricultural Production. Foreign Agricultural Service. Circular Series WAP 8-22 August 2022. Approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board.

Wakgari T. 2022. Effect of combined application of vermicompost and NPS fertilizer rates on growth, yield, and yield components of maize (Zea mays L.) at Toke Kutaye district, Ethiopia. International Journal of Agricultural and Applied Sciences 3(2): 75–85. https://doi.org/10.52804/ijaas2022.3214 DOI: https://doi.org/10.52804/ijaas2022.3214

Wegene N, Lemma W and Tilahun G. 2021. Responses of acidic soil to lime and vermicompost application at Lalo Asabi district, western Ethiopia. Science Research 9(6): 108–119. doi: 10.11648/j.sr.20210906.12 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sr.20210906.12

Workineh M. 2020. Impact of application of organic fertilizer on production of some cereal crops: A review. Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research 8(3): 214–26. DOI: 10.14662/ARJASR2020.145