Optimum Yaramila (N23P10S5) Blend Formulation and Its Fertilization for Growth and Yield of Wheat in Enderta District, South Eastern Tigray

Abstract

Fertilizer use in Ethiopia has focused mainly on the application of nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers in the form of di-ammonium phosphate and urea for almost all cultivated crops for the last several years. Such unbalanced application of plant nutrients may aggravate the depletion of other important nutrient elements in soils such as S and micro-nutrients. Present study was conducted in Tigray region Enderta district with the objective of evaluating Yaramila (23-10-5, N: P2O5: S) and its rate on yield of wheat crop. In this trial five treatments were included and it was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The results indicated that biomass, grain, and straw yields of wheat responded to the additional yaramila levels. But, these levels did not beat recommended NP and the maximum grain yield was obtained at the recommended NP. The yaramila@200kg/ha level has almost equal levels of N and P with the recommended NP and additional sulfur levels but the yield and yield components of wheat were not significantly higher than recommended NP even with additional NP adjusted. This implies that either the sulfur or the formulation of blending decreased nitrogen and phosphorus efficiency. Hence, nitrogen and phosphorus are the yield limiting nutrients rather than sulfur for wheat. Moreover, Yaramila blended based on this formulation as source of sulfur is not a suitable fertilizer for wheat growth in the study. So, other alternative sources of sulfur rather than yaramila should be used for wheat production.