Influence of N and P fertilizer rates on yield and yield components of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Sekota District of Wag-Himira Zone, North Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the performance of bread wheat sown under different nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizer rates during 2017 main cropping season on farmer’s field at Weleh and Sayda, North eastern Ethiopia. Factorial combinations of four nitrogen (10.25, 20.5, 41 and 60.5 kg ha^-1) and four phosphorous (23, 46, 69, and 92 kg ha^-1) rates were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The result showed that using a different N and P rate of fertilizer had no significant effect (P≥0. 05) on the number of total and effective tillers in both locations. Similarly, at Sayda, different rate of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers did not show a significant effect on biomass yield, Straw yield, and grain yield. On the other hand, plant height was significantly affected by the interactions of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. While days to 50% heading, days to 90% maturity, number of kernels per spike and thousand kernel weight were significantly affected by different rate of nitrogen fertilizer. Besides that, spike length and number of kernels per spike were significantly affected by phosphorus fertilizer application. Since the homogeneity of error variance was significant, it indicates that both locations were not combined together, rather it was done separately. According to the partial budget analysis, the combination of 20.5N and 23P kg ha^-1 was economically feasible at both locations. For future conducting of the researches in different seasons and location is important for sound recommendation.