Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during 2012/2013 on acidic soil of Tsegede highlands, Northern Ethiopia to evaluate wheat crop response to different Fertilizers and Liming with four treatments: (1) (No fertilizer), (2) 64 kg/ha Nitrogen+ 150 kg/ha Minjingu organic hyper phosphate fertilizer, (3) 64 kg/ha Nitrogen and 20 kg/ha Phosphorus, and (4) 64 kg/ha Nitrogen and 20 kg/ha Phosphorus + 4.17 t/ha lime were arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) deign with three replications. Soil samples were collected before planting and analyzed for selected physicochemical properties, which revealed that textural class was sandy loam and the pH, Exchangeable aluminum and Exchangeable Acid as very strong acid and toxic for plant growth. The total percentage of organic matter, Nitrogen and Cation Exchange capacity (CEC) were as high; while very low in available phosphorus. Results indicated soil that received 64 kg/ha Nitrogen from urea+150 kg/ha Minjingu organic hyper phosphate, 64 kg/ha Nitrogen and 20 Phosphorus and 64 kg/ha Nitrogen and 20 kg/ha Phosphorus + 4.17 t/ha lime gave additional grain yield increment by about 191, 211 and 413% over the control, respectively. While the straw yield improved by 226, 248 and 422% respectively. The highest yield was recorded on soils with 64 kg/ha Nitrogen and 20 kg/ha Phosphorus along with lime followed by the 64 kg/ha Nitrogen and 20 kg/ha Phosphorus, and soil with application of 64 kg/ha Nitrogen from urea+150 kg/ha Minjingu organic hyper phosphate. The recorded plant height was significantly affected only at 64 kg/ha Nitrogen and 20 kg/ha Phosphorus + 4.17 t/ha lime (21.2%) over the control.  Hence uncontrolled land encroachment in the low land areas can minimize to make these farmlands productive. The rate of these fertilizers and marginal rate of return was not studied.

Key words:  HAR-604, lime, Minjingu organic hyper phosphate, nitrogen, phosphorus.