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Research & Reviews : Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology

Integrated Use of Compost, FYM and Lime on Acidic Soil Amelioration and Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Yield Improvement in Semen Ari District, Southwestern Ethiopia

  1. Atinafu Tunebo Lafebo
  2. Abebe Hegano
  3. Genanaw Tesema
  4. Shemelis Tesema

Abstract

Soil acidity is the major problem to production of crops in the highlands of southern part of Ethiopia. This experiment was conducted in the Semen Ari district for two consecutive years to evaluate the effect of lime, FYM, and Compost on the acid soil properties and crop yield under barley grown in acidic soil. The treatments included control (no fertilizer), 200kg NPKSZnB + 94 kg urea top dressed, 7.6 t lime, 10 t/ha FYM, 10 t/ha compost, 7.6t lime + 10 t/ha FYM, and 7.6t lime + 10 t/ha compost were used for the study area. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used for the experiment with three replications. Improved barley variety ‘HB1307’ was used as a test crop and was planted early in the ‘Meher’ season. Soil samples collected from the experimental field before planting showed clay loam in texture, very strongly acidic in reaction, very high in organic carbon, very high in total nitrogen, low in available P, very low in available K, and high in available S. Soil results after harvesting indicated application of lime with organic fertilizers improved the soil pH, available P and reduced the concentration of exchangeable acidity. The analysis of variance showed that organic sources (such as compost and FYM) with or without lime significantly increased the growth and yield parameters of the barley crop in the study area. The maximum grain yield (2460.7kg ha-1) was gained from 7.6lime ha-1 + 10 t/ha FYM and the minimum grain yield (236.7kg ha-1) was obtained from 200kg NPKSZnB + 94 kg ha-1 urea. Generally, the experiments revealed that organic fertilizer integrating with lime significantly improved the grain yield of barley. Integrated application of 10 t ha-1 FYM or Compost with 7.6t ha-1 lime was the best amendment in increasing barley grain yields and soil chemical properties in the study area. It suggested that farmers in the study area and also in similar agroecology and soil could use 7.6 t lime with 10 t ha-1 FYM or compost to improve grain yield and soil fertility status.

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