Author(s): Tariku Beyene Dinka, Tolera Abera Goshu and Ermiyias Habte Haile
Declining soil fertility is one of the major problems causing yield reduction of food barley in West Showa. Therefore, considering this in view field experiment was carried out to determine the combined effects of farm yard manure (FYM) and inorganic NPS on growth, yield and yield components of food barley at Toke Kutaye District. The experiment was laid in randomized complete block design with four replications. Generally, analysis of variance showed significant difference among treatments for most of traits recorded. Markedly, application of 12 t FYM ha-1 combined with NPS (33.4:66.6% NPS:FYM) gave higher number of tillers from 0.25 m-2 was 270 effective tiller and 13 effective tiller plant-1) gave the respective. The higher plant height (90 cm) was obtained from the application 75:25% NPS:FYM. Higher panicle length, panicle weight and total kernel weight of barley were recorded with application 50:50% NPS:FYM. The higher grain and biomass yield (6496 and 15917 kg ha-1) of barley were harvested from 66.6:33.4% NPS:FYM at Dada Galan kebele; in Toke Kutaye District. Application of 66.6:33.4% NPS:FYM gave optimum yield and economic return and recommended for barley production in this area and similar agro-ecologies.
