On-farm evaluation of fertilization, weed control measures and seed-dressing insecticide or seed rate on Barley in central Ethiopia.
2005
Woldeyesus Sinebo(Researcher)
Input use, particularly of chemicals, for sustainable crop production should be justified and prioritized because of cost and environmental concerns. The objectives of this study were to determine the relative importance of fertilizer, weed control, seed-dressing insecticide, or seed rate on grain yield of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) on farmers' fields in three districts of western and north-western Shewa zones. The treatments were a a3 factorial combination of two levels of fertilizer (0 vs.41/20 kg ha-1 N/P), seed-dressing insecticide (none vs. Aldrin at a rate of 5 g kg-1 seed), and weed control (none vs. 2,4-D at a rate of 1L product ha-1 or hand weeding) arranged in a randomized complete block design with two replications for the trials at Degem and Tikur Inchinii. The seed-dressing insecticide was replaced by seed rate (125 vs. 200 kg ha -1) at Altufa (ambo). Fertilizer produced a highly significant effect on barley grain yield in all the three locations and was the overriding factor in increasing grain yield by 35 to 53% followed by weed control with yield increase of 12.5 to 25.7%. Seed-dressing insecticide reduced insect damage and increased seedling or spike number, but did not significantly affect the final grain yield. Increasing seed rate from 125 kg ha -1 to 200 kg ha -1 appeared beneficial at Altufa. Grass weed pressure was particularly high at Tikur Inchinii. Both environmental concerns and the yield response obtained in this study do not support investment on seed-dressing insecticides but on fertilizer and weed control.
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