Sarcouncil Journal of Applied Sciences Aims & Scope

Abstract: Site-specific fertilization is indispensable to boost agricultural productivity. The field experiments were conducted on Andisols and Chernozems to determine the optimum combination of NPS-B and Urea fertilizer rate. The treatments were: (150 kg ha-1 NPSB + 150 kg ha-1 Urea), (200 kg ha-1 NPSB + 150 kg ha-1 Urea), (250 kg ha-1 NPSB + 150 kg ha-1 Urea), (300 kg ha-1 NPSB + 150 kg ha-1 Urea), (150 kg ha-1 NPSB + 250 kg ha-1 Urea), (200 kg ha-1 NPSB + 250 kg ha-1 Urea), (250 kg ha-1 NPSB + 250 kg ha-1 Urea), (300 kg ha-1 NPSB + 250 kg ha-1 Urea), (150 kg ha-1 NPSB + 350 kg ha-1 Urea), (200 kg ha-1 NPSB + 350 kg ha-1 Urea), (250 kg ha-1 NPSB + 350 kg ha-1 Urea), (300 kg ha-1 NPSB + 350 kg ha-1 Urea), control and R NP (92 kg N 69 kg P2O5). The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The application of 200 kg ha-1 NPS-B blended fertilizer plus 250 kg ha-1 Urea resulted in the highest aboveground biomass (16,839.0 kg ha-1) and grain yield (6545.3 kg ha-1) in Dore Bafano. The application of 200 kg ha-1 NPS-B blended fertilizer plus 250 kg ha-1 Urea at Meskan resulted in the highest aboveground biomass (15,113.9 kg ha-1) and grain yield (6495.6 kg ha-1). However, the unfertilized plots at both locations yielded the lowest values of above-ground biomass and grain yield. The application of 200 kg ha-1 NPSB blended fertilizer coupled with 250 kg ha-1 Urea yielded a maximum net benefit value of (82511.9 ETB ha-1) with a marginal rate of return of (14%). Similarly, the application of 200 kg ha-1 NPSB blended fertilizer + 250 kg ha-1 Urea at Meskan resulted in a higher net benefit of (81902.5 ETB ha-1) with a marginal rate of return of 40.6%. However, the minimum net benefit was recorded from the control plot at both locations. Therefore, the application of 200 kg ha-1 NPS-B blended fertilizer with 250 kg ha-1 Urea should be recommended for Meskan (Chernozemes) and Dore Bafano (Andisols).