EFFECT OF LIME AND PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER ON ACID SOILS AND BARLEY (HORDEUM VULGARE L.) PERFORMANCE IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF ETHIOPIA

Abstract

SUMMARYLow soil pH and associated soil infertility problems are considered to be amongst the major challenges to barley production in the highlands of Ethiopia. In response to this, an experiment was conducted at low soil pH (< 5 H2O) site on the effects of different levels of lime and phosphorus (P) fertilizer on soil pH, exchangeable aluminium (Al3+), grain yield and yield components of barley during 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons. The experiment comprised factorial combinations of five lime rates (0, 0.55, 1.1, 1.65 and 2.2 t ha−1) and four P rates (0, 10, 20 and 30 kg ha−1) in a randomized complete block design in three replications. The amount of lime that was applied at each level was calculated on the basis of Al3+. Results of soil analysis after 2 years of liming showed that liming significantly (P < 0.05) increased soil pH, and markedly reduced exchangeable Al3+. Liming at the rate of 0.55, 1.1, 1.65 and 2.2 t ha−1 decreased Al3+ by 0.88, 1.11, 1.20 and 1.19 mill equivalents per 100 g of soil, and increased soil pH by 0.48, 0.71, 0.85 and 1.1 units, respectively. Amongst the liming treatments, liming at the rate of 1.65 and 2.2 t ha−1 gave significantly (P < 0.05) the highest grain yield and yield components of barley. However, grain yield obtained by applications of 1.65 and 2.2 t ha−1 lime was statistically comparable. By additions of 10, 20 and 30 kg P ha−1, grain yield of barley increased by about 29, 55 and 66% as compared to control (without P). During 2010, however, the combined applications 1.65 t ha−1 lime and 30 kg P ha−1 gave 133% more grain yields of barley relative to control (without P and lime). Therefore, sustainable barley production on acid soils in the central highlands of Ethiopia should entail combined applications of both lime and P fertilizer.

Soil Acidity and its Management Options in Ethiopia: A Review

“…According to Agegnehu et al (2006) the application of lime at the rates of 1, 3 and 5 t ha -1 resulted significantly in linear response with mean faba bean seed yield advantages of 45, 77 and 81% over the control. Desalegn et al (2017) showed that application of 0.55, 1.1, 1.65 and 2.2 t lime ha -1 decreased Al 3+ by 0.88, 1.11, 1.20 and 1.19 mill equivalents per 100 g of soil, and increased soil pH by 0.48, 0.71, 0.85 and 1.1 units, respectively. Agegnehu et al (2006) also indicated that soil pH consistently increased from 4.37 to 5.91 as lime rate increased.…”

Review of crop‐specific tolerance limits to acidity, salinity, and sodicity for seventeen cereal, pulse, and oilseed crops common to rainfed subtropical cropping systems

“…Horizonal lines show 90% (green) and 50% relative yield (red). The data used to construct these figures has been derived from (a) Bread Wheat (Adams, 1984a; Anderson & Bell, 2019; Brooke, Coventry, Reeves, & Jarvis, 1989; Caires, Correa, Churka, Barth, & Garbuio, 2006; Coventry, Slattery, Burnett, & Ganning, 1997; Doyle & Bradley, 1982; Farhoodi & Coventry, 2008; Fettell, Evans, Carpenter, & Brockwell, 2007; Johnson & Ohki, 1984; Kaitibie, Epplin, Krenzer, & Zhang, 2002; Kariuki et al, 2007; Li et al, 2001; Liu et al, 2004; Lollato, Edwards, & Zhang, 2013; Lollato, Ochsner, Arnall, Griffin, & Edwards, 2019; Mahler & McDole, 1987; Mead et al, 2003; Mullen, Scott, Evans, & Conyers, 2006; Rhoads & Manning, 1989; Scott, Conyers, Fisher, & Lill, 1992; Scott, Conyers, Poile, & Cullis, 1999; Slattery & Coventry, 1993; Slattery, Morrison, & Coventry, 1995; Tang, Nuruzzaman, et al, 2003; Tang, Rengel, Diatloff, & Gazey, 2003; Unruh, 1988); (b) Durum Wheat (Bona et al, 1995; Farhoodi & Coventry, 2008; Tang, Nuruzzaman, et al, 2003); (c) Barley (Brooke et al, 1989; Desalegn, Alemu, Adella, Debele, & Gonzalo, 2017; Dickson, Aitken, & Moody, 1995; Dolling, Porter, & Robson, 1991; Doyle & Bradley, 1982; Farhoodi & Coventry, 2008; Liu et al, 2004; Mahler & McDole, 1987; Mullen et al, 2006; Slattery et al, 1995; Slattery & Coventry, 1993; Tang, Rengel, Diatloff, & Gazey, 2003); (d) Triticale (Brooke et al, 1989; Doyle & Bradley, 1982; Li et al, 2001; Liu et al, 2004; Slattery et al, 1995; Slattery & Coventry, 1993); (e) Sorghum (Adams, 1984a; Baligar et al, 1989; Butchee et al, 2012; Duncan, Dobson, & Fishe...…”

“…While millet is often considered to be one of the most salt tolerant species, there is wide variation reported in the tolerance of different millet species and cultivars (Dua, 1989;Kafi et al, 2009;Kumar et al, 2018), and few studies compared the performance of millet with other crops. Maize has been observed to be less The data used to construct these figures has been derived from (a) Bread Wheat (Adams, 1984a;Anderson & Bell, 2019;Brooke, Coventry, Reeves, & Jarvis, 1989;Caires, Correa, Churka, Barth, & Garbuio, 2006;Coventry, Slattery, Burnett, & Ganning, 1997;Doyle & Bradley, 1982;Farhoodi & Coventry, 2008;Fettell, Evans, Carpenter, & Brockwell, 2007;Johnson & Ohki, 1984;Kaitibie, Epplin, Krenzer, & Zhang, 2002;Kariuki et al, 2007;Li et al, 2001;Liu et al, 2004;Lollato, Edwards, & Zhang, 2013;Lollato, Ochsner, Arnall, Griffin, & Edwards, 2019;Mahler & McDole, 1987;Mead et al, 2003;Mullen, Scott, Evans, & Conyers, 2006;Rhoads & Manning, 1989;Scott, Conyers, Fisher, & Lill, 1992;Scott, Conyers, Poile, & Cullis, 1999;Slattery & Coventry, 1993;Slattery, Morrison, & Coventry, 1995;Tang, Nuruzzaman, et al, 2003;Tang, Rengel, Diatloff, & Gazey, 2003;Unruh, 1988); (b) Durum Wheat (Bona et al, 1995;Farhoodi & Coventry, 2008;Tang, Nuruzzaman, et al, 2003); (c) Barley (Brooke et al, 1989;Desalegn, Alemu, Adella, Debele, & Gonzalo, 2017;…”

A Review on Agricultural Problems and Their Management in Ethiopia

“…Previous studies (Table 4) indicated that application of different rates of lime and P fertilizer significantly increased barley grain yield in the central highlands of Ethiopia (Beyene, 1987;Desalegn et al, 2017). According to Desalegn et al (2017), the combined application of 1.65 t lime ha -1 and 30 kg P ha -1 resulted in 133% more grain yields of barley than the control (without P and lime).…”