Increasing Productivity of Bread Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L) Through Mineral Fertilizer in Vertisols of Jamma District, Ethiopia

The inadequate and imbalanced application of fertilizers has led to nutrient depletion, contributing to the emergence of multinutrient deficiencies. On‐farm research was conducted to determine the optimum rates of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers for bread wheat in Jamma district during the 2023 production season in a high‐rainfall area. The experiment was conducted using a two‐factor combination of N and P. Therefore, the treatment combination (16 treatments) was as N:P rates of 0/0, 69/0, 69/46, 69/69,115/46, 115/69, 115/92, 161/46, 161/69, 161/92, 207/46, 207/69, 207/92, 253/46, 253/69, and 253/92 kg ha −1 . Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with incomplete factorial treatments with three replications was used. Hibest variety with a 150 kg ha −1 seed rate was used as a test crop. Urea and triple superphosphate (TSP) were used for N and P sources, respectively. All dose of P was applied at planting, whereas N was applied in three splits that were quarter at planting, half at tillering, and quarter at booting stages of the crop. One composite soil sample from each testing site was collected at 0–20 cm depth before planting to understand the soil fertility status of each experimental site. Based on the statistical analysis, both grain and biomass yields of wheat showed a significant response to applied N and P fertilization. The highest grain yield (3328 kg ha −1 ) was obtained at a combined application of 253 kg N ha −1 and 92 kg P 2 O 5 ha −1 which was statistically similar to the grain yield obtained from the rates of 207/69 and 253/69 N/P 2 O 5 kg ha −1 . As compared to the control treatment, the highest rate of N/P (253/92 kg ha −1 ) increased wheat grain yield by 443.7%. The partial budget analysis revealed that all N and P‐containing fertilizer rates gave higher net benefit over non‐fertilized. The maximum net benefit (178,915.41 ETB ha −1 ) was obtained from the combination of 253 kg/92 N/P 2 O 5 kg ha −1 followed by 207 kg/69 kg N/P 2 O 5 kg ha −1 , while the minimum (46,913.33 ETB ha −1 ) net benefit was noted from the unfertilized treatment (0/0 NP kg ha −1 ). Hence, we suggest application of 253 kg of N and 92 kg P 2 O 5 per hectare for wheat production in Jamma district and similar agro ecology and soil type.