Macro and Micro Nutrients for Optimizing Maize Production at Hawassa Zuria District, Southern Ethiopia

Lack of practical information on the use of multi-nutrient fertilizer blends involving the actual limiting nutrients for specific site and crop is a problem for sustainable maize production. A trial was conduct to evaluate different fertilizer types for maize production in Southern Ethiopia during the main cropping season of 2016 and 2017. Fertilizer treatments were based on limiting nutrients of the area including NPS, NPSB and NPSBCu at different rate. The trial consists of ten treatments (1) no fertilizer (control) (2) NPS: 69 kg N + 23.5 kg P + 10 kg S/ha (3) NPS: 92 kg N + 31.3 kg P + 13 kg S/ha (4) NPS: 115 kg N + 39 kg P + 17 kg S/ha (5) NPSB: 69 kg N + 23.5 kg P + 10 kg S + 1.07 kg B/ha (6) NPSB: 92 kg N + 31.3 kg P + 13 kg S + 1.4 kg B/ha (7) NPSB: 115 kg N + 39 kg P + 17 kg S + 1.7 kg B/ha (8) NPSBCu: 69 kg N + 23.5 kg P + 10 kg S + 1.07 kg B + 0.625 kg Cu/ha (9) NPSBCu: 92 kg N 31.3 kg P + 13 kg S + 1.4 kg B + 0.625 kg Cu/ha and (10) NPSBCu:115 kg N + 39 kg P + 17 kg S + 1.7 kg B + 0.625 kg Cu/ha. The trial was conducted on two farms and treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated three times in each farm. Crop characteristics measured were analyzed using Proc GLM procedures in the SAS 9.3 program. Economic analysis was also performed to investigate the economic feasibility of the fertilizers for maize production. Applying the deficient soil nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur and boron was improved maize yield. Treatment 7 (NPSB: 115, 90, 17, 1.7) gave significantly (P < 0.05) higher maize yield compared to some fertilizer treatments and the control. Similarly, highest net benefit (31962.2 Ethiopia birr/ha) was obtained from treatment 7 with acceptable marginal rate of return (224%). Therefore, NPSB in the nutrient ratio of 115: 90: 17: 1.7 is recommended as the best option for maize producers around H/zuria district. Keywords: macro and micronutrient, maize yield, fertilizer types, economic feasibilit