Fertibility Effect of Eucalyptus Bottom Wood Ash on Yield and Yield Components of Maize (Zea Mays) Ethiopia

Abstract

Bottom wood ash has been dumped anywhere around the residential area, this could negatively affect the environment by reducing the permeability of soil, over fertilization of soil and pollute surface water. Since it has substantial amount of potassium, it could be soil fertility management option if it used properly. The Objective of research was, to investigate utilizing potential of eucalyptus wood bottom ash combining with different organic fertilizers (MBM, dung and compost) as a source NPK fertilizer on maize crop. Pot and field plot experiment was conducted under wire house and rain fed condition respectively. The experiment was designed in the way to give fixed amount of N (87 kg ha-1) and different amount of potassium (30 kg, 60 kg and 90 kg ha1). The obtained result was compared with both convectional mineral fertilizer and control unfertilized treatments. There was a increase in yield, yield component and potassium concentration of maize crop relative to the use of mineral fertilizer and control. The maximum grain yield and yield components such as total biomass, grain number per cob, plant height thousand seed weight and potassium concentration of maize were observed in pots and plots at treatment of dung + bottom wood ash and compost + bottom wood ash which give together 60 kg and 90 kg ha-1 potassium application rate.