Pre Extension demonstration was held in the Abay Choman district to show how using soil tests can help decide the right amount of phosphorus fertilizer for growing maize. The goal was to create awareness about why soil tests are important for maize production and to gather feedback from farmers and others stakeholders for future improvements in technology. The test was done on the fields of seven farmers, which were used to repeat the experiment. There are two treatments: (T1) blanket recommendation and (T2) a recommendation based on a soil test that indicates how much phosphorus fertilizer to use, along with a recommended nitrogen fertilizer amount of 92 kg per hectare. Plot size for each treatments was 10 m x 10 m = 100 m2. Maize variety “BH-661” was used with the spacing of 50 cm and 80 cm between seeds and rows respectively. A total of 4 FRGs units which are having 43 male and 17 female members were established. For gender issue 22.1% of the participants were women and 77.9% were men. A grain yield of 6275 kg per hectare was recorded as the most favorable when fertilizers were utilized based on soil analysis. The application of a standard fertilizer led to a yield of 5,136 kilograms per hectare. The average grain yield obtained with soil test crop response based suggested phosphorus fertilizer was 6275 kg/ha with yield advantage of 22.17% over blanket recommendation. Moreover, financial investigation result appeared that net of return 119162.00 and 98850.00 ETB per hectare were picked up from soil test crop response based p-fertilizer suggestion and blanket recommendation respectively. Based on these actualities, the scaling up/out of soil test crop response based suggested P-fertilizers should be carried out for encourage maize generation at the study area.
| Published in | Science Frontiers (Volume 6, Issue 3) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.sf.20250603.16 |
| Page(s) | 106-111 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Pre-extension, Soil Test, Fertilizer Recommendation, Maize, Blanket Recommendation, FRG
Experiment Sites | PH (H2O) | Av. P(ppm) |
|---|---|---|
1 | 5.05 | 9.91 |
2 | 4.99 | 3.43 |
3 | 4.86 | 6.48 |
4 | 4.63 | 10.43 |
5 | 4.60 | 5.46 |
6 | 4.48 | 4.47 |
7 | 4.86 | 7.45 |
District | Kebele | FRG established | Members of FRG | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male | Female | Total | |||
Abay Choman | Achane | 1 | 10 | 5 | 15 |
“ | Jare | 1 | 11 | 4 | 15 |
“ | Ganji haro | 2 | 22 | 8 | 30 |
Total | 3 | 4 | 43 | 17 | 60 |
Topic of the training | Location | Farmers | DAs | SMS | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Soil test crop response based fertilizer suggestion and soil acidity management | Abay Choman | M | F | M | F | M | F | 33 | |
20 | 11 | 1 | - | 1 | - | ||||
Treatments | Average yield kg/ha | Yield difference kg/ha | Yield advantage over blanket recommendation (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
Blanket Recommendation | 5136 | 1139 | 22.17 |
STCRBFR | 6275 |
Technology | Farmers rank | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
STCRBFR | 1st | High grain yield, double cob per plant, large cob size, disease resistance and good biomass |
BR | 2nd | Medium grain yield, single cob per plant, medium cob size, disease resistance and medium biomass |
BH-661 | Bako Hybrid 661 |
BR | Blanket Recommendation |
ETB | Ethiopian Birr |
FRG | Farmers Research Group |
NSRC | Nekemte Soil Research Center |
OARI | Oromia Agricultural Research Institute |
Ppm | Parts Per Million |
STCRBFR | Soil Test Crop Response Based Fertilizer Recommendation |
| [1] | Asefa, et al., 2024. Evaluating released Maize hybrids’ parents for yield producibility. International Journal of Agricultural Sciences Volume 6 Issue (3) pp.: 1-13, |
| [2] | Belette, T. (2014). Fertility Mapping of Soils of Abay Chomen District, Western Oromia, Ethiopia. Master Thesis, Haramaya University. |
| [3] | Benti Tolessa, 1993. The need and objective of the 1st National Maize Workshop. In: Proceedings of the 1stNational Maize Workshop of Ethiopia. 5-7 May, 1992, IAR and IMWIC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. |
| [4] | CIMMYT, 1988. From Agronomic Data to Farmer Recommendations: An Economics Training Manual. Completely revised edition. Mexico, DF. |
| [5] | CSA (Central Statistical Agency), 2010. Agricultural Sample Survey for the 2009/2010 cropseason. Volume II Report on Area and production of Crops for Private Peasant Holdings (Meher Season) Statistical Bulletin 446. FDRE/CSA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. |
| [6] | Dagnachew Lule, et al., 2018. Oromia Agricultural research institute workshop proceeding on Adaptation and Generation of Agricultural Technologies, 25-27 June 2018, Adama, Ethiopia. pp 329-333. |
| [7] | Diao, X., 2010. Economic Importance of Agriculture for Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction: The Case Study of Ethiopia. Global Forum on Agriculture 29-30 November 2010. Policies for Agricultural Development, Poverty Reduction and Food Security OECD Headquarters, Paris retrieved on 01/2/2011. |
| [8] | Fageria NK, Baligar VC (2005) Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency in crop plants. Advances in Agronomy 88: 97-185. |
| [9] | Kefyalew Assefa, Bikila Mengistu and Tilahun Geleto (Eds), 2019. Proceedings of Review Workshop on Completed Research Activities of Natural Resource Research Directorate Held at Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, Adami Tulu, Ethiopia, 08-11 October 2018. Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO), Finfine, Ethiopia. 164 pp. |
| [10] | Olsen, S. R. and Sommers, L. E. 1982. Phosphorus. pp. 403-430. In: A. L. Page, et al. (eds.) Methods of soil analysis: Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties. Agron. Mongr. 9. 2nd ed. ASA and SSSA, Madison, WI. |
| [11] | Self, J. (2013). “Soil testing”. Fact sheet No. 0.501. Crop/soil series. Colorado state university. USA. |
| [12] | Suleiman Aman, Gedefa Sori., 2021. Pre-extension Demonstration of Soil Test Crop Response Based Recommended Phosphorus Fertilizer for Maize in Chora District in Southwestern Part of Oromia, Ethiopia. International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences. Vol. 7, No. 6, pp. 277-282. |
| [13] | Tekalign Tadese., 1991. Soil, plant, water, fertilizer, animal manure, and compost analysis. |
| [14] | Temesgen Chimdessa, Chalsissa Takele, Garamu Bayeta, Firaol Gemada, Rafisa Leta, 2023. Soil test crop response based phosphorous calibration study on maize at Abay Choman district, Horo Guduru Wollega zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia. Journal of Scientific Agriculture 2023, 7: 1-5 |
| [15] | Wakene Negasa and Heluf Gebrekidan and D. K. Friesen, 2005. Integrated Use of Farmyard Manure and NP fertilizers for Maize on Farmers’ Fields, Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Sub tropics. Volume 106, Number 2, 131-141pp. |
APA Style
Negesa, N., Takele, C., Chimdessa, T., Desalegn, M. (2025). Pre-extension Demonstration of Soil Test Crop Response Based Phosphorous Calibration Study for Maize Production (Zea mays L.) at Abay Choman District, Western Oromia, Ethiopia. Science Frontiers, 6(3), 106-111. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sf.20250603.16
ACS Style
Negesa, N.; Takele, C.; Chimdessa, T.; Desalegn, M. Pre-extension Demonstration of Soil Test Crop Response Based Phosphorous Calibration Study for Maize Production (Zea mays L.) at Abay Choman District, Western Oromia, Ethiopia. Sci. Front. 2025, 6(3), 106-111. doi: 10.11648/j.sf.20250603.16
AMA Style
Negesa N, Takele C, Chimdessa T, Desalegn M. Pre-extension Demonstration of Soil Test Crop Response Based Phosphorous Calibration Study for Maize Production (Zea mays L.) at Abay Choman District, Western Oromia, Ethiopia. Sci Front. 2025;6(3):106-111. doi: 10.11648/j.sf.20250603.16
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.sf.20250603.16,
author = {Naferom Negesa and Chalsissa Takele and Temesgen Chimdessa and Mintesinot Desalegn},
title = {Pre-extension Demonstration of Soil Test Crop Response Based Phosphorous Calibration Study for Maize Production (Zea mays L.) at Abay Choman District, Western Oromia, Ethiopia
},
journal = {Science Frontiers},
volume = {6},
number = {3},
pages = {106-111},
doi = {10.11648/j.sf.20250603.16},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sf.20250603.16},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sf.20250603.16},
abstract = {Pre Extension demonstration was held in the Abay Choman district to show how using soil tests can help decide the right amount of phosphorus fertilizer for growing maize. The goal was to create awareness about why soil tests are important for maize production and to gather feedback from farmers and others stakeholders for future improvements in technology. The test was done on the fields of seven farmers, which were used to repeat the experiment. There are two treatments: (T1) blanket recommendation and (T2) a recommendation based on a soil test that indicates how much phosphorus fertilizer to use, along with a recommended nitrogen fertilizer amount of 92 kg per hectare. Plot size for each treatments was 10 m x 10 m = 100 m2. Maize variety “BH-661” was used with the spacing of 50 cm and 80 cm between seeds and rows respectively. A total of 4 FRGs units which are having 43 male and 17 female members were established. For gender issue 22.1% of the participants were women and 77.9% were men. A grain yield of 6275 kg per hectare was recorded as the most favorable when fertilizers were utilized based on soil analysis. The application of a standard fertilizer led to a yield of 5,136 kilograms per hectare. The average grain yield obtained with soil test crop response based suggested phosphorus fertilizer was 6275 kg/ha with yield advantage of 22.17% over blanket recommendation. Moreover, financial investigation result appeared that net of return 119162.00 and 98850.00 ETB per hectare were picked up from soil test crop response based p-fertilizer suggestion and blanket recommendation respectively. Based on these actualities, the scaling up/out of soil test crop response based suggested P-fertilizers should be carried out for encourage maize generation at the study area.
},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Pre-extension Demonstration of Soil Test Crop Response Based Phosphorous Calibration Study for Maize Production (Zea mays L.) at Abay Choman District, Western Oromia, Ethiopia AU - Naferom Negesa AU - Chalsissa Takele AU - Temesgen Chimdessa AU - Mintesinot Desalegn Y1 - 2025/08/29 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sf.20250603.16 DO - 10.11648/j.sf.20250603.16 T2 - Science Frontiers JF - Science Frontiers JO - Science Frontiers SP - 106 EP - 111 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2994-7030 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sf.20250603.16 AB - Pre Extension demonstration was held in the Abay Choman district to show how using soil tests can help decide the right amount of phosphorus fertilizer for growing maize. The goal was to create awareness about why soil tests are important for maize production and to gather feedback from farmers and others stakeholders for future improvements in technology. The test was done on the fields of seven farmers, which were used to repeat the experiment. There are two treatments: (T1) blanket recommendation and (T2) a recommendation based on a soil test that indicates how much phosphorus fertilizer to use, along with a recommended nitrogen fertilizer amount of 92 kg per hectare. Plot size for each treatments was 10 m x 10 m = 100 m2. Maize variety “BH-661” was used with the spacing of 50 cm and 80 cm between seeds and rows respectively. A total of 4 FRGs units which are having 43 male and 17 female members were established. For gender issue 22.1% of the participants were women and 77.9% were men. A grain yield of 6275 kg per hectare was recorded as the most favorable when fertilizers were utilized based on soil analysis. The application of a standard fertilizer led to a yield of 5,136 kilograms per hectare. The average grain yield obtained with soil test crop response based suggested phosphorus fertilizer was 6275 kg/ha with yield advantage of 22.17% over blanket recommendation. Moreover, financial investigation result appeared that net of return 119162.00 and 98850.00 ETB per hectare were picked up from soil test crop response based p-fertilizer suggestion and blanket recommendation respectively. Based on these actualities, the scaling up/out of soil test crop response based suggested P-fertilizers should be carried out for encourage maize generation at the study area. VL - 6 IS - 3 ER -
Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Nekemte Soil Research Center, Nekemte, Ethiopia
Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Nekemte Soil Research Center, Nekemte, Ethiopia
Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Nekemte Soil Research Center, Nekemte, Ethiopia
Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Nekemte Soil Research Center, Nekemte, Ethiopia
Information