Response of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to Split Application of Lime in Acid Soil at Gummer Woreda, Southern Highland of Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil acidity is a barrier to agricultural production in areas where heavy rainfall and induced crop yields reduction in acid soils. Fixed plots field investigation was conducted to evaluate the influence of split application of recommended lime on yield and yield attributes of barley in acidic soils during three cropping seasons (2017, 2018 and 2019). Four level splits of lime (full dose applied at one time, split in to two applied 50% in (1^st and 2^nd year; 1^st and 3^nd year), split in to three applied 33% in every year) laid in randomized complete block design with three replications. The result revealed that combined mean of grain yield was not statistically significant (P < 0.05) by split application of lime compared to one time application of full dose. Moreover, the result confirmed that the highest yield was recorded from all plots treated with lime whereas the lowest yield was recorded from un-limed treatment. The highest yield (5.83 ton/ha) was recorded from full dose limed plant while lowest yield (2.32 ton/ha) recorded from control. Thus, resource poor farmers who unable to afford full dose lime can split in to two or three and apply every year without significant yield loss compared to one time application of full dose. The increased yield of limed treatments might be lime application attributed to rising of soils pH and making supplied nutrients plant-available.