Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research
 

Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research 

Vol. 6(7), pp. 406-422. September, 2018.

ISSN: 2360-7874 

 DOI: 10.14662/ARJASRD2018.061

Full Length Research

Effects of Soybean Break Crop on Subsequent Nitrogen Response of Maize Varieties at Bako Agricultural Research Center, Western Ethiopia

Tolera Abera¹, Dagne Wegary² and Tolessa Debele³

¹Natural Resources Management Research Process, Ambo Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, P.O. Box 382, Ambo, West Showa, Oromia, Ethiopia

²International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Global Conservation Agriculture Program, P O. Box 5689.  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

³Wheat Project coordinator Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa (SARD-SC), ICARDA c/o ILRI P.O. Box 5689 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Correspondence email: thawwii@yahoo.com/ thawwii2014@gmail.com, tolera.abera@eiar.gov.et

Accepted 21 September 2018

Soil fertility is declined in our soils and yield of maize are tremendously low. Legume break is important measures to sustain soil fertility and enhance productivity of maize. The biological nitrogen fixation from atmosphere in soybean-maize sequence helps to enhance maize yield and reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied. This in view the experiment was conducted to determine the effects of soybean break crop on subsequent nitrogen response of maize varieties at Bako Agricultural Research Center, Western Ethiopia. Significantly higher mean grain yield of maize was produced from maize planted with application of half and full recommended rate of nitrogen fertilizer following soybean precursor crop showing importance of nitrogen application in cropping sequence. Significantly higher mean leaf area and leaf area index were obtained from BH-543 maize variety planted with half recommended nitrogen fertilizer following soybean planted with rhizobium. Higher mean grain yield of 7870 kg ha^-1 was obtained from BH-661 maize varieties planted following soybean without rhizobium application.  Higher mean grain yield of maize varieties was obtained from maize planted following soybean with rhizobium application. Therefore, planting of maize following soybean precursor crop with rhizobium with half recommended nitrogen fertilizer application or soybean precursor crop without rhizobium with full recommended nitrogen fertilizer application was recommended for sustainable maize production. The net economic returns of maize varieties planted following soybean precursor crop without and with rhizobium inoculation was higher than continuous maize. Soybean precursor crop was increased total N uptake and agronomic efficiency of maize varieties. Application of nitrogen rates was significantly reduced agronomic efficiency of maize varieties. Therefore, production of BH-661 and BH-543 maize varieties following soybean break crop with half recommended (55 kg N ha^-1) application was improved mean grain yield and economic return and recommended for maize in mid altitude areas of western Ethiopia.

Key words:  nitrogen fixation, rhizobium, soil nitrogen

How to cite this article (APA Style): Tolera, A., Dagne, W., Tolessa, D. (2018). Effects of Soybean Break Crop on Subsequent Nitrogen Response of Maize Varieties at Bako Agricultural Research Center, Western Ethiopia. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 6(7): 406-422