Integrated Use of Compost and Nitrogen Fertilizer and its Effects on Yield and Yield Components of Wheat: A Pot Experiment

Abstract There is a research gap and no investigation on combined effects of compost produced from coffee husk and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer (Urea). The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield and yield components of wheat ( Triticumaestivum L .) under integrated application of compost and nitrogen fertilizer (Urea). A pot experiment in lath house was conducted to determine the effects of integrated uses of compost produced from coffee husk and nitrogen fertilizer (urea) on yield and yield components of wheat. The experiment consisted nine treatments: (T1) control(untreated), (T2) 5t ha -1 (8.12g pot -1 ) compost, (T3) 10t ha -1 (16.24g pot -1 ) compost, (T4) 0t ha -1 compost + 50kg ha -1 nitrogen fertilizer(NF) (0.09g pot -1 ), (T5) 5t ha -1 compost + 50kg ha -1 NF, (T6) 10t ha -1 compost + 50kg ha -1 NF, (T7) 0t ha -1 compost + 100kg ha -1 (0.18g pot -1 ) NF, (T8) 5t ha -1 compost + 100kg ha -1 NF, (T9) 10t ha -1 compost + 100kg ha -1 NF and arranged in a complete randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The compost was prepared from coffee husk and applied in wet based. The findings showed that compost addition had little effect on wheat yield and yield components in the absence of nitrogen fertilizer (Urea). But, at the highest nitrogen fertilizer(urea) dosage rate which is the recommended field rate(100kg ha -1 ) (equivalent to 0.18g pot -1 ) and the addition of compost (5t ha -1 ) (equivalent to 8.12g pot -1 ) led to increase in grain yield significantly (P≤0.05) which is 26 g pot -1 (equivalent to 14.741t ha -1 ) which is increased the grain yield by 66.29% compared with control 8.9g pot -1 (4.969t ha -1 ) and use of the recommended rate of nitrogen fertilizer alone 21.98g pot -1 (12.273t ha -1 ) increased by 16.74%. Spike length and dry matter yield is also significantly (P≤0.05) increased under the application integrated compost and nitrogen fertilizer(urea).The results of the experiment revealed that compost based soil management strategies can enhance wheat production thereby contribute positively to the viability and benefits of agricultural production systems. However, the nutrient-compost interactions should receive special attention due to the great variability in the properties of compost which may depend on the type of organic materials used for compost.