Abstract
There are various challenges that limit crop productivity in developing countries like Ethiopia. Lack of accessible plant nutrients in proper quantity as well as form to plants is an important determinant of reducing agricultural productivity. In this regard, a trial was conducted at Shela Borkoshe on the land owned by the farmer in Sodo Zuriya District, Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia over the planting seasons of 2019 to 2020 with the aim of identifying the appropriate rates of blended nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, boron (NPSB), and potassium (K) fertilizer in maize production. The treatments, which were assessed using a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications, comprised of four rates of blended NPSB (0, 50, 100, and 150 kilograms/hectare) and four rates of K (0, 30, 60, and 90 kilograms/hectare K2O). Agronomic traits leaf area, LAI, ear length, seeds per row, seeds per ear, TSW, biomass as well as grain produce have been significantly varied due to NPSB by K fertilizer rates interactions. The highest leaf area (9886.20 ± 343.95 cm2), LAI (7.78 ± 0.26), ear length (32.58 ± 1.46 cm), TSW (160.67 ± 4.85 g), biomass (14941 ± 200.92 kilograms/ha), and grain output (7544 ± 119.49 kilograms/ha) have been attained by combining 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 90 kilograms/ha K fertilizer rate. Following this, maximum quantity of seeds per row (44.88 ± 1.67) and seeds per ear (705.87 ± 25.61) have been attained from combination of 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 60 kilograms/ha K fertilizer rates. Economic analysis revealed that maximum net profit (1491 Dollar/ha) and marginal rate of return (MRR) 1196.67% have been achieved from combining 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 60 kilograms/ha K fertilizer rates. This investigation revealed that the combination of the NPSB fertilizer level of 150 kilograms/ha and 60 kilograms/ha K fertilizer showed superior performance with higher grain yield and economic return over other treatments. Therefore, a combined application of 150 kilograms/ha NPSB with 60 kilograms/ha K fertilizer rates could be recommended for maize production in the study area and similar agro-ecologies.
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Claims 14
Claim · model-written summary
Leaf area, LAI and ear length of maize varied significantly with the NPSB by K fertilizer rate interaction.
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Agronomic traits leaf area, LAI, ear length, seeds per row, seeds per ear, TSW, biomass as well as grain produce have been significantly varied due to NPSB by K fertilizer rates interactions”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Seeds per row, seeds per ear and thousand-seed weight (TSW) of maize varied significantly with the NPSB by K fertilizer rate interaction.
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Agronomic traits leaf area, LAI, ear length, seeds per row, seeds per ear, TSW, biomass as well as grain produce have been significantly varied due to NPSB by K fertilizer rates interactions”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Biomass and grain produce of maize varied significantly with the NPSB by K fertilizer rate interaction.
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Agronomic traits leaf area, LAI, ear length, seeds per row, seeds per ear, TSW, biomass as well as grain produce have been significantly varied due to NPSB by K fertilizer rates interactions”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
The highest maize leaf area, 9886.20 ± 343.95 cm2, was attained with 150 kg/ha NPSB combined with 90 kg/ha K.
- Treatment
- 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 90 kilograms/ha K fertilizer ratee1
- Outcome
- leaf areae0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 9886.20 ± 343.95 cm2e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“highest leaf area (9886.20 ± 343.95 cm2)”
e1“combining 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 90 kilograms/ha K fertilizer rate”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize LAI was highest, 7.78 ± 0.26, with 150 kg/ha NPSB combined with 90 kg/ha K.
- Treatment
- 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 90 kilograms/ha K fertilizer ratee1
- Outcome
- LAIe0
- Direction
- higherinferrede0
- Value
- 7.78 ± 0.26e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“LAI (7.78 ± 0.26)”
e1“combining 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 90 kilograms/ha K fertilizer rate”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize ear length was highest, 32.58 ± 1.46 cm, with 150 kg/ha NPSB combined with 90 kg/ha K.
- Treatment
- 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 90 kilograms/ha K fertilizer ratee1
- Outcome
- ear lengthe0
- Direction
- higherinferrede0
- Value
- 32.58 ± 1.46 cme0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“ear length (32.58 ± 1.46 cm)”
e1“combining 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 90 kilograms/ha K fertilizer rate”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize TSW was highest, 160.67 ± 4.85 g, with 150 kg/ha NPSB combined with 90 kg/ha K.
- Treatment
- 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 90 kilograms/ha K fertilizer ratee1
- Outcome
- TSWe0
- Direction
- higherinferrede0
- Value
- 160.67 ± 4.85 ge0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“TSW (160.67 ± 4.85 g)”
e1“combining 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 90 kilograms/ha K fertilizer rate”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize biomass was highest, 14941 ± 200.92 kg/ha, with 150 kg/ha NPSB combined with 90 kg/ha K.
- Treatment
- 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 90 kilograms/ha K fertilizer ratee1
- Outcome
- biomasse0
- Direction
- higherinferrede0
- Value
- 14941 ± 200.92 kilograms/hae0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“biomass (14941 ± 200.92 kilograms/ha)”
e1“combining 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 90 kilograms/ha K fertilizer rate”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize grain output was highest, 7544 ± 119.49 kg/ha, with 150 kg/ha NPSB combined with 90 kg/ha K.
- Treatment
- 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 90 kilograms/ha K fertilizer ratee1
- Outcome
- grain outpute0
- Direction
- higherinferrede0
- Value
- 7544 ± 119.49 kilograms/hae0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“grain output (7544 ± 119.49 kilograms/ha)”
e1“combining 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 90 kilograms/ha K fertilizer rate”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
The maximum number of seeds per row of maize, 44.88 ± 1.67, was attained with 150 kg/ha NPSB and 60 kg/ha K.
- Treatment
- 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 60 kilograms/ha K fertilizer ratese1
- Outcome
- seeds per rowe0
- Direction
- maximume0
- Value
- 44.88 ± 1.67e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“maximum quantity of seeds per row (44.88 ± 1.67)”
e1“combination of 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 60 kilograms/ha K fertilizer rates”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
The maximum number of seeds per ear of maize, 705.87 ± 25.61, was attained with 150 kg/ha NPSB and 60 kg/ha K.
- Treatment
- 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 60 kilograms/ha K fertilizer ratese1
- Outcome
- seeds per eare0
- Direction
- maximume0
- Value
- 705.87 ± 25.61e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“maximum quantity of seeds per row (44.88 ± 1.67) and seeds per ear (705.87 ± 25.61)”
e1“combination of 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 60 kilograms/ha K fertilizer rates”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Maximum net profit, 1491 dollars/ha, was achieved with 150 kg/ha NPSB combined with 60 kg/ha K in maize.
- Treatment
- 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 60 kilograms/ha K fertilizer ratese1
- Outcome
- net profite0
- Direction
- maximume0
- Value
- 1491 Dollar/hae0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“maximum net profit (1491 Dollar/ha)”
e1“combining 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 60 kilograms/ha K fertilizer rates”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
The maximum marginal rate of return in maize, 1196.67%, was achieved with 150 kg/ha NPSB combined with 60 kg/ha K.
- Treatment
- 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 60 kilograms/ha K fertilizer ratese1
- Outcome
- marginal rate of return (MRR)e0
- Direction
- maximume0
- Value
- 1196.67%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“maximum net profit (1491 Dollar/ha) and marginal rate of return (MRR) 1196.67%”
e1“combining 150 kilograms/ha NPSB and 60 kilograms/ha K fertilizer rates”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend combined application of 150 kg/ha NPSB with 60 kg/ha K for maize production in the study area and similar agro-ecologies.
- Outcome
- combined application of 150 kilograms/ha NPSB with 60 kilograms/ha K fertilizer ratese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“a combined application of 150 kilograms/ha NPSB with 60 kilograms/ha K fertilizer rates could be recommended for maize production”
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See all 1,365 papers →8 of 10 groups shown: named compounds and organisms first, then groups whose results differ (checked claim by claim), then those with positive and negative results, then the smaller groups.
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.