Abstract
Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps, predominantly constrained by soil fertility limitations and suboptimal fertilizer management. This study evaluated maize yield responses to macro- and micronutrient omissions, identified limiting nutrients, quantified yield gaps, and assessed soil indigenous nutrient supply (SINS) in Luvisols of Dera district, Northwest Ethiopia. The study was conducted during the 2021 growing season across eight farmers' fields using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The maize variety BH-546 was grown under ten fertilizer treatments: (1) Full nutrient (NPKSZnB) application; (2–7) individual nutrient omissions (-B, -Zn, -S, -K, -P, -N); (8) recommended NP (138 kg N + 92 kg P 2 O 5 ha −1 ); (9) recommended NP + S (30 kg S ha −1 ); and (10) Zero fertilizer (F 0 ). Application rates followed agronomic recommendations: 138 kg N, 92 kg P 2 O 5 , 60 kg K 2 O, 10.5 kg S, 5 kg Zn, and 1 kg B ha −1 . Results revealed N as the most yield-limiting nutrient, with yield responses ranging from 3260.1 kg ha −1 (site 6) to 5925.9 kg ha −1 (site 4). Phosphorus limitations were observed at 75% of sites (1239.6–3428.7 kg ha −1 response range), while K effects were site-specific (50% of sites; 772.6–3176.2 kg ha −1 response range). Maximum mean yield responses followed the order: N (4487.6 kg ha −1 ) > P (1865.5 kg ha −1 ) > K (1243.9 kg ha −1 ), with corresponding agronomic efficiencies of 32.5, 46.6, and 24.9 kg grain kg −1 nutrient applied. Secondary and micronutrients (S, Zn, B) omissions showed no significant (p>0.05) effects on yield and yield-related parameters. The mean yield gaps resulting from N, P, and K omissions were 89.0%, 36.1% and 23.1%, respectively, confirming their limiting order as N > P > K. The SINS assessments corroborated these findings, revealing severe N deficiency (11% sufficiency) compared to moderate P (63.9%) and K (76.9%) availability. These findings underscore the imperative for prioritized N management, strategic P application, and site-specific K fertilization to bridge maize yield gaps in the Northwest Ethiopia. While this single-season study provides essential baseline data, multi-year investigations are recommended to account for interannual variability and refine fertilizer recommendations.
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Claims 17
Claim · model-written summary
N was the most yield-limiting nutrient for maize on the studied Luvisols.
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e1“Results revealed N as the most yield-limiting nutrient, with yield responses ranging from 3260.1 kg ha −1 (site 6) to 5925.9 kg ha −1 (site 4)”
Claim · model-written summary
Yield responses to N ranged from 3260.1 kg ha −1 at site 6 to 5925.9 kg ha −1 at site 4.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e1“Results revealed N as the most yield-limiting nutrient, with yield responses ranging from 3260.1 kg ha −1 (site 6) to 5925.9 kg ha −1 (site 4)”
Claim · model-written summary
Phosphorus limitations were observed at 75% of sites.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e2“Phosphorus limitations were observed at 75% of sites (1239.6–3428.7 kg ha −1 response range)”
Claim · model-written summary
K effects were site-specific, observed at 50% of sites.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e3“while K effects were site-specific (50% of sites; 772.6–3176.2 kg ha −1 response range)”
Claim · model-written summary
Maximum mean yield response to N was 4487.6 kg ha −1.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e4“Maximum mean yield responses followed the order: N (4487.6 kg ha −1 ) > P (1865.5 kg ha −1 ) > K (1243.9 kg ha −1 )”
Claim · model-written summary
Maximum mean yield response to P was 1865.5 kg ha −1.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e4“Maximum mean yield responses followed the order: N (4487.6 kg ha −1 ) > P (1865.5 kg ha −1 ) > K (1243.9 kg ha −1 )”
Claim · model-written summary
Maximum mean yield response to K was 1243.9 kg ha −1.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e4“Maximum mean yield responses followed the order: N (4487.6 kg ha −1 ) > P (1865.5 kg ha −1 ) > K (1243.9 kg ha −1 )”
Claim · model-written summary
Agronomic efficiencies were 32.5, 46.6 and 24.9 kg grain per kg nutrient applied.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e1“with corresponding agronomic efficiencies of 32.5, 46.6, and 24.9 kg grain kg −1 nutrient applied”
Claim · model-written summary
Omissions of secondary and micronutrients (S, Zn, B) had no significant effect on maize yield and yield-related parameters.
- Treatment
- Secondary and micronutrients (S, Zn, B) omissionse5
- Outcome
- yield and yield-related parameterse5
- Direction
- no significant (p>0.05) effectse5
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e5“Secondary and micronutrients (S, Zn, B) omissions showed no significant (p>0.05) effects on yield and yield-related parameters”
Claim · model-written summary
The mean yield gap resulting from N omission was 89.0%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e6“The mean yield gaps resulting from N, P, and K omissions were 89.0%, 36.1% and 23.1%, respectively, confirming their limiting order as N > P > K”
Claim · model-written summary
The mean yield gap resulting from P omission was 36.1%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e6“The mean yield gaps resulting from N, P, and K omissions were 89.0%, 36.1% and 23.1%, respectively, confirming their limiting order as N > P > K”
Claim · model-written summary
The mean yield gap resulting from K omission was 23.1%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e6“The mean yield gaps resulting from N, P, and K omissions were 89.0%, 36.1% and 23.1%, respectively, confirming their limiting order as N > P > K”
Claim · model-written summary
The limiting order of nutrients for maize yield is N > P > K.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e6“The mean yield gaps resulting from N, P, and K omissions were 89.0%, 36.1% and 23.1%, respectively, confirming their limiting order as N > P > K”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil indigenous N supply was severely deficient, at 11% sufficiency.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e7“The SINS assessments corroborated these findings, revealing severe N deficiency (11% sufficiency) compared to moderate P (63.9%) and K (76.9%) availability”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil indigenous P availability was moderate, at 63.9% sufficiency.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e7“The SINS assessments corroborated these findings, revealing severe N deficiency (11% sufficiency) compared to moderate P (63.9%) and K (76.9%) availability”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil indigenous K availability was moderate, at 76.9% sufficiency.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e7“The SINS assessments corroborated these findings, revealing severe N deficiency (11% sufficiency) compared to moderate P (63.9%) and K (76.9%) availability”
Claim · model-written summary
Prioritized N management, strategic P application and site-specific K fertilization are recommended to bridge maize yield gaps.
- Outcome
- prioritized N management, strategic P application, and site-specific K fertilizatione2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize ( Zea mays L.) production in Ethiopia continues to exhibit substantial yield gaps”
e2“These findings underscore the imperative for prioritized N management, strategic P application, and site-specific K fertilization to bridge maize yield gaps in the Northwest Ethiopia”
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