Nitrogen use efficiency in wheat through integrated fertilizer management in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia

Abstract

Excessive nitrogen fertilizer application often results in disproportionately high nitrogen losses relative to yield gains. Therefore, this study, conducted in 2024, evaluated wheat nitrogen use efficiencies under integrated applications of mineral nitrogen and vermicompost. The experiment consisted of four nitrogen levels (0, 34.5, 51.75, and 69 kg N ha⁻ 1 ) and three vermicompost (VC) levels (0, 3.52, and 7.04 t ha⁻ 1 ), arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were analyzed using R software, and mean separation was performed using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at a 5% probability level. Results showed that the main and interaction effects of N and VC significantly ( P < 0.05) influenced wheat harvest index (HI), agronomic use efficiency (AE) and partial factor productivity (PFP). The highest HI (49.76 ± 0.65) was obtained from the combined application of 69 kg N ha⁻ 1 and 7.04 t VC ha⁻ 1 , whereas the lowest HI (38.10 ± 0.36) was recorded under the control treatment. The maximum agronomic use efficiency (AE), 37.05 kg kg⁻ 1 , was achieved with 3.52 t VC ha⁻ 1 alone, while the lowest AE (21.31 ± 0.69 kg kg⁻ 1 ) occurred under the application of 69 kg N ha⁻ 1 + 3.52 t VC ha⁻ 1 . Similarly, the highest partial factor productivity (PFP), 207.9 ± 4.97 kg kg⁻ 1 , was recorded under 3.52 t VC ha⁻ 1 alone, whereas the lowest PFP (42.99 ± 0.54 kg kg⁻ 1 ) was obtained from 69 kg N ha⁻ 1 + 7.04 t VC ha⁻ 1 . Overall, AE, PFP, and physiological efficiency (PE) declined as the nitrogen rate increased. To improve wheat yield and nitrogen use efficiency, optimizing the timing and method of nitrogen application is more effective than simply increasing the fertilizer rate. Further research across multiple locations and years on permanent plots is recommended to validate these findings and assess residual effects on soil fertility and wheat productivity.

Abstract from the paper’s OpenAlex record; open copy licensed cc-by-nc-nd. Read at the source ↗

The text the model read, with the source record’s inline markup (italics, sub- and superscripts) rendered and its character entities decoded; quote offsets refer to the raw text.

Claims 9

Associationobservedoriginal resultsignificant (as stated)measured

Claim · model-written summary

Main and interaction effects of N and vermicompost significantly influenced wheat harvest index, agronomic use efficiency and partial factor productivity.

Taxon: wheatTriticum aestivume0
Treatment: N and VCe0
Outcome: harvest index (HI), agronomic use efficiency (AE) and partial factor productivity (PFP)e0

Not reportedDirection

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

*Triticum aestivum* · TaxonRasbak · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The combined application of 69 kg N and 7.04 t VC per hectare gave the highest harvest index (49.76 ± 0.65).

Taxon: wheatTriticum aestivume0
Treatment: combined application of 69 kg N ha⁻ 1 and 7.04 t VC ha⁻ 1e1
Outcome: HIe1
Direction: higheste1
Value: 49.76 ± 0.65e1

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultnegativemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The control treatment gave the lowest harvest index (38.10 ± 0.36).

Taxon: wheatTriticum aestivume0
Treatment: control treatmente2
Outcome: HIe2
Direction: loweste2
Value: 38.10 ± 0.36e2

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The maximum agronomic use efficiency (37.05 kg kg-1) was achieved with 3.52 t VC per hectare alone.

Taxon: wheatTriticum aestivume0
Treatment: 3.52 t VC ha⁻ 1 alonee3
Outcome: agronomic use efficiency (AE)e3
Direction: maximume3
Value: 37.05 kg kg⁻ 1e3

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultnegativemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The lowest agronomic use efficiency (21.31 ± 0.69 kg kg-1) occurred under 69 kg N plus 3.52 t VC per hectare.

Taxon: wheatTriticum aestivume0
Treatment: 69 kg N ha⁻ 1 + 3.52 t VC ha⁻ 1e4
Outcome: AEe4
Direction: loweste4
Value: 21.31 ± 0.69 kg kg⁻ 1e4

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The highest partial factor productivity (207.9 ± 4.97 kg kg-1) was recorded under 3.52 t VC per hectare alone.

Taxon: wheatTriticum aestivume0
Treatment: 3.52 t VC ha⁻ 1 alonee5
Outcome: partial factor productivity (PFP)e5
Direction: higheste5
Value: 207.9 ± 4.97 kg kg⁻ 1e5

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultnegativemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The lowest partial factor productivity (42.99 ± 0.54 kg kg-1) was obtained from 69 kg N plus 7.04 t VC per hectare.

Taxon: wheatTriticum aestivume0
Treatment: 69 kg N ha⁻ 1 + 7.04 t VC ha⁻ 1e6
Outcome: PFPe6
Direction: loweste6
Value: 42.99 ± 0.54 kg kg⁻ 1e6

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

Associationobservedoriginal resultnegativemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Agronomic use efficiency, partial factor productivity and physiological efficiency declined as the nitrogen rate increased.

Taxon: wheatTriticum aestivume0
Treatment: nitrogen ratee7
Outcome: AE, PFP, and physiological efficiency (PE)e7
Direction: declinede7

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

Recommendationauthor interpretationoriginal resultbasis n/a

Claim · model-written summary

The authors recommend optimizing the timing and method of nitrogen application rather than simply increasing the fertilizer rate, to improve wheat yield and nitrogen use efficiency.

Taxon: wheatTriticum aestivume0
Outcome: optimizing the timing and method of nitrogen applicatione7

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

nitrogen · yield · Triticum aestivum (wheat)Positive and negative results

2,061 papers: 1,737 positive, 324 negative or no effect

1,736 papers in the same direction as this paper · 285 in the opposite direction · 39 reporting no difference from an alternative

positive
Nitrogen levels significantly increased wheat grain yield, optimum at 125 kg N ha-1 with 6.33 t ha-1.
Nutrient use efficiency (NUE) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as affected by NPK fertilization · 2022
Same directionCited by this paper
positive
The 75% urea and 25% farm manure treatment, followed by 50% urea and 50% farm manure, gave better wheat growth and yield.
Integrated use of farm manure and synthetic nitrogen fertilizer improves nitrogen use efficiency, yield and grain quality in wheat · 2020
Same directionCited by this paper
positive
Increasing nitrogen up to 69 kg N ha-1 significantly increased total aboveground biomass and grain yield of bread wheat.
Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency of Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) as Influenced by Time and Rate of Nitrogen Application in Enderta, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia · 2017
Same directionCited by this paper

2,057 papers more in this group

See all 2,061 papers →

fertilization · yield · Triticum aestivum (wheat)Positive and negative results

3,438 papers: 3,115 positive, 323 negative or no effect

3,114 papers in the same direction as this paper · 284 in the opposite direction · 39 reporting no difference from an alternative

negative
Nitrogen above 69 kg N ha-1 decreased total aboveground biomass and grain yield of bread wheat.
Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency of Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) as Influenced by Time and Rate of Nitrogen Application in Enderta, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia · 2017
Opposite directionCited by this paper
no effect
RF wheat yields no significant differences.
Optimized Fertilization Enhances Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Yield and Quality in Ningxia Irrigated Silty Soil: Physio-Ecological Mechanisms · 2026 · compared with TF
Opposite directionCites this paper
positive
T10 produced the highest wheat grain yield among the treatments.
Integrated Nutrient Management for Improving, Fertilizer Use Efficiency, Soil Biodiversity and Productivity of Wheat in Irrigated Rice Wheat Cropping System in Indo-Gangatic Plains of India · 2017 · compared with other treatments
Same directionCited by this paper

3,434 papers more in this group

See all 3,438 papers →

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.

Abstract

Claims 9

The same questions in other papers

nitrogen · yield · Triticum aestivum (wheat)Positive and negative results

fertilization · yield · Triticum aestivum (wheat)Positive and negative results