GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF WHEAT IN RESPONSE TO WATER AND N-P FERTILIZERS IN TIGRAY, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA.

Abstract
The study was conducted at two locations in Mekelle, Northern Ethiopia, in 2012 to investigate the effect of supplementary irrigation, and phosphorus and nitrogen rates on wheat (cv. HAR2501). The experiment was designed as a two factorial RCBD with three replications, and spacing between treatments and blocks 1m and 1.5m respectively. Three fertilizer (0, 50% &100% N-P2O5) and supplementary irrigation (Rainfed, two deficit and full or six irrigations) treatments were used. Soil sampling before sowing was taken to test the physico-chemical properties. Grain yield, above ground biomass, plant height, spike length, sequential dry matter, leaf area index, canopy cover were recorded. Data on days to emergence, booting, flowering, maximum canopy cover, and days to maturity were recorded. Fertilizer use efficiency, Irrigation Water use efficiency, Crop water requirement, irrigation schedule, and ETo were computed. All crop parameters collected from each treatment were analyzed by using Genstat 12ed. and Minitab statistical software. ANOVA, mean comparison (LSD, p=5%) of the different parameters for each treatment and correlation between parameters were analyzed. According to the ANOVA, Plant height, number of tillers per meter square, spike length, grain yield, grain weight per spike, number of grains per spike, above ground biomass, nitrogen use efficiency and irrigation water use efficiency were significantly (p<0.05) affected with application of N-P fertilizers at the two sites. Application of two deficit and full (six irrigations) irrigations affected straw yield, harvest index, spike length, thousand grain weight, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) significantly (p<0.05) at Endayesus and Industry (IK) sites. The highest harvest index 50.59% and thousand grain weight 40.15g were obtained from application of full irrigation, and application of 100% (64-46kg/ha N-P2O5) resulted the highest straw yield, number of grains per spike, grain yield and spike length 5520 kg/ha, 35, 2455kg/ha, and 8.51cm respectively and the highest irrigation water use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency 6.14kg/m3 and 62.84 kg/kg from application of deficit irrigation and 32-23 kg/ha NP2O5 respectively. Therefore, from the findings obtained in this experiment, further researches could better be conducted across locations and, water and fertilizer regimes to identify the economic importance. Key words: wheat, fertilizer, irrigation, Northern Ethiopia