Growth, yield components, and yield response of food barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to the application of sulfur nutrient under balanced fertilization at North Central Highland of Ethiopia

Deficiency of sulfur (S) is increasingly being reported in the soils of Ethiopia. While some studies have shown significant response of barley to S application, information on the response of barley to S application is conspicuously lacking. The average yield of barley in Ethiopia is lower compared to the world and potential yield. It is mostly constrained by the depletion of soil fertility, caused by imbalanced fertilization, limited application of organic manure, intensive cropping. A field experiment was conducted at two locations for three consecutive years (2014–2016) to determine the effect of S on growth, yield components, and yield of food barley. An experiment consisting of six levels S (0, 10, 20,30,40, and 50 kg ha−1) laid out in RCB design with three replications. The study results revealed that growth and yield components of barley were not affected by various levels of S. In the case of barley grain and straw yield was significantly affected by S levels compared to control treatment. Application of S at 20 kg ha−1 increased grain and straw yield of food barley by 16.8 and 20.2% compared to control, respectively. Application of 20 kg S ha−1 produced the highest marginal rate of return (MMR) (3493.2%). The present result revealed that barley yield has been improved by the application of S fertilizer. Therefore, the application of 20 kg S ha−1 is initiate to be the further most economically feasible treatment for food barley production in the Basona woreba district.