Authors: P. R. Simatwo 1; P. S. Oluko 2; , S. Kebeney 3
1Ministry of Agriculture, P.O.Box 95, Eldoret, Kenya , e-mail: psimatwo[at]yahoo.com
2Kibabii University, Department of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, P.O. Box 1699-50200, Bungoma, Kenya
3University of Eldoret, Department of Soil Science, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
Abstract:
The study aimed at investigating response of wheat spikelet length, grain yield, grains per spikelet, and soil chemical properties as influenced by liming at 2tha-1 (main plots), P sources NPK (23:23:0), DAP (18:46:0), and SSP (0:20:0) (SSP)- (sub-plots) and, P rates (sub sub-plots) P0; 0 kg P ha-1, P1; 8.8 kg Pha-1, P2; 17.6 kg Pha-1 and P3; 26.4 kg Pha-1. A split-split plot arrangement laid out in a RCBD experiment was set up in two county sites; Chepkoilel and Kipsangui in 4 m2 plots, replicated 3 times. Data collected on spikelet length, grain per spikelet and grain yields were subjected to ANOVA using SAS 9.1 for Windows 2012 statistical package. Separation of means was done at 95% confidence level using Tukeys. Lime application significantly increased (p?0.05) the spikelet length and grains/spikelet in both Chepkoilel and Kipsangui. Phosphorus rich fertilizer NPK application resulted in a significant (p?0.001) increase in spikelet length and grains/spikelet in Chepkoilel and Kipsangui. NPK at 26.4 kg P/ha yielded a significantly high grains/spikelet (37.0k and 36.17g grains/spikelet) in Kipsangui and Chepkoilel respectively. The study recommends NPK (23:23:0) fertilizers at a rate of 26.4 kg P ha-1 for Chepkoilel and Kipsangui plus lime at 2tha-1 as most effective in improving spikelet length, grain per spikelet and grain yield.
Keywords: soil acidity, Spikelet length, Lime, wheat, Phosphorus
