Effect of Integrated Use of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer on Soil Chemical Properties in Laelaymaichew, Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

Low soil fertility is the major constraint in crop productivity in Tigray region including Laelaymaichew woreda. Enhancement of crop productivity by application of inorganic fertilizer alone constrained by rising cost of chemical fertilizer calls for alternative fertilizer. Compost as the organic waste can be a valuable and inexpensive fertilizer and source of plant nutrient, but its shortage is a limiting factor. Integrated nutrient management, compost with chemical fertilizer could be the best approach to overcome the soil fertility problem in the area. This creates a need for understanding the interaction and combined effect of the natural and manmade sources of plant nutrients. A field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of combined use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources on soil chemical property. A 4x3 factorial experiment consisting of four levels of compost fertilizer (0 t/h, 4 t/ha, 8t/ha, 12 t/ha) were combined with rates of chemical fertilizers (0, 50/50kg/ha and 100 /100kg/ha of Urea and DAP, respectively) was laid out in RCB design with three replications. Surface soil samples (0-30cm) before planting and after harvesting (composite sample) from each treatment were collected composite sampling and analyzed for soil PH,EC,CEC ,OM, av.P and K and TN using standard laboratory The results revealed that soil Ph, Organic matter , CEC, av.P and Nitrogen contents of the soil increased with the use of compost which combines with chemical fertilizer (p<0.05).