Abstract
In Ethiopia, depletion of soil fertility is a significant barrier to sustainable agricultural production, especially in the highland regions where land use is intense. The focus of this study was to investigate how vermicompost (VC) and nitrogen (N) fertilization, alone and in conjunction with one another, affect the physical and chemical characteristics of soil and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield at Kulumsa Agricultural Research Centre during the 2022 main growing season. This investigation consisted of 4 levels each of VC (0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 t ha–1) and N (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha–1) created through a two-way factorial arrangement within a randomized complete block design with three replications. Soil samples were taken prior to planting and after harvest so that the physical and chemical characteristics of soil could be tested, while the yield of wheat grain was measured once harvested. The findings from this research determine that applying vermicompost to soil can enhance its physical characteristics (such as decreasing bulk density while increasing total porosity and available water holding capacity) as well as improve its chemical properties (such as increasing organic carbon content; increasing plant available phosphorus levels; increasing exchangeable bases in the soil; and increasing cation exchange capacity). The combined effects of applying vermicompost and nitrogen fertilizer interacted positively to affect soil pH, total nitrogen content in addition to increasing the crop yield of wheat. The highest yield of wheat was achieved with the addition of 5 tha-1 vermicompost and 100 kg N/ha (i.e., 6.66 tha-1) resulting in the greatest net economic return and acceptable marginal returns. Therefore, the integrated application of 5 t ha⁻¹ vermicompost and 100 kg N ha⁻¹ is recommended to improve soil fertility and wheat productivity in the study area and similar agro-ecological conditions.
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