The effect of combined inorganic and organic fertilizer on maize yield at Bako Agricultural Research Center in Western Ethiopia

Low soil fertility and nutrient availability are key constraints that limit maize productivity in western Ethiopia. A study was conducted to evaluate the impact of combining vermicompost and NPS fertilizer rates on maize yield and yield components at Bako Agricultural Research Center (BARC). The experiment involved four levels of vermicompost (0, 2.32, 3.48, and 4.64 tons ha ^− 1 ) and four levels of NPS fertilizer (0, 50, 75, and 100 kg ha ^− 1 ) in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The application of 4.64 tons ha ^− 1 of vermicompost resulted in significantly higher ear heights (108.3 cm), while the highest ear height (108.56 cm) was achieved with 100 kg NPS ha ^− 1 . The combination of 4.64 tons ha-1 of vermicompost and 100 kg NPS ha ^− 1 led to the best overall performance in terms of plant height, days to silking and tasseling, grain yield, harvest index, above-ground biomass yield, and thousand seed weight. The most profitable combination was found to be 2.32 tons VC ha ^− 1 and 100 kg NPS ha ^− 1 , with a net profit of 112030 ETB and an MRR of 3161.5%. This combination showed superior grain yield and economic benefits and is recommended for maize production in the area.