Effects of Farm Yard Manure and NPS Fertilizer Rates on Growth and Yield of Garlic (<i>Allium sativum </i>L.) at Bale Highlands and Mid-Altitude

Garlic is one of the most vital plant in the world, coming in second after onions in terms of significance and production. However, due to inadequate agronomic methods, a lack of enhanced varieties, diseases, and insect pests, productivity per hectare is low. Hence, an on-farm experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of various NPS fertilizer and FYM rates on the growth and yield of garlic, as well as to determine the most cost-effective amounts of farm yard manure and NPS fertilizer for garlic cultivation. Four levels of factorial combinations were used in the treatments of FYM (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5tons ha<sup>-1</sup>) and five rates of NPS (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200kg ha<sup>-1</sup>), and were set up using three replications by randomized complete block design (RCBD). The greatest plant height (70.50cm) was noted at 150kg NPS ha<sup>-1</sup>, which was statistically comparable with 200 and 100kg NPS ha<sup>-1</sup>. The maximum bulb weight (30.77g) was achieved from 0.5 tone FYM ha<sup>-1</sup> and 150kg NPS ha<sup>-1</sup>. The highest yield (12.91 tone ha<sup>-1</sup>) was obtained from 0.5 tone FYM ha<sup>-1</sup> and 150kg NPS ha<sup>-1</sup>, while the lowest yield (9.76tone ha<sup>-1</sup>) was obtained from garlic that did not receive any FYM or NPS. The economic evaluation also indicated that the maximum net return of 2,316,300 ETB ha<sup>-1</sup>, with a marginal rate of return of 308.84%, was achieved using 0.5 ton FYM ha<sup>-1</sup> and 150kg NPS ha<sup>-1</sup>. Consequently, depending on the findings of the yield, growth and economic evaluation, the use of 0.5 ton FYM ha<sup>-1</sup> and 150kg NPS ha<sup>-1</sup> can be provisionally suggested to farmers cultivating in the research region.