Verification of the Effectiveness of Nano Liquid Fertilizer for Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Production in Bale Highland, Oromia, Ethiopia

Excessive synthetic fertilizer use harms soil, water, air, and nutrient efficiency, increasing costs. Nano-fertilizers are advanced synthetic fertilizers with readily available nutrients at the nanoscale, offering higher efficiency and environmental benefits over conventional fertilizers. Despite the fact that no research has been conducted on the effectiveness and potential of nano-fertilizers as alternative fertilizers for bread wheat production in Oromia, Ethiopia. A field experiment was conducted in Sinana and Goba Districts of Bale Highland during the 2024 main cropping season, locally named the bona season (July to December), with the objective of verifying the effectiveness/efficacy of nano fertilizer for bread wheat production in Oromia, Ethiopia. The experiment consisted of three treatments, viz., nano liquid (Nito and Ammo) fertilizer, control (without granular and nano fertilizers), and granular fertilizer. The foliar spray of nano liquid fertilizer was carried out on the 15th, 35th, and 50th days of planting using the factory recommendation. The results showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in yield and yield components of bread wheat between treatments. The highest grain yield (5800 kgha⁻¹) was obtained from conventional (granular) fertilizer, followed by nano fertilizer (4712 kg ha⁻¹), while the lowest (2419 kg ha⁻¹) was recorded in the control. Partial budget analysis showed that conventional fertilizer resulted in the highest net benefit of 249,450 ETB with a favorable marginal rate of return of 326.31%, while nano fertilizer achieved a net benefit of 211,974.73 ETB with an exceptionally high marginal rate of return of 157,989.47%. It can be concluded that conventional (granular) fertilizer and nano-fertilizer significantly improved bread wheat yield compared to controls, with conventional fertilizer achieving the highest yield. Further research should be recommended on the optimum rate, application times, and viability for bread wheat production across different agro-ecological zones and evaluate the practicality of nano-fertilizers as a supplement or alternative to conventional fertilizers to enhance efficiency and sustainability.