Verification of the Effectiveness of Nano Liquid Fertilizer for Food Barely (Hordeum vulgare L.) Production in Bale Highland Oromia, Ethiopia

The excessive and unbalanced use of conventional fertilizers degrades soil, water, and air quality, while reducing nutrient efficiency and raising costs. Nano-fertilizers, with their nanoscale nutrients, offer improved efficiency and environmental advantages over traditional fertilizers. However, no research has been conducted on their potential as alternative fertilizers for food barley 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 food barley 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 food barley between treatments. The highest grain yield (4796 kg ha⁻¹) was obtained from conventional (granular) fertilizer, followed by nano fertilizer (3842 kg ha⁻¹), while the lowest (2171 kg ha⁻¹) was recorded in the control. Partial budget analysis showed that conventional fertilizer resulted in the highest net benefit of 290,598 ETB with a favorable marginal rate of return of 423.32%, while nano fertilizer achieved a net benefit of 241,980.73 ETB with an exceptionally high marginal rate of return of 161,188.49%. It can be concluded that conventional (granular) fertilizer and nano-fertilizer significantly improved food barely 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 food barely 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.