Quick Response Code Journal homepage: https://www.easpublisher.com/ Copyright © 2024 The Author(s): This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY- NC 4.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium for non-commercial use provided the original author and source are credited. Citation: Mulugeta Eshetu, Tesfaye Ketema, Regassa Gosa, Daniel Abegeja (2024). Pre-Extension Demonstration of Phosphorus Fertilizer Recommendations Based on Soil Tests for Bread Wheat Production in the Sinana District, Bale Highland, Oromia, Southeastern Ethiopia. Cross Current Int J Agri Vet Sci, 6(4), 106-111. Published By East African Scholars Publisher, Kenya 106 Cross Current International Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences Abbreviated Key Title: Cross Current Int J Agri Vet Sci ISSN: 2663-2454 (Print) & Open Access DOI: https://doi.org/10.36344/ccijavs.2024.v06i04.003 Volume-6 | Issue-4 | Sep-Oct, 2024 | Original Research Article Pre-Extension Demonstration of Phosphorus Fertilizer Recommendations Based on Soil Tests for Bread Wheat Production in the Sinana District, Bale Highland, Oromia, Southeastern Ethiopia Mulugeta Eshetu 1* , Tesfaye Ketema 1 , Regassa Gosa 1 , Daniel Abegeja 1 1 Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Sinana Agriculture Research Center, Soil Fertility Improvement Research Team, Bale-Robe, Oromia Ethiopia *Corresponding author: Mulugeta Eshetu | Received: 21.09.2024 | Accepted: 26.10.2024 | Published: 29.10.2024 | Abstract: Participatory on-farm pre-extension demonstrations of soil test crop responses fertilizer recommendations were carried out for bread wheat production in the Sinana District. The study aimed to evaluate and demonstrate soil test crop responses fertilizer recommendations for bread wheat production and to enhance farmers' understanding and capabilities. The experiment was conducted across seven farmers' fields, with each field allocated 0.25 hectares per treatment. The treatments applied were based on specific recommendations using optimum nitrogen (46 kgha -1 ), phosphors requirement factor (Pf) (5.24), phosphorus critical level (Pc) (22 ppm) using bread wheat Galan verity 150 kgha -1 as test crop. During the experimental conducted in the Sinana District, two Farmer Research Groups (FRGs) having a total of 15 members were established. The results indicated that the highest grain yield of 60.325 kgha -1 was achieved with soil test-based fertilizer recommendations, while the lowest yield of 44.25 kgha -1 was obtained using traditional farmer practices. Soil test-based fertilizer recommendations significantly enhanced grain yield compared to traditional farmer practices, highlighting the effectiveness of targeted fertilizer application in optimizing crop production. Furthermore, the partial budget analysis demonstrated that soil test-based fertilizer recommendations yielded a net profit of 310,563.66 birr, with a remarkable marginal rate of return of 1190.83%. In contrast, the blanket recommendations used in traditional farmer practices were less profitable. Therefore, the dissemination of soil test-based fertilizer recommendations should be prioritized in the Sinana District and similar soil type and agroecology through scaling up and large-scale production is recommended. Keywords: Bread Wheat, Farmers Preferences, Farmers Research Group (FRG), Fertilizer Recommendation, Soil Test. INTRODUCTION Soil fertility depletion is a critical issue hindering sustainable crop production, particularly in areas affected by inadequate fertilizer use, climate change, soil erosion, and poor management practices. The crop productivity can vary significantly across different areas of a field, and this variation is largely influenced by the inputs applied, which should ideally be based on the specific soil fertility status in each area. Tadesse et al., (2016) highlights the importance of site- specific management practices, as uniform application of inputs might not optimize productivity across a field with variable soil fertility. Wheat production is significantly influenced by various factors, and soil fertility decline is one of the most critical. The continuous depletion of essential nutrients, due to factors like erosion, monocropping, and poor soil management, reduces the soil’s capacity to support optimal wheat yields. Studies like those by Kihara et al., (2022), Mulugeta et al., (2022), and Devate et al., (2023) emphasize how nutrient imbalances, declining organic matter, and suboptimal fertilization practices negatively impact wheat production. Addressing soil fertility depletion is vital for achieving sustainable agricultural production. This can be accomplished through integrated approaches that focus on balanced fertilizer use, soil conservation techniques, and improved land management. Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) practices, such as crop rotation, organic amendments, conservation tillage, and