Optimizing Nitrogen and Phosphorus Management for Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency in Nitisols of Wadla District, North Wollo, Ethiopia Kassa Sisay, 1 Yihenew G.Selassie 2 , and Birru Yitaferu 3 1. Amhara Agricultural Research Institute, Sirinka agricultural Research Center 2. Stichting Wageningen Research Ethiopia (SWR-E) Wageningen University and Research 3. Senior Soil Scientist and Researcher Coordinator, CapSha Fertilizer DST Project Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) Soil fertility depletion, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, is a major constraint to wheat productivity in Ethiopia, influencing crop yields and food security. A field experiment was conducted to determine the optimum nitrogen and phosphorus rates for wheat yield, nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency, and economic returns in Wadla District, Ethiopia during the 2023/2024 cropping season. The experiment was arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatment was comprised of four N levels (46, 92, 138, and 184 kg ha⁻¹) and four P 2 O 5 levels (23, 46, 69, and 92 kg ha⁻¹). Yield and yield component parameters, plant sample for uptake, and use efficiency were collected. The collected data were analyzed using SAS (version 9.0), and mean separation was carried out using the Duncan Multiple Range Test at a 5% significance level. The results showed that the nutrient levels significantly influenced wheat growth, yield components, nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency, and economic returns. The highest performance economically yields and yield-related parameters were recorded with the combined application of 138 kg N ha⁻¹ and 69 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹, resulting in biomass and grain yields of 7.8 t ha⁻¹ and 3770 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. The maximum biological grain (3,840.0 kg ha -1 ) and biomass (7.91 tons ha-1) yields were recorded at 138 kg N ha⁻¹ with 92 kg P 2 O 5 ha⁻¹. Total nitrogen uptake was high for 138 kg N ha⁻¹ (82.52 kg N ha⁻¹), while phosphorus uptake was high for 69 kg P 2 O 5 ha⁻¹ (18.42 kg P ha⁻¹), with uptake efficiency decreasing at higher rates. Agronomic use efficiency, partial factor productivity, and recovery efficiency also reached their highest values at lowest to moderate N and P levels. Partial budget analysis indicates that the applications of 138 kg N ha⁻¹ with 69 kg P 2 O 5 ha⁻¹ gave the highest net benefit 258,954.2 ETB ha⁻¹ with marginal ret of return 5825.3 %. Therefore, the application of 138 kg N ha⁻¹ and 69 kg P 2 O 5 ha⁻¹ is recommended for maximizing wheat yield, economic returns and also enhancing nutrient uptake and nutrient efficiency in Wadla and similar agroecological areas. Further research should be done on the long-term residual effect of P and nutrient efficiency through regular soil testing and monitoring to enhance nutrient uptake while minimizing environmental footprints.