Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production in Ethiopia is exclusively rainfed. The average national yield remains low comparing to the potentially attainable yield because of the common notion among producers that the crop does not need any nutrient inputs. The newly developed high-yielding cultivars have brought significant yield gains. However, their genetic potentials are still hampered by the traditional crop management practices used and the problematic Vertisol growing conditions. Yields of chickpea grown on Vertisols are limited by poor drainage when sown early and by drought when sown late. This calls for optimization of the balance with minimum tradeoffs in key economic traits. Here, we review research progress on chickpea over the past five decades in Ethiopia, with particular emphasis on crop management practices. The paper gives a comprehensive overview of research findings and information generated on the Vertisol cropping systems, where chickpea is the principal rotational crop under cereal-legume cultivation entailing substantial role in cropping system intensification. It has been noted that the productivity of Vertisol-grown chickpea is largely constrained more by lack of the use of best bet crop management practices than the genetics of a given cultivar. For instance, raised-bed method as compared to the conventional flatbed increased grain and biomass yields by about 74% and 58%, respectively. The current average farm yield of chickpea in Ethiopia is about 55% of the yield potential of the crop, suggesting that farmers can still have rooms to substantially increase yield using improved practices. Based on the cumulative evidences, it can be concluded that the yield potentials of genetically elite cultivars may not be realized without synergistic combination of improved management practices and adequate nutrient use. We, therefore, recommend the integrated use of improved crop management strategies, while the soil physical properties still deserve utmost research attention.
Poor agronomic management such as nutrient management and plant density are critical challenges of lentil production in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effects of different row spacing and phosphorus (P) applications on the seed yield of lentil at Ude and Minjar, in 2017 up to 2019. The experiment was conducted in completely randomized block design with three replications. The treatments were comprised of a factorial arrangement of three levels of row spacing (20, 30 and 40 cm) and four levels of P fertilizer (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P2O5 ha-1). The result revealed that at Ude, the row spacing x P fertilizer interactions was a significant effect on the biomass, seed, and haulm yield of lentil. However, at Minjar; only the main effects of row spacing and P fertilizer had a significant effect on biomass, seed, and haulm yield. Phosphorus agronomic use efficiency was significantly influenced by the interaction of row spacing and P fertilizer. As a result, the highest phosphorus agronomic use efficiency was recorded at 30 kg P2O5 ha-1coupled with 20 cm row spacing at both locations. The economic analysis revealed that 20 cm row spacing and 30 kg P2O5 ha-1fertilizer managements gave the highest net benefit and acceptable marginal rate of return (MRR) as compared to other practices at both locations. Therefore, 20 cm row spacing and 30 kg P2O5 ha-1rate of fertilizer would be recommended to enhance the productivity of lentil in the study areas.
In order to investigation the effects of blended NPSB and N fertilizer rates on physiological and growth indices in durum wheat, a randomized complete block design in a factorial arrangement and replicated 3 times per treatment was conducted in research field of Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center in 2017 and 2018 under rain-fed condition. The treatments consisted of 4 levels of blended (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg NPSB ha-1) and N (0, 46, 69 and 92 kg N ha-1) fertilizers. The results revealed that leaf area index (LAI) at 64 days after sowing (DAS), crop growth rate (CGR) at 34-64 and 64-94 DAS, relative growth rate (RGR) at 34-64 DAS were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the interaction effects of blended NPSB and N fertilizers. Chlorophyll content (CHL), plant height (PH), days to heading (DH), and days to physiological maturity (DPM) were significantly influenced only by N levels. The highest LAI (4.50), CGR (4.37 g m-2°C days-1) at 34-64 DAS and (14.81g m-2°C days-1) at 64-94 DAS and RGR (0.0077 g g-1°C days-1) at 34-64 DAS were observed at combined application of 150 kg blended NPSB with 92 kg N ha-1. The highest PH (89.4 cm), CHL (40.09), DH (60.92 days) and DPM (116.75 days) were noted in 92 kg N ha. On overall performance application of 150 kg NPSB with 92 kg N/ha levels showed better results on the growth and physiological traits of durum wheat as compared to other blended and N levels.
Field bindweed is the major weed problem for tef producers across the central highlands of Ethiopia. Herbicide application alone or coupled with once or twice hand weeding for field bindweed control is difficult due to its biological features, labor-intensive, and time-consuming. The field trial was carried out at Debre Zeit from 2020 to 2021 cropping seasons to investigate different postemergence herbicides against the grass and broadleaf weeds, in general, and field bindweed in particular, in tef farming, using a randomized complete block design with three replications. As a result, we could see that the herbicide combination had no visible effect on durum wheat’s overall performance, which makes us recommend it for the control of field bindweed. In the sequential application, a wide spectrum of herbicides (Musket Power OD 460, Pallas 45 OD, and Sekator OD 375) were applied at tillering stage, and other selective herbicides (Derby 175 SC and 2,4-diamine salt 720 g/L 720 g/L) were applied at the heading stage, and the last nonselective herbicide (Roundup) was applied at physiological maturity of tef when the Convolvulus arvensis was regrowth naturally/latecomer weed. All postemergency herbicide treatments reduced significantly both broadleaf and grass weeds, in general, and C. arvensis infestation, in particular, when compared to the weedy control. Of these, Musket Power OD 460 at tillering stage integrated with 2,4-diamine salt 720 g/L at the heading stage was more effective than other herbicides for eliminating all weeds and C. arvensis in particular throughout the crop life. This weed management option resulted in considerably enhanced weed control efficiency and weed killing potential, reduced weed dry biomass and yield loss, improved grain yield, and economic benefit with an acceptable marginal rate of return for tef growers.
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