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Tef is grown as an important domestic cereal in Ethiopia. Currently, global attention is given for it particularly as a "health food" due to the absence of gluten and gluten like proteins in its grains. Regardless of its wider adaptation, productivity of tef is low in the country with the national average grain yield of 1.379 tons•ha −1. This is mainly because of low soil fertility and severe organic matter depletion intensified by low rate of chemical fertilizer application. This study was conducted to evaluate effects of balanced fertilizers on the yield, yield components of tef and to determine economic feasibility for tef production in Wolaita. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with sixteen treatments replicated three times. The treatments consist of factorial combinations of four rates of K (Potassium) (0, 25, 50, and 100 kg/ha) and four rates of NPSB (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Boron) (0, 50, 100, 200 kg/ha) fertilizers. Fertilizer types such as urea (46-0-0), NPSB (18.9-37.7-6.95-0.1) and K (0-0-60) were used as a source of nutrients. The soil analysis result indicated that, most of the nutrients are below optimum level to support the potential crop production. This may be related with reduced farm management practices and continuous cropping with little or no fertilizers input. In this study, it was found that, the combined application of NPSB and K fertilizers had a significant effect on growth, yield and yield components of tef. Among the treatments studied, NPSB (100 Kg/ha) and K (50 Kg/ha) gave greater grain yield. Furthermore, this treatment enhanced growth and yield related parameters compared to the control treatment. Thus, it is conceivable to recommend each to attain greater grain yield of tef in the study area. However, it is desirable to undertake further research across soil type, years and locations to appeal comprehensive recommendation on a wider scale.

Soils are obviously inconstant and their properties are changing across land use types. Essential soil physico-chemical assets impact the performance of soil and, therefore, information on soil property is important. The objective of the study was to determine effects of different land use systems on soil physico-chemical properties in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia. Soil samples were collected from three different land uses, enset (Ensete ventricosum), tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) and grass lands. Each replicated three times and the composite sample was taken. All the properties are significantly different and determined using appropriate methods. Soil pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, texture, organic matter and phosphate in soil were determined experimentally to study the effects of land use on them. Changes in soil properties in dissimilar land usage forms at two pits (0-15 and 15-30 cm) were detected on various soil properties significant to crop growth. Enset fields had higher pH (5.80), electrical conductivity (EC (0.14 dS/m)), available P (35.25%) and Zn (8.64 mg/kg), exchangeable K (3.12 Cmol(+Kg) which is ascribed due to the input of dung, while tef fields had lowest average K (1.38 cmol (+kg) and Mg (1.89 cmol(+kg), cation exchange capacity (CEC (20.21 cmol(+kg)), total N (0.13%) and OC (1.76%). Most of the physico-chemical properties of the study region were significantly influenced by the different land uses. The evidence derived from the current study will support in mounting maintainable and environmentally constant land use management strategies for the

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ABSTRACT.A study was carried out with the objective of identifying the most suitable universal extractant for determination of selected micronutrients from soils. Composite surface soil samples (0-20 cm) were collected from Eastern Harargie Zone (Babile and Haramaya Districts), Wolaita Zone (Damot Sore, Boloso Bombe, Damot Pulasa and Humbo Districts) and Dire Dawa Administrative Council by purposive sampling. The treatments were arranged in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications at Haramaya University Soil Laboratory. The results showed that among the universal extractants examined for the determination of available Fe, Cu and Zn, the highest correlation coefficients (r = 0.95), (r = 0.99) and (r = 0.97) at (p < 0.001) were found between DTPA and AB-DTPA for available Fe, Cu and Zn, respectively. Therefore, AB-DTPA universal extractant can easily be adopted as a soil testing method for the determination of available Fe, Cu and Zn in some selected soils of Ethiopia. Similarly, the concentration of available Mn determined by DTPA method was significantly correlated with the amount determined by tested universal extractants. The highest correlation coefficients were found between DTPA and 0.01 M CaCl2 (r = 0.90), DTPA and 0.01 M BaCl2 (r = 0.87), DTPA and 0.02 M SrCl2 (r = 0.86), DTPA and 0.1 M BaCl2 (r = 0.89) and DTPA and AB-DTPA (r = 0.85). However, considering the use of universal extractant, AB-DTPA could be the most suitable universal extractant for the determination of available Mn in soils of the studied areas as well. Therefore, AB-DTPA extractant is considered to be superior and the most suitable universal extractant for determination of available Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn in soil of the studied areas.

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