Adaptability Evaluation and Selection of Improved Tef Varieties in Growing Areas of Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Eight Tef varieties including local checks were evaluated with the objective of selecting adaptable, best performing varieties and to assess farmers' criteria for Tef variety selection during 2008 and 2009 cropping season at Areka and Hossana stations of Areka Agricultural Research center in the Southern region of Ethiopia. In the study the Tef varieties namely Koye, Gimbichu, Quncho, Dega Tef, Keytena, Amarach and Ajora-1 were collected from the Federal and regional Research center along with local checks, Ethiopia, and Regional Agricultural Research Institute. These materials were put into trial at Areka Agricultural Research center station farms at Areka and Hossana of Wolayta and Hadiya Zones. The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Each plot measured 3 m × 3 m with 1 m between plots and 1.5 m between blocks. Sowing was done within the last week of July to 1st week of August 2008 and 2009. Data on various characters, such as plant height, panicle length, days to heading, and days to maturity and grain yield. Data was subjected to analysis of variance and there was highly significant difference (p<0.01) among the varieties for grain yield and some of agronomic traits. The results for the trials indicated that there were significant yield differences between the local check and the released varieties at two stations. At Areka, the combined analysis of variance over years indicated that varieties Koye, Amarch and Quncho gave the highest grain yield viz., 988.7, 984.3 and 958.7 kg/ha respectively. Similarly, at Hosanna, varieties Gimbichu, Quncho and koye out yielded other varieties and had yield advantage of 31.9, 25.14 and 15.14% over local variety, respectively. Both combined across locations over year's analysis and farmers' assessments identified two varieties Quncho and Koye as potential varieties for wider production. This result also indicated that farmers were as capable as Researchers in varietal choice. Therefore, based on objectively measured traits (grain yield, days to maturity, plant height, panicle length, days to heading and farmers' preference, Koye and Quncho are recommended for wider cultivation in Areka and Hossana areas of south Ethiopia while varieties (Amarach and Gimbichu) showed specific adaptability for Areka and Hossana areas respectively.

Performance evaluation of tef varieties for yield and yield related traits in east Gojam zone of Amhara region

“…in contrast variety, Areka1 showed an early heading date (56 days) followed by DZ-Cr-442 (Filagot) 56.33 days. (Chondie and Bekele, 2017) also reported similar results for days to 50% heading for tested varieties Plant height: Plant height which has a direct relation with lodging index showed a highly significant difference among tested varieties that ranged from 93.27to to 120.10 cm. Maximum plant height was recorded in variety DZ-01-256 (Jitu) 120.10 cm followed by variety DZ-Cr-453 (RIL-120B) 113.43 cm and variety DZ-Cr-429 (RII 29) (Washera) 108.…”

Determination of Selected Essential and Non-Essential Metals in Three Types of Teff (&lt;i&gt;Eragrostis tef&lt;/i&gt;) Cultivated in Southern Ethiopia

“…Teff is greatly valued by farmers and consumers in Gamogofa, Gurage, Hadiya, Kembata-Tembaro, Halaba and kaffa which are the main producing zones in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS) [4]. Teff varieties were adaptable to the ecological conditions in altitudes that range from near sea level to 3000 m.a.s.l and are often grown in an environment unfavorable for many cereals, but in Ethiopia the best performance occurs between 1100 and 2950 m.a.s.l [5]. It grows in dry as well as water-logged soils, can tolerate anoxic situations better than other cereals, and is resistant to many pests and diseases [6].…”