Response of Tef (<i>Eragrostis tef</i> (Zucc.) Trotter) to Balanced Fertilizer in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

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.

Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc)] grain yield response to nitrogen fertilizer rates in East Badewacho district, Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia

“…The improvements in 1000 seed weight due to N application rate might be the increase in chlorophyll concentration which led to a higher photosynthetic rate for grain development and then, reduce with further application of N rate (Table 3). In line with this result, Ekero et al (2021) found that the weight of 1000-grains was maximum when nitrogen was applied at a rate of 40 kg ha −1 in teff. Similarly, Anjum et al (2015) reported that the application of maximum N rate increased the 1000 seed weight in Mung bean.…”

“…This might be obtained due to the more availability of N that might have played a vital role in facilitating the growth and development of plants through cell division. Consistent with these results, Ekero et al, 2021;Fenta, 2018;Wato, 2019 reported a significantly maximum number of tillers in response to the application of a high N rate in tef. Likewise, Okubay et al (2014) reported that the number of fertile tillers per plant increased linearly with an increasing rate of applied SRU from 9 in the plots without N (control) to 22.67 in the plots supplied with 69 kg N ha −1 .…”

“…Thus, the tef plants attained significantly maximum plant height with a further increase in the N application rate. In line with this result (Ekero et al, 2021;Haftamu et al, 2009;Okubay et al, 2014) described that tef with upper plant height was obtained by applying the maximum amount of nitrogen rate. Similarly, Fenta (2018) revealed that tef plants treated with higher rates of nitrogen (92 kg ha −1 ) were taller (about 112.6 cm in mean height followed by 107.7 cm at 69 kg ha −1 ) than the rest rates of nitrogen fertilizer.…”

“…Similarly, Temesgen, 2001; Tesfahun, 2018 obtained significant differences in the lodging percentage of tef due to N application. Incoherent with these finding Ekero et al (2021) reported that the maximum result of lodging percentage was recorded from 50 kg/ha NPSB (30.50%) and the minimum was recorded from 0 kg/ha NPSB (28.25%).…”

Yield response of tef (Eragrostis tef) to nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur under balanced fertilization on Vertisols in different agroecological zones of Ethiopia

“…Tef is very sensitive to lodging because of high soil N or high external N application. Generally, tef harvest index is lower than other small grain cereals (Ekero et al 2021). The optimal N rates for tef production in SM4, M3, SH3 and SM3 were found to be 69, 92, 46 and 46 kg N ha −1 (Table 3).…”