Determination of yield response factors for different varieties of teff

Abstract

AbstractThe yield response factor (Ky) at different crop growth stages for different varieties of teff is important to identify the sensitivity stage to water stress for irrigation water management. However, Ky is affected by crop variety and agroclimatic conditions, but there has been no study for different varieties of teff. Therefore, this study focused on the determination of Ky for different varieties of teff. In total, 18 treatments were designed as randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Crop evapotranspiration was measured using a weighing‐type lysimeter. Yield response factors were determined as a function of yield and crop evapotranspiration at each crop growth stage of teff. Accordingly, the stagewise Ky for the Tseday teff variety was 0.32, 0.39, 0.55 and 0.06 and for the Quncho teff variety 0.19, 0.24, 0.56 and 0.03 for the vegetative, flowering, yield formation and ripening growth stages, respectively. The seasonal Ky values for Tseday and Quncho were 1.30 and 1.11, respectively. Therefore, water stress during the yield formation growth stage is not recommended, whereas it is possible to adopt irrigation water stress at the ripening growth stage to save water. The saved water will be used for the extension of irrigable agricultural areas.