Effect of Seed Rate and Row Spacing on Tef (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;Trotter) Production at Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Serkalem Tamiru,Almaz Meseret Gezahegn

doi:10.11648/j.jps.20210903.11

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted for three consecutive years (2012-2014) to determine optimum seed rate and row spacing for increasing productivity of tef at central highlands of Ethiopia. The experiment was designed in a randomized complete block design with a factorial combination of three levels of seed rates (5, 10 and 15 kg/ha) and three rows spaces (15, 20, 25cm) with three replications in a factorial arrangement. One satellite treatment of broadcasting of 25 kg/ha seed rate was included. Results revealed that plant height and number of tillers were not significantly affected by a combination of seed rate and row spacing, however, panicle length was significantly affected by a combination of seed rate and row spacing. The lowest seed rate (5kg/ha) with 25 cm row spacing gave the highest panicle length. Yield and yield components of tef were also significantly affected by a combination of seed rate and row spacing at both locations. At both locations, 10 kg/ha seed rate with 20 cm and broadcasted with 25kg/ha seed rate gave significantly higher grain yield, but were not significantly different from other treatments except 5 kg seed rate with 25 cm row spacing. The Partial budget analysis revealed that highest net benefit was recorded from 10 kg/ha seed rate with 20 cm row spacing. Therefore, a seed rate of 10 kg/ha with 20 cm row spacing can be recommended for higher and economic yield of tef at central highlands of Ethiopia.

Highlights

Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) is a staple food for the majority of Ethiopian population and adapted to a wide range of environment including situation which is unfavorable to the production of different crops [1]
The crop prefer to grow by Ethiopian farmers due to multiple advantages such as low risk crop, low postharvest management cost, high market value, and straw of tef is the best feed for animal feed as compared to different cereal crops, [2]
At Debre Zeit, the highest panicle length was obtained when tef was planted at seed rate of 5 cm with 25 and 20 row spacing, but were not significantly different (P>0.05) from other seed rate planted in row

Summary

Introduction

Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) is a staple food for the majority of Ethiopian population and adapted to a wide range of environment including situation which is unfavorable to the production of different crops [1]. The crop prefer to grow by Ethiopian farmers due to multiple advantages such as low risk crop, low postharvest management cost, high market value, and straw of tef is the best feed for animal feed as compared to different cereal crops, [2]. Tef has the significance value in terms of both production and consumption in Ethiopia. It positions first in area coverage and second in total annual production following to maize, and positions the bottommost yield compared with other cereals grown in Ethiopia [8, 9]. Tef covers for about 22.6% of the total area and 16% of the total crop production of the main cereals produced in Ethiopia [8]. The low productivity of tef in Ethiopia is largely attributed to its susceptibility to lodging, its small seed size, moisture stresses [10], and poor agronomic management practices, such as lack of appropriate sowing method and optimum seeding rate [11]

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion