Abstract
Abstract Tef [ Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is an indigenous Ethiopian cereal which helps provide healthy and nutritious diets for people and a palatable straw for livestock feed. This study was conducted to determine the variation in grain-straw yield and straw quality traits of 35 tef varieties and a local check grown in two locations for two years. Straw crude protein (CP), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), metabolizable energy (ME) and the yields of grain (GY) and straw (STY) were significantly (P < 0.01) affected by variety, environment and their interactions. GY, CP, ME and IVOMD were significantly higher in the Debre Zeit site compared to Holetta and, except for GY, in 2016 compared to 2015. About 150% and 25% higher mean CP content was recorded in Debre Zeit than in Holetta, and in 2016 than 2015, respectively. Positive and significant (P<0.01) associations were observed between GY and STY, among CP, ME and IVOMD, and among NDF, ADF and ADL. Among all studied varieties, Melko produced the highest grain-straw yield and best fodder quality traits. Based on the yields and qualities of both grain and straw, the production of Gimbichu , Quncho and Gola varieties conferred more than 40% economic advantage over the local check in the local markets. Our study generally identified varieties with high grain-straw yield and/or straw quality traits which provided economic advantages for tef production and an opportunity for future utilization in tef improvement programs.
Highlights
Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is an indigenous cereal crop widely grown in Ethiopia, where it is cultivated on 3.1 million hectares of land by 7.1 million households and produces approximatley 5.7 million tons of grain annually [1]
Combined analysis of variance for grain-straw yield and straw quality traits revealed that the mean square values for all studied traits were significantly (P < 0.01) affected by the variety (G) and the location (L) (Table 3)
The variation and relationships in food and feed traits due to the effect of growing environment and varieties was assessed in 36 tef varieties, including a local check
Summary
Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is an indigenous cereal crop widely grown in Ethiopia, where it is cultivated on 3.1 million hectares of land by 7.1 million households and produces approximatley 5.7 million tons of grain annually [1]. Though tef adapts to a wide range of environments including soil, altitude, rainfall and temperature conditions, its grain-straw yield and quality is a function of the genotype, the environment and of their interactions [4, 7]. This is not unusual and environmental factors significantly affect the quality of forage crops, those grown in environments with varying degrees of different stresses [8]. The effect of drought on forage quality is usually only slightly negative, and can even be positive, if the stress on leaf mass is not severe, and the effect of soil nutrients on forage quality of many grasses is relatively small [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
