Planting Density and Time of Safflower Relay Intercropping in Tef (Eragrostis Tef) at Sebatamit Kebele in Bahir Dar Zuria District, Amhara Region

Hosaena Tilahun

doi:10.7176/jbah/9-7-04

Abstract

On-farm factorial experiment was conducted during the main cropping season of 2015/16 in Bahir Dar Zuria District, at Sebatamit village to study the effect of planting density and time of safflower relay intercropping in tef on growth and yields of components crops. Factorial combinations of three time of safflower relay intercropping (42, 57 and 72 days after tef sowing DATS), two inter-row spacing (40 and 60 cm) and two intra-row spacing (20 and 30 cm), and two sole cropping of tef and safflower were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) at three replications. “Kuncho” Tef and “Quihar” safflower cultivars were used as experimental planting materials. The ANOVA results showed that, except grain yield, all growth and yield parameters of tef were not significantly affected by main and interaction effects of planting density and time of safflower relay intercropping in tef. The main and interaction effects of time of relay cropping, inter- and intra- row spacing of safflower were significant on most growth and yield components of safflower crop. The highest grain yield of safflower was recorded in the treatment combination of relay intercropping after 42 days of tef sowing and 60cm by 20cm inter- and intra-row spacing of safflower (1307.19k.g/ha). Indeed, relay intercropping of safflower after 57 days of tef sowing had also similar effect on safflower grain yield as that of 42 days. The lowest grain yield of safflower was recorded in the treatment combination of relay cropping after 72 days of tef sowing and 60cm by 20cm inter- and intra-row spacing of safflower (163.39k.g/ha). The highest land equivalent ration-LER (1.79) and monetary advantage index-MAI (34563.28 birr ha-1) were obtained from the treatment combination of 42 DATS and 60cm by 20cm inter- and intra-row spacing of safflower. The result clearly showed that, with relay intercropping of safflower in tef, it is possible to produce additional yield of safflower without significant reduction in tef yield. As a result of this, safflower relay intercropping after 42 days of tef sowing, after three tef row with 20cm intra row spacing can be recommended as an efficient relay intercropping system to be used by the farmers around the study area. Keywords: Tef; safflower; relay intercropping; inter- and intra-row spacing; growth and yield components DOI : 10.7176/JBAH/9-7-04 Publication date : April 30 th 2019

Highlights

Tef Phenology Days to Heading The analysis of variance results showed that days to 50% heading of tef were not significantly affected (P > 0.05) by plant density and time of safflower relay intercropping (Table 3)
The authors further suggested that this might be due to early planting of rice in relay intercropping system takes advantage in peak resource demands for nutrients, water, and sunlight for all treatments
The outcome of this experiment concludes that relay intercropping of safflower with tef in different time of relay intercropping, inter- and intra- row spacing showed influence on yield and yield components of safflower crop but not on tef yield components except grain yield as compared with sole crop of tef because the time of relay intercropping was delayed by minimum of 42 days to active growth of tef crop and it becomes less competitive with different nutrients

Summary

Introduction

Background and Rationale Intercropping is an important practice for the development of sustainable food production systems, in cropping system with limited external inputs (Getachew Amare et al, 2006). This is due to some of the potential benefits of intercropping systems such as high productivity and profitability. Lithourgidis et al, (2006), demonstrated that yield productivity under intercropping was higher than that of sole cropping systems. This is because of resources such as water, light and nutrients can be utilized more efficiently than in the respective sole cropping systems. Beyond increasing its productivity per se, the efforts must be extended to increase the productivity of tef fields using efficient cropping system such as intercropping and relay intercropping with other crops without negatively affecting its productivity significantly

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