Potassium and Micronutrient Fertilization for Enhancement of Tef Yield in Vertisols of Hawzen and Enderta Districts, Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Field study was conducted in Enderta and Hawzen districts of Tigray region on six farmers’ fields aimed at evaluating potassium and micro-nutrient effect on yield and yield components of the tested crop. The experiment comprised of eight treatments including control and recommended NP arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design with two replications. Phosphorus fertilizers were applied at planting, while the nitrogen fertilizer was applied in two splits. The micronutrients and Typrosine were applied in foliar forms. SAS version 9 statistical software was used for data analysis. The analyzed results depicted that Tef yield was increased with potassium and micro-nutrient application in both districts mathematically even though it was not consistent. In line to this, the highest grain and straw yields of Tef was recorded at recommended NP with application of 50 kg/ha K2SO4 and recommended NP with a foliar application of Typrosine, respectively. But this result was statistically similar with the recommended NP. Thus, application of additional fertilizer without yield increment is uneconomical rather than maximizing costs. Hence, potassium, copper, and zinc in the current sources were not Tef yield limiting nutrients in the study sites even though the soil statuses are low. On the other hand nitrogen and phosphorus were observed the Tef yield limiting nutrients in this study. For this reason maximizing the use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers with detailed research on its level and their interactions, sources and application times is important to maximize the Tef productivity in the Vertisols of Enderta and Hawzen district.