The Effect of Nano Fertilizer on Teff Yield and Yield Components in Ethiopia

Mersha Tezera

doi:10.11648/j.ijaas.20210705.14

Abstract

Nano technology increases the nutrient use efficiency. The experiment to test nano fertilizers on tef was conducted at the teff crop producing areas of Adet, Meray, and Meshenti areas. A total of sixteen fertilizer combinations of urea, DAP (Di Amonium phosphate) and Nano fertilizers including without fertilizer and without nano checks were tested on 2m X 1.5m plot size. The materials were planted in RCBD (Randomized Complete Block Design) with three replications. Spacing between replications and plots were 1 meter and 0.5 meter respectively. The seed and fertilizer rates were used as per recommendation rate per hectare bases. The nano fertilizer was tested as early as seed dressing and field spray during tillering stage. The performances of nano fertilizer over all locations have shown consistence results at all locations. Analysis of variance showed that there is a significant difference between the treatments for all parameters including grain yield. The highest grain yield (38 Q/ha) was recorded at the treatment combination of 2gm/ha nano seed dressing, 39g DAP and 10.8g urea. And the least grain yield (2.5 Q/ha) was recorded at treatment combination of no nano and no fertilizer treatments. Here all nano treatment combinations without DAP and urea fertilizers gave grain yield less than 7Q/ha. Which implies that Nano fertilizers cannot act solely without DAP and Urea. The least maturity date (119 dates) and the highest plant height (132.4 cm) was also recorded at a treatment combination of 2gm/ha nano seed dressing, 39g DAP and 10.8g urea. This implies that the crop at these treatments was vigor and was able to mature early.

Highlights

Agriculture is always the backbone of many developing countries
The Nano fertilizers provide more surface area for different metabolic reactions in the plant which increases the rate of photosynthesis and produce more dry matters and yield of the crops, it has a slower release with uniform quantities compared to the conventional
A total of sixteen fertilizer combinations of urea, DAP (Di Amonium phosphate) and Nano fertilizers including without fertilizer and without nano checks were tested on 2m X 1.5m plot size

Summary

Introduction

Agriculture is always the backbone of many developing countries. It does fill the people abdomen and it is the part of economy. In agriculture the main reason to use fertilizer is to give full-fledged macro and micro nutrients which usually soil lacks. To overcome all these drawbacks a smarter way i.e., nanotechnology can be one of the source. Nano fertilizer is used to improve soil fertility, plant productivity and quality of agricultural products [6]. Nano fertilizer is the most important field of agriculture and has more attention due to its capability to increase yield, improve soil fertility, reduce pollution and make a favorable environment for microorganisms [7]. Nano-fertilizers are necessary to increase plant growth and crop productivity, and implement fruit quality through improvement nutrients efficiency and providing optimum usage of nutrients [1]. Production of nanofertilizers can be increased the value chain of the entire agriculture production system [12]

Material and Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusion and Recommendation