Abstract
Tef is the major crop and has the highest share of grain production in Ethiopia. However, its productivity is limited to 896 kg/ha. An experiment was conducted on nitosols in the Yielmana-Densa area of northwestern Ethiopia in the main cropping seasons of 2002-2004. The objective of the experiment was to determine the optimum tillage frequency, time and weeding frequency for tef production in the Yielmana Densa area. The experiment was designed in a factorial split plot using tillage as a main plot and weeding as sub plot. The tillage consisted of four frequencies (seven plows, five plows, three plows and one plow + roundup) and the weeding consisted of four levels (no weeding, weeding once at tillering, weeding once at stem elongation and weeding twice at tillering and stem elongation stages of the crop). Grain yield increased linearly as tillage frequency increased. Twice weeding increased yield by 39% over un-weeded. The highest grain yield was obtained when seven times plow was combined with weeding twice which resulted in an increase of yield by 96% over the lowest yield treatment (one plow + roundup + un-weeded). However, three times plowing combined with hand weeding at tillering was found to be an economical practice with the highest marginal rate of return and net benefit. It is, therefore, recommended to small-scale farmers around Yielmana Densa as a way of promoting sustainable crop production with fewer unfavorable effects on the environment. Keywords: Nitosols; Tef; Tillage; WeedEast African Journal of Sciences Vol. 2 (1) 2008: pp. 35-40
Highlights
Tef is the major staple cereal crop of Ethiopia and highly adapted to diverse agro-ecological zones, including conditions marginal to the production of most of the other crops (Hailu and Seyfu, 2001). Seyfu (1991) stated that Ethiopian farmers prefer to grow tef because of its multiple advantages, such as high market value, reduced post-harvest management cost, low risk crop and the straw provides better animal feed than other cereals
Commelina subulata and Setaria pumila were the major weeds on the untilled plots at the time of presowing
The late emergence of weeds was due to inadequate precipitation in April and May of the experimental years compared to the previous years (Figure 1)
Summary
Tef is the major staple cereal crop of Ethiopia and highly adapted to diverse agro-ecological zones, including conditions marginal to the production of most of the other crops (Hailu and Seyfu, 2001). Seyfu (1991) stated that Ethiopian farmers prefer to grow tef because of its multiple advantages, such as high market value, reduced post-harvest management cost, low risk crop and the straw provides better animal feed than other cereals. In the Amhara region tef contributes the highest share (21%) of grain production compared to other crops. About 48 to 49 % yield loss of tef had been reported due to weed competition in western Amhara (Rezene and Zerihun, 2001). Most surveys reported that hand weeding in tef remains one of the most expensive, time- and energy consuming practice under all growing conditions (Rezene and Zerihun, 2001). Seyfu (1997) reported that the small size of tef seed poses a problem during sowing and, indirectly, during weeding as farmers find it difficult to use mechanical weeding implements and are forced to either hand weed or use chemical herbicides Most surveys reported that hand weeding in tef remains one of the most expensive, time- and energy consuming practice under all growing conditions (Rezene and Zerihun, 2001). Seyfu (1997) reported that the small size of tef seed poses a problem during sowing and, indirectly, during weeding as farmers find it difficult to use mechanical weeding implements and are forced to either hand weed or use chemical herbicides
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