Enhancing Teff (Eragrostis tef) Production and Productivity through Water and Nitrogen Management in Northern Ethiopia

The availability of soil nutrients and water is the major determinant for crop production under resource-constrained smallholder rain-fed farming systems in northern Ethiopia. In view of climate change projections, in-depth understanding of the agronomic practices, particularly water and nutrient management options, is urgently needed in order to improve and stabilize crop yields, and thus, achieve food security. An experiment was carried out for two years in northern Ethiopia to investigate the optimum amount of irrigation water and the optimum rate of nitrogen fertilizer under two different soil types, viz., Cambisols and Vetisols, for teff (Eragrostis tef) produc-tion. The experiment had three water level treatments and three nitrogen applications arranged in a randomized, complete block design. The results showed that teff responded well to the applica-tion of supplemental irrigation water and nitrogen fertilizer in both Cambisols and Vertisols, while increased water application without increased N did not increase teff yield, and vice versa. This study does not recommend a higher rate of N (i.e., above 60 kg ha-1) due to a severe lodging problem associated with higher N levels during good seasons and limited N uptake during periods of inadequate soil moisture availability in low rainfall seasons.

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