Effect of Soil Compaction and Sowing Dates on Growth and Yield of Three Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc) Trotter] Varieties in Toke Kutaye District, Ethiopia

Abstract

Tef is a highly valued crop in Ethiopia as tef flour used to prepare Injera which is the most popular food of the country. However, its production and productivity are constrained by a number of problems, out of which soil compaction, inappropriate sowing time, and limited use of improved varieties are the most important. Hence, a field experiment was conducted during the 2021 main cropping season to evaluate the effect of soil compaction, sowing dates and tef varieties on yield and yield components of tef in Toke Kutaye district. Treatments were factorially arranged and laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Analysis of the data indicated that days to 50% emergence, days to 50% panicle emergence, days to 90% physiological maturity, and number of productive tillers of tef were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by main effect of soil compaction, sowing dates and varieties. Plant height, panicle length, number of total tillers, biomass yield, grain yield and straw yield of tef were significantly affected by the interaction of three factors. Highest plant height (124.26cm), panicle length (36.26cm), above ground biomass yield (7.47 t ha-1), and grain yield (2.8 t ha-1) were recorded from un-compacted soil, from early sown Dagim variety. Therefore, it can be recommended that farmers of the study area can grow Dagim variety early third week of july without trampling the soil to enhance the tef production and productivity.