Precursor crop and vertisols type influences on teff (Eragrostis tef) response to fertilizer rates in the central highlands of Ethiopia

Beza Shewangizaw; Shawl Assefa; Kenzemed Kassie; Yalemegena Gete; Lisanu Getaneh; Getanh Shegaw; Tesfaye Sisay; Getachew Lemma

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24370

Precursor crop and vertisols type influences on teff (Eragrostis tef) response to fertilizer rates in the central highlands of Ethiopia

Heliyon. 2024 Jan 11;10(2):e24370. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24370. eCollection 2024 Jan 30.

Authors

Beza Shewangizaw¹, Shawl Assefa¹, Kenzemed Kassie¹, Yalemegena Gete¹, Lisanu Getaneh¹, Getanh Shegaw¹, Tesfaye Sisay², Getachew Lemma¹

Affiliations

¹ Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Center, P. O. Box 112, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia.
² Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Center, Alem Ketema sub center, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Optimization of fertilizer-N and -P is important to highland production of teff (Eragrostis tef) on Vertisols of central Ethiopia but may be affected by precursor crop and Vertisols type. On-farm experiments were conducted in three major teff growing districts of North Shewa (Moretina jiru, Ensaro, and Merhabete) in 2019 and 2020 with the main objectives was to determine the effect of precursor crops and Vertisols type on teff response to N and P rates. The N x P factorial combinations include 0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg N ha^-1 and 0, 30, 60, and 90 kg P ha^-1 applied each to light and heavy Vertisols with either cereal or pulse precursor crops in each district. In Merhabete, grain yield was significantly influenced by Pc x Vt x N and Pc x Vt x P but always with the lowest and highest grain yield with 0 and 240 kg N ha^-1, respectively. Yield was 394 % more with 240 kg N ha^-1 compared with no N and P applied. The Vt x Pc × N interaction affected teff yield in Moretina Jiru as application of 240 kg N ha^-1 increased teff yield by 440 %, 30 %, 23 %, and 7 % on light Vertisols compared with 200 %, 16 %, 13 %, and 2 % on heavy Vertisols. The 4-way interaction of Vt x Pc x N x P affected grain yield in Ensaro due to the low N and P status of the soil coupled with the distinct Vertisols type in the district. In all districts, yield response to N was greater with pulse compared with cereal precursor crops and with a greater response for heavy compared with light Vertisols in Moretina Jiru and Ensaro. In Moretina Jiru, application of 170 kg^-1N and soil maintenance level of 30 kg^-1 of P ha^-1 are recommended as an economic optimum rate (EOR). In Ensaro, the EOR for teff following cereal on light Vertisols are 166 kg N ha^-1 and 65 kg P ha^-1. At Ensaro, needed rates for teff following pulse on light Vertisols are 198 N ha^-1 and 48 kg P ha^-1. At Ensaro, needed rates for teff following cereal on heavy Vertisols are 240 N ha^-1 and 90 kg P ha^-1. At Ensaro, needed rates for teff following pulse on heavy Vertisols are 240 N ha^-1 and 80 kg P ha^-1. In Merhabete, the EOR for teff following cereal on light Vertisols are 182 kg N ha^-1 and 60 kg P ha^-1. In Merhabete, needed rates for teff following pulse on light Vertisols are 206 N ha^-1 and 64 kg P ha^-1. In Merhabete, needed rates for teff following cereal on heavy Vertisols are 240 N ha^-1 and 90 kg P ha^-1. In Merhabete, needed rates for teff following pulse on heavy Vertisols are 218 N ha^-1 and 58 kg P ha^-1. Therefore, those N and P rate are recommended for the study area, soil type and precursor crops.

Keywords: Biomass yield; Grain yield; Precursor crops; Vertisols types; teff.