Evaluation of Seed Rates and Sowing Methods on Growth, Yield, and Yield Attributes of Tef [Eragrostis Tef (Zucc.) Trotter] in Ada District, East Shewa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Tef is a major staple cereal crop in Ethiopia. However, its productivity is limited, amongst others, by the use of improper sowing methods and inappropriate seed rates. A field experiment was conducted at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centre, East Shewa Zone during the 2012 main cropping season under rain-fed condition, to assess the effect of seed rates and sowing methods on growth, yield, and yield attributes of tef. Factorial combinations of two sowing methods (row and broadcast) and six seeding rates (2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 kg ha^-1) were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Seed rate significantly affected days to panicle emergence, days to physiological maturity, main panicle weight, main panicle seed weight, and thousand seed weight. Accordingly, the maximum values of these parameters were obtained at the seed rate of 2.5 kg ha^-1. Moreover, significant main effects of both seed rate and sowing method were observed on the number of total tillers, productive tillers, plant height and grain yield. Row planting method and seed rate of 2.5 kg ha^-1 had produced the maximum number of total and productive tillers with concurrent decrease in plant height and grain yield as compared to the other treatments. Higher grain yield of 2702 kg ha^-1 was obtained at seeding rate of 25 kg ha^-1 followed by 15 and 20 kg ha^-1 which had produced grain yield of 2453 and 2371 kg ha^-1, respectively. There were significant interaction effects of sowing methods and seed rates on shoot biomass yield, straw yield, lodging percentage, culm length and harvest index. The highest seed rate of (25 kg ha^-1) with both sowing methods produced higher shoot biomass yield, straw yield, and lodging percentage. However, combining the highest seeding rate with the broadcasting method resulted in lower harvest index. Lodging index was consistently increased with increasing seed rate under row planting. Hence, considering the growth and yield obtained from the current study by using 25 kg ha^-1 seed rate together with row planting can be suggested for higher tef production in the study area.

Key words: Tef, row sowing, broadcasting, seed rate, yield, and yield attributes