Determination of Seed Rate and Variety on the Growth and Yield of Teff in Eastern Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Teff seed rate by variety experiment was conducted from the year 2012 to 2013 at Sirinka Agricultural Research station on red and black soil condition. The objective of the experiment was to determine the appropriate seed rate by broadcast planting system of teff for Eastern Amhara Region. The experiment was designed in factorial randomized complete block consisting of six seed rate levels (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 kg ha^-1) and two different growth habit teff varieties (Quncho was selected as high tillering capacity) and (Mecharie was selected as low tillering capacity) a total of 12 treatments with three replications. The result revealed that, the highest grain yield (2527 kg ha^-1) with the lowest seed rate 5 kg ha^-1 was obtained on black soil in 2012. Similarly, the highest grain yield (3067 kg ha^-1) with application of 5 kg ha^-1 seed rate level was recorded of teff in 2013 black soil. Even if grain yield of teff in 2012 on red soil didn’t show significant difference between the seed rate levels of 10 to 30 kg ha^-1, the highest grain yield (2707 kg ha^-1) was obtained with the lowest seed rate (5 kg ha^-1) in 2013. Mean combined analysis of the two years data showed for broadcast planting method of teff, Mecharie variety was revealed highly significant grain yield for black soil types and Quncho was recommended to red soil conditions. Seed rate level of 5 kg ha^-1 teff was recommended for both black and red soil conditions at Sirinka.

Keywords: black soil, broadcast, red soil, seed rate, teff, variety