Effect of Seed Rate on Yield and YieldComponents of Tef ((Eragrostic tef) Trotter) at Shebedino, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Majority of the farmers of Arebaminch zuria woreda broadcast 25-30 kg ha^-1 seed for longer time.  So they facing on productivity problem due to, difficulty to mange weeds and lodging. Therefore, there is a need to determine the proper seed rate to enhance growth and yield of tef. Accordingly, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of seed rate on growth and yield of tef on Arebaminch zuria woreda, Southern Ethiopia in 2014 cropping season. Five seeding rates (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 kg ha^-1) were arranged in RCBD.  Seed rate had significantly affected days to heading and maturity, plant height, number of tiller, total biomass and grain yields. But days to maturity, panicle length and number, straw yield and harvest index had not significantly affected.  Seeding 10 kg ha^-1 delay the days to emergency by 1-day compared with other seed rates; whereas seeding 15 kg ha^-1 was head 1-day earlier than seeded 20 and 25 kg ha^-1, but delayed by 1-day than seeded 5 and 10 ha^-1. Seeding with the rate of 5 kg ha^-1 had contributes 8.1 cm increment in height and  60 % increment in number of tillers than seeded with the rate of 25 kg ha^-1. Tef which, sown 5 kg ha^-1 yielded 23.8% more biomass than seeded with 10, 15, 20 and 25 kg ha^-1. But  tef sown with the rate of 25 kg ha^-1 minimized thousand seed weight by 3.3 % comparing with  sown by 5, 10, 15 and 20 kg ha^-1. Whearas tef which, sown with the rate of 5 and 10 kg ha^-1 were increased grain yield by 45.15 % than seeded at the rate of 15, 20 and 25 kg ha^-1. Generally sowing of tef with the rate of 5 kg ha^-1 is effective in attaining higher grain yield and economic benefit.

Keywords: Tef, Seed rate