Evaluation of Different Drainage Systems and Sowing Dates for Improving Wheat Productivity on Vertisols of Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

Water logging is a challenge to crop productivity under the rain fed system on Vertisols of central highlands of Ethiopia. Using appropriate drainage system and manipulating planting dates can reduce the effect of water logging and improve productivity of Vertisols of the area. The current field experiment was conducted to evaluate four different drainage systems ( Dry planting, Ridge &Furrow (RF), Broad Bed Maker( BBM) and Flat bed) and five sowing dates (Mid may, Early June, Mid-late June, Mid July and Late August ) in improving productivity of wheat crop on vertisol of central highlands of Ethiopia under rain fed condition during the main cropping season. The treatments of the experiment were the systematic  combination of four drainage systems and five planting dates. The experiment was conducted at three locations (Ginchi on station, Sheno and Sodo dache on farm) on Vertisols of central  highlands of Ethiopia. Analysis of variance indicated that some of wheat Yield related parameters (Plant height, spike length, biomass yield and grain yield ) tasted were significantly (p<0.05) affected by different drainage systems and sowing dates. According to this research trial, Out of seven treatments tasted T₂ (Early June + Dry plating) provide the highest grain yield 2214.7Kg/ha, 2230kg/ha and 8253kg/ha was recorded at Ginchi, sodo dache and sheno sites respectively. As vertisols in Ethiopia exist in different agro-climatic conditions in the country and show a considerable variability the research should be repeated and be supported with the long term local weather and soil data in order to determine drainage systems and sowing dates for a specific locations of vertisol areas.

Keywords: Vertislol, Drainage system, planting date, Yield, Wheat

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/11-19-05

Publication date:October 31^st 2020