Journal of
Soil Science and Environmental Management

  • Abbreviation: J. Soil Sci. Environ. Manage.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2391
  • DOI: 10.5897/JSSEM
  • Start Year: 2010
  • Published Articles: 311

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of vermicompost and blended fertilizers rates on yield and yield components of Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter)

Kinfe Tekulu
  • Kinfe Tekulu
  • Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Shire Soil Research Centre, P. O. Box 40, Shire, Ethiopia.
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Tsadik Tadele
  • Tsadik Tadele
  • Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Shire Soil Research Centre, P. O. Box 40, Shire, Ethiopia.
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Tewolde Berhe
  • Tewolde Berhe
  • Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Shire Soil Research Centre, P. O. Box 40, Shire, Ethiopia.
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Weldegebreal Gebrehiwot
  • Weldegebreal Gebrehiwot
  • Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Shire Soil Research Centre, P. O. Box 40, Shire, Ethiopia.
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Gebresemaeti Kahsu
  • Gebresemaeti Kahsu
  • Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Shire Soil Research Centre, P. O. Box 40, Shire, Ethiopia.
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Solomon Mebrahtom
  • Solomon Mebrahtom
  • Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Shire Soil Research Centre, P. O. Box 40, Shire, Ethiopia.
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Goitom Aregawi
  • Goitom Aregawi
  • Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Shire Soil Research Centre, P. O. Box 40, Shire, Ethiopia.
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Gidena Tasew
  • Gidena Tasew
  • Department of Soil Fertility Research, Mekelle Soil Research Centre, Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 1070, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
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  •  Received: 26 April 2019
  •  Accepted: 31 July 2019
  •  Published: 30 November 2019

Abstract

Tef is a stable crop in Ethiopia in which its yield is constrained by poor soil fertility management. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years during 2016 and 2017 on clayey textural soil to assess the effect of vermicompost and inorganic fertilizer rates on yield and yield components of tef. Accordingly, field experiment with four levels of vermicompost (0, 2, 4 and 6 t ha-1) and four levels of NPS (0, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1) were arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a factorial combination with three replications. A tef variety, qunco was used as test crop. Analysis of the data revealed that highest grain yield (2269.80 kg ha-1) was obtained from the treatment of 4 t vermicompost ha-1+150 kg NPS ha-1. Significantly highest straw yield (6480.60 kg ha-1) was obtained from the treatment of 6 t vermicompost ha-1+200 kg NPS ha-1, but statistically similar with 4 t vermicompost ha-1 +150 kg NPS ha-1. To evaluate the feasibility of the treatments with view of farmers’ practices, a partial budget analysis was conducted on straw and grain yield of tef and accordingly the highest marginal rate of return 4184% were obtained from combined fertilization of 4 t vermicompost ha-1 and 150 kg NPS ha-1. Therefore, based on the data obtained from this study application of 4 t vermicompost ha-1 and 150 kg NPS ha-1 will be recommended as profitable for the production of tef at Beles kebelle Tahtay Koraro district.

Key words: Integrated nutrient management, NPS fertilizer tef yield, vermicompost.

 

Copyright © 2022 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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