Bekalu Abebe and Tenaw Worka
Abstract
Time of DAP application and sowing method vary from farmer to farmer. Therefore, there is a need to determine time of DAP and sowing method recommendations for tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc) Trotter). Accordingly, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of sowing method and time of DAP application on yield and yield components of tef at Shebedino, Southern Ethiopia in 2012 cropping season. DZ-37 tef variety was used as a test crop. A factorial combination of planting method (row planting and broadcasting) and five times of DAP fertilize application (at planting, two, four, six and eight days before planting) was laid out in Randomized Complete Block design (RCBD) with four replications. Row sowing and DAP applied two days before planting had significantly affected days to heading and maturity, plant height, first growth rate, number of tiller and panicle, thousand seed weight, grain, straw and total biomass yields and harvest index. Days to emergence and panicle length were significantly affected by broadcasting and application of fertilizer two days before planting. Row sowing hastened heading and maturity by 1 day and increased growth rate by 23.46% than broadcasting; and DAP applied two days before planting hasten days to heading and maturity by 4 and 5 days, respectively, than DAP applied eight days before planting. Row sowing had 10, 24.8 and 23.8% more panicles, grain and biomass yields respectively, than broadcasting. DAP applied two days before sowing increased panicles, grain and biomass yields by 41.7, 62.1 and 59.6% respectively, than DAP applied eight days before sowing. Interaction of row sowing and DAP applied at the time of sowing, had 54.7 and 1.07% more 1000 seed weight and harvest index respectively, than broad casting and DAP applied at the time of sowing. Row sowing was found to be economically acceptable with Marginal Rate of Return (MRR) of 627.7% with 6775.6 Birr ha-1 more income from grain yield than broadcasting. Row sowing and DAP applied two days before planting had 80.85 Birr ha-1 more additional income from straw than broadcasting. Therefore, row sowing and DAP application two days before planting could be recommended as an economically feasible choice for the study area.