Yield and agronomic performance of released Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] varieties under irrigation at Dembia, Northweastrn, Ethiopia

Abstract

Tef is the major staple cereal crop in Ethiopia, mainly grown under rainfed condition but not very common under irrigation. Field experiment was conducted to select well adapted and high yielder tef varieties on vertisoil (blacks soil), at Dembia North weastrn Amhara, Ethiopia during 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 irrigation season. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications having 36 tef varieties including local check with recommended water dept and intervals for each treatments. A seed rate of 15 kg ha−1 was drilled in a row. The combined analysis over years showed that significant difference (p < 0.01) was observed among the varieties for most of the measured traits including grain yield over the farmer local vareities. Moreover, the combined analysis of variance over years indicated that three varieties, namely Dukem, Gibe and Gola, gave the highest grain yield (3079.7, 2993.2 and 2868.8 kg ha−1, respectively), with yield advantage of 36%, 34.2% and 31.3% over the local check yield (1969.7 kg ha−1), respectively. Therefore, we concluded that based on grain yield and other important traits, Dukem, Gibe and Gola varieties can be recommended for Dembia district and similar areas where irrigation is available.

Keywords

• dembia
• grain yield
• irrigation
• tef varieties