Evaluation of Adaptability and Improvement of Tef [Eragrostis Tef (Zucc.) Trotter] Varieties in Western Part of Ethiopia

Addisu, Dereje Jinfessa

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Assosa Agricultural research Center, Plant Breeder.

INTRODUCTION

Tef [Eragrostis Tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is an annual grass crop and important cereal harvested for grain in Ethiopia where not only the origin of Tef but it is also the center of diversity [1]. Tef is adaptable to a wide range of ecological conditions in altitudes ranging to 3000 m above sea level and it can be grown in an unfavorable environment condition, while the best performance occurs between 1100 and 2950 m above sea level in Ethiopia. [2]

Tef is grown in 2,404,674 hectares and the production is about 24,377,495 quintals annually    [3]. Its flour is preferred in the production of enjera, a major food staple in Ethiopia. It is also grown on a limited basis for livestock forage in other parts of Africa, India, Australia, and South America. In the U.S small acreages of Tef is grown for grain production and used to Ethiopian restaurants [4]. In Benishangul Gumuz Regional State, the main Tef producing zones were Metekal, Assosa, and Mao komo leyu wereda. The region covered with 19,389.08 hectares by Tef crop and 246, 591. 44 quintals were grown by 45,457 stakeholders [5].

This crop is important for human consumption, straw for animal and plastering compounds for construction purposes. Tef can be produced under adverse environmental condition such as water lodging, drought, pests and disease which makes this crop very important. Still the production is minimum (11.5quntals/ha) in Western part of Ethiopia due to lack of improved Tef varieties, on- adoption of improved technologies, disease  and pest management.Tef varieties were released by federal research center (Debre Zeyit  Agricultural Research Center ) in Ethiopia. However; most of genetic resources have not been evaluated in western part of the country.

Therefore; the objective of this study was to evaluate improvement of Tef varieties which are adaptable, high yielding and stress tolerant to insect, pests and disease management in western part of Ethiopia

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study area

The experiment was conducted at Assosa Agricultural Research Center; Assosa on Station, Begi and Mao-Komo sub-site between end of August and early September 2016/17 cropping season.

Assosa is located at 1547 m above sea level 10^°_­ 002'.922'' N latitude and 34^° 33 '.868'' E longitude. Assosa Agricultural Reaserch Center is far from Addis Ababa 660 km and has uni modal rainfall distribution which starts at the end of April and extends to mid-November. The total annual average rainfall of Assosa is 1141.26 mm. The mean annual air temperature is 23 ^°C [6].The dominant soil type of Assosa area is Dystric Nitosols and Fluvisols [7].

Mao Komo site is also situated in Benishangul-Gumuz at 9^° 23 '.165''N latitude and 34⁰ 24 ' .380'' E longitudes at an altitude of 1820 m above sea level. The study area is located east of Assosa Agricultural Reaserch Center and west of Addis Ababa about 125 km and 685 km distance respectively.  MaoKomo sub-center is also characterized by uni-modal rainfall which starts in April and extends to end of November with maximum rainfall received in June, July, August, September, and October. The total annual average rainfall of Maokomo is 1316.00 mm. The mean annual air temperature from 2009 to 2010 is 20 ^°C varies from 13 ^°C to 26 ^°C [6]. The major soil types found in the experiment area is Eutric Nitisols followed by Orthic Acrisols and Eutric Fluvisols [7].

Thirty six Tef varieties namely, Enatit, Asgori, Walankomi, Magna ,Menagesha , Melko, Gibe, Dukam, ziquala,Koye,Kuncho,Tsedey,Gerado,keytena,Kora,Simeda,Boset,Gimbichu,Amarach,Holetakey,Ambotoke,Gemechis,Gola,Genete,Zobe,Mechere,Lakech,Yilmana,Etsb,Dima,Guduru,Kena,Ajora,Dega tef and Woriye were collected from Federal Research Institute Debre Zeyt Agricultural Research Center. These trials were put into trial at Assosa Agricultural Research on station, Tongo and Begi sub-site. The trial was conducte in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The size of the plot was measured 2.4 m² (1.2m x 2m) with the gap of 1m between plot and 1.5m between blocks. Sowing was done by row planting at seed rate of 15 kg/ha within the last week of August and first week of September in 2016/17 cropping season. All other recommended agronomic practices were kept normal and uniform to ensure normal plant growth and development. Seed yield of each plot was recorded and then converted into kg/ha. Data on plant height, panicle length, days to heading, days to maturity and grain yield were collected and subject to statistical analysis using SAS statistical software [8].

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The analysis of variance showed that there were highly significant difference (p<0.01) among varieties for all traits evaluated (days to heading, days to maturity, above ground biomass, grain yield, plant height and panicle length (Table 1). These results were also supported by the findings of Ashamo et al [9] who evaluated 22 Tef genotypes at four locations and reported significant variations in grain yield of Tef at all test locations and Chondie YG, Bekele A (2017) [10] evaluate eight Tef varieties planted with one local check at Areka and Hossana stations of Areka Agricultural Research Center in the Southern region of Ethiopia. Varieties like Tseday, Boset, Simada, Amarach, Lakech should be score the highest grain yield 1892, 1752.5, 1709.7, 1664.5 and 1653 kg/ha than local check respectively. Those mentioned above had yield advantage of 274, 134.4, 91.6, 46.4 and 34.9% over the local check respectively. (Table 1).

Keys: DH=days to heading, DM=days to maturity, AGB=above ground biomass, GY= grain yield, PH= plant height, PL=panicle length, %yl d adv/L=percentage of yield advantage over local variety

The maturity period of all selected varieties indicated specific difference compared to local check except Lakech which was 97days (Table1) which is the same with the findings of Bakala N, Taye T, Idao B 2018. In western part of Ethiopia the production is still 1150 kg /ha due to lack of improved Tef varieties, non- adoption of improved technologies, disease and pests. However, the study shows that some varieties such as Tsedey, Boset. Simeda, Amarach and Lackech   had good adaptability and performance than local variety in terms of grain yield. We believe that the production and productivity of this area will be increased   if those verities were used instead of local variety.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The combined analysis of variance for three test site showed that varieties were significantly different for all traits evaluated. Tsedey and Boset had the same days to maturity (day length to mature) but different days to heading and score the highest grain yield.

Therefore, based on researcher’s idea and mean grain yield of released Tef varieties evaluated, it was concluded that Tsedey and Boset were recommended for wider cultivation whereas Simeda, Amarach and Lakech are specifically recommended for western part of Ethiopia

REFERENCES

1.  Assefa, K., Yu, J.-K., Zeid, M., Belay, G., Tefera, H., Sorrells, M. E., 2010, Breeding tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.)  Trotter]: conventional and molecular approaches (review). Plant Breeding. doi:10.1111/j.1439–0523.2010.01782.

2.  Hailu T, Seyfu K (2000) Production and Importance of tef in Ethiopia Agriculture. Tefera H, Belay G, Sorrels M (eds.), Narrowing the Rift: Tef research and development Proceedings of the International Workshop on Tef Genetics and Improvement, 16-19 October 2000, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

3. Central Statistic Authority (2003) urban bi-annual employment unemployment survey. 1^st Year, Round 1.

4. Wondimu A, Mekbib F (2001) Utilization of tef in the Ethiopian diet.  Tefera H,Belay G, Sorrells M (eds.), Narrowing the rift: Tef research and development.Proceedings of the International Workshop on Tef Genetics and Improvement, Debrezeit, Ethiopia, pp: 239-244)..

5. Central Statistic Authority   (2014/15) Benishangul Regional State

6.  National Meteorological Service Agency, 2010

7.  Assosa Agricultural Research Center, 2007.

8.  SAS institute (2002). SAS system for windows release 9.2 Inc, Cary, NC, USA.

9.  Ashamo M, Belay G (2012) Genotype x Environment interaction analysis of Tef grown in southern Ethiopia using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model. Journal of Biology Agriculture and Healthcare 2: 66-72.

10. Chondie YG, Bekele A (2017) adaptability evaluation and selection of improved Tef varieties in growing areas of southern Ethiopia. Hydrol Current Res 8: 266. doi: 10.4172/2157-7587.1000266.

Evaluation of Adaptability and Improvement of Tef [Eragrostis Tef (Zucc.) Trotter] Varieties in Western Part of Ethiopia