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Effect of Time of Fertilizer Application on Yield and Yield

Components of Tef ((Eragrostic tef) Trotter) at Shebedino,
Southern Ethiopia
Bekalu Abebe1 Tenaw Workayehu2
1.Arbaminch Agricultural Research Center
2.Hawassa Agricultural Research Center

Abstract
Time of DAP application vary from farmer to farmer. Therefore, there is a need to determine time of DAP for
recommending to tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc) Trotter). Accordingly, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the
effect of the 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. The times of DAP fertilize application consisted
application at planting, two, four, six and eight days before planting; was laid out in Randomized Complete
Block design (RCBD) with four replications. 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 fertilizer applied two days before planting. Also 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.
Meanwhile DAP applied two days before sowing increased panicles, grain and biomass yields by 41.7, 62.1and
59.6% respectively, than DAP applied eight days before sowing. DAP applied at the time of sowing, had 54.7
and 1.07% more 1000 seed weight and harvest index respectively, than DAP applied at the time of sowing.
Therefore, DAP application two days before planting could be recommended as an economically feasible choice
for the study area.
Keywords: time of fertilizer/DAP application before planting

1. INTRODUCTION
Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc) Trotter) is a small‐seeded cereal indigenous to Ethiopia and originated in Ethiopia
between 4000 and 1000 BC. Currently, tef is grown in almost all regions of Ethiopia; because it is the preferred
grain crop for home consumption, market and fetches the highest grain price compared with the other cereals
(Zeleke, 2009).
Tef is among the major cereal crops in Ethiopia and occupies about 22.6% of the total cereals’ land
(about 2,731,111.67 hectares), which is more than any other major cereals such as maize (17%), sorghum
(15.92%) and wheat (11.89%) (CSA, 2012). Of the total 30 million grain production,14 million tons is
contributed by cereals; tef constituted about 16% (34,976,894.64 quintals), next to maize 27.77% (60,694,130.14
quintals) during the main cropping season of 20011/12.
In Ethiopia, tef performs well in ‘Weina dega’ agro-ecological zones or medium altitude (1700-2400
masl). According to Haftamu et al. (2009), mean temperature and optimum rainfall for tef during growing season
range from 10 to 27 oC and 450 to 550mm, respectively. Tef withstands low moisture conditions and has the
ability to tolerate and grow on Vertisols having a drainage problem, which make it a preferred cereal by farmers.
The length of growing period (LGP) considering rainfall of 450 to 550 mm and evapo-transpiration of
2-6 mm day-1, ranges from 60 to 180 days. Depending on variety and altitude, tef requires 90 to 130 days for
growth (Haftamu et al., 2009).
Ethiopian farmers grow tef for a number of merits; which are mainly attributed to the socioeconomic,
cultural and agronomic benefits (Hailu and Seyfu, 2001); although it ranks the lowest in terms of yield from of
all cereals grown in Ethiopia.
The lower productivity of tef might be due to its confinement to Ethiopia in terms of origin and
diversification, which limits the chance of improvement like other cereals of international importance (Kebebew
et al., 2001). Other factors contributing to its low in productivity are lodging, method of planting and fertilizer
application; the combined effect of those factors result up to 22% reduction in grain and straw yield (Hailu and
Seyfu, 2001).
Therefore, further improvement of product and productivity of tef is highly needed; as even improved
varieties of tef are reported to yield only up to 2.2 t ha-1 on farmers’ field (Hailu and Seyfu, 2001) and the
national average yield is 1.17 t ha-1 (CSA 2012).
High rate of nutrient depletion in Ethiopia; due to lack of adequate synthetic fertilizer input, limited
return of organic residues and manure, high biomass removal, erosion, and leaching (Balesh.et al., 2007). The
solution for these would be selecting combinations of nutrient source, appropriate rate and timing of fertilizer

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application; that would optimize fertilizer use efficiency and increases economic return (Grant et al., 2002).
Especially, application of nutrients before peak crop nutrient demand is critical; and adequate nutrients
early in the growing season are necessary to maximize yield. Mainly, N and P are ensuring good grain or
seed fill (Clain Jones, 2011). According to Clain (2011), there are many advantages from early application,
like increased nutrient use efficiency and reduced adverse environmental effects.
Though there is much advantage from early application, time of fertilizer application before
planting is not known; due to limited research work on early application.
Therefore, there are controversies regarding appropriate time of DAP fertilizer application before
planting. Some farmers prefer to apply DAP four days before planting, while others prefer to apply three days
before planting, the remaining prefers to apply two and one day before planting; which might result on loss of
fertilizer and reduction in yield.
Therefore to improve production and productivity of tef optimum time of fertilizer application should
be considered (ATA, 2012). Hence, this study was initiated with the following objectives:
To evaluate the effect of time of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer application on growth and
yield of tef.
To see the interactive effect of time of DAP fertilizer application on growth and yield of tef.
To identify the optimum time DAP fertilizer application in tef production

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1 Site Description
This study was conducted at Taremessa Kebele of Shebedino Woreda, in Sidama Zone. The site is located 27 km
south of Hawassa and situated at 70 4’N and 440E with an elevation of 1900-2600 masl. The mean annual rain
fall varies from 900-1500 mm, with two rainy seasons (bimodal); the belg (short rain from Feb-April) and meher
(main season from June- October).
The dominant crops growing around the experimental area are enset (Enset ventricosum), maize (Zea
mays L.), tef, different vegetables and Chat (Catha edulis). Specifically the study site has an altitude of 1980
masl with clay loam textural soil and considered as representative of the Woreda’s cool sub humid (Weyna Dega)
agro climatic zone (SWRDO, 2013, unpublished).
Based on ten years (2003 to 2012) meteorological data, the average annual rainfall of the study area
was 798 mm; with a range of 704.3 mm to 1197.9 mm per year. The total rainfall of the growing year was 922.8
mm with a range of 0.2 to 193.6 mm per month. The total rainfall of the growing season was 590.4 mm with a
range of 5.5 to 155.2 mm per month; which are ideal for the production of tef (Appendix Table1).
The average annual minimum and maximum temperatures are 13.3 oC and 27.5 oC, respectively. The
mean minimum and maximum temperatures of the growing year were 13.5 oC and 27.8 oC, respectively. The
mean minimum and maximum temperatures of the growing season were 14.5 oC and 26.3 oC, respectively.
Generally the Woreda consist of two agro climatic zone, namely cool sub humid (Weyna Dega (90%)) and cool
and humid (Dega (10%)) (SWRDO, 2013) (unpublished)

2.2. Experimental Treatments and design

The experiment was done on time of fertilizer application and arranged in randomized complete block design
(RCBD). Times of fertilizer (DAP) application consist of (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 days before planting), were arranged
as factorial with four replication.

2.3. Experimental Procedure

Tef variety, DZ-Cr-37 (Tsedeay) released in 1984 was used as a test crop; which is most widely grown variety in
the relatively low altitude and moisture prone areas (Truneh et al., 2000).
The experimental field was prepared by using oxen plow and plowed four times, before planting.
Plowing started at the end of June and the fourth plowing was done in the middle of August 2012. The
experimental plot size was 2 m x 2.5 m (5 m2) and the space between plots was 0.5 m; which had 0.2m intra row
space. Meanwhile DAP fertilizer was used at the rate of 100 kg ha-1 as source of N and P; and Urea was applied
at the rate of 50 kg ha-1; in which 1/3 at planting and 2/3 at stem elongation

2.4. Soil Sampling and Analysis

Sixteen random soil samples (0-20 cm depth) from the experimental field were thoroughly mixed to make a
composite. The sample was air dried and ground to pass 2 mm sieve and necessary parameters such as soil
texture, available P, pH and CEC were determined. For the determination of OC and N 1mm sieve was used.
Soil texture was analyzed by Bouyoucos hydrometer method (Day, 1965). Available P was extracted with a
sodium bicarbonate solution at pH 8.5 following the procedure described by Olsen et al. (1954).The pH of the
soil was measured potentiometrically in the 1:2.5 soil: water mixture by using a pH meter and organic carbon

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was determined following Walkely and Black wet oxidation method (Walkely and Black, 1934).Cation
Exchange Capacity (CEC) was determined by Ammonium Acetate method (Jackson, 1973).

2.5. Data Collection

2.5.1. Phenological data
Days to 50% emergence: number of days from sowing up to the date when 50% of the plants emerged in a plot.
Days to 50% heading: number of days from sowing up to the date when the tips of the panicles first emerged
from the main shoot, on 50% of the plant in a plot
Days to 90% maturity: number of days from the date of sowing up to the date when 90% of the crop stands in a
plot changed to light yellow color.
2.5.2. Growth data
Plant height (cm): - It was taken at an interval of 20 days; by taking six randomly selected plants and measured
from the base of the main stem to the tip of the panicle.
Growth Rate: - It was the ratio of the differences between two consecutive plant heights measured at difference
time [GR= H ] (Watson, 1952).
Growth rates (GR1, GR2 and GR3) were calculated according to Watson (1952), as following:-
GR1= [H2-H1 [T2-T1] GR2= [H3-H2 [T3-T2] GR3= [H4-H3 [T4-T3]
Where,
GR1= First growth rate T1 = 20 days after emergence
GR2= Second growth rate T2 = 40 days after emergence
GR3= Third growth rate T3 = 60 days after emergence
H1 = Height of plant at time t1 T4 = 80 days after emergence
H2 = Height of plant at time t2
H3 = Height of plant at time t3
H4 = Height of plant at time t4
Tillers number (m-2): - to determine the capacity of tillering per 1m2, 10 cm X 20 cm area was demarcated and
the number of plants existed in that area was counted. Then recounting was done after at flowering on demarked
area; because maximum tillers produced during vegetative phase and senescence occurs at maturity (Lafarge et
al., 2004). Finally the difference between the first and second count was converted into 1m2.
Panicles per plant: - six plants were randomly taken and the average number of panicles per plant was
considered.
Panicle length (cm): - length of the panicle was measured by selecting six plants randomly and measuring from
the node (the first panicle branch started) to the tip of the panicle.
2.5.3 Yield and yield components
Total above ground biomass (kg):- was measured after sun-drying for two days.
Straw yield (kg): - was measured by subtracting grain yield per plot from the total above ground biomass.
Grain yield (kg ha-1):- yield from every plot
Thousand seed weight (g): - the seeds were taken from each plot and 1000 seeds counted by hand and then
weighted.
Harvest index: - the ratio of grain yield to the above ground (shoot) biomass. [HI= Grain yield/Total biomass].

2.6. Economic Analysis

For economic analysis, a simple partial budget analysis was employed using CIMMYT approach (CIMMT,
1988). For partial budget analysis, the factors with significant effect were considered. The yield was adjusted by
subtracting 10 % from average gain yield. Than after, gross yield benefit was obtained by multiplying the
adjusted yield by the price of grain (13 birr kg-1). Net benefit was calculated, by subtracting labor cost from gross
yield. Finally marginal rate of return (MRR) was obtained, by dividing marginal net benefit to the marginal cost
and expressed as percentage (CIMMT, 1988). The mean market price of tef was obtained by assessing the
market at harvest (2012 cropping season).

2.7. Data Analysis

The various agronomic data were analyzed using the general linear model (GLM) procedures of the SAS
statistical software (SAS Institute, 2000) to evaluate the effect of sowing method and time of fertilizer
application and their interaction. Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at P≤0.05 was used to separate means
whenever there were significant differences.

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3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1. Physicochemical Properties of the Experimental Soil.
The analytic results indicated that the experimental soil was clay loam textured; having organic carbon content
(OC) of 2.54 % (Table 1). The soil had high OC in accordance with Sahlemedhin (1999), who rated OC between
1.74-2.90% as high. The CEC of the soil was 23.87 cmol kg-1, which could be considered as medium (Landon,
1991). According to Olsen et al. (1954) P rating (mg kg-1), P content of < 3 is very low, 4 to 7 is low, 8 to 11 is
medium, and > 11 is high. Thus, the experimental site of available P content is high. The pH of the soil was 4.98,
which is within the range of 4 to 8 suitable for tef production (FAO, 2000).Total N of the soil (0.16 %), is
medium; as rated by Havlin et al., (1999) who rated total N between 0.15 to 0.25% as medium.
Table 1: - Physio-chemical properties of the experimental soil.
Depth pH CEC OC (%) Total N Av.P Particle size Textural
(cm) (H2o) (cmol kg-1) (%) (mg kg-1) distribution (%)
sand clay silt Class

0-20 4.98 23.87 2.54 0.16 27.4 32 30 38 Clay loam

CEC= Cation Exchange Capacity, OC= Organic Carbon, Av.P= Available phosphorous.

3.2. Crop Phenology

3.2.1. Days to emergence
Days to 50% crop emergence was significantly affected by the time of fertilizer application (P 0.001)
(Appendix Table 4).
Fertilizer applied eight days before sowing delayed emergency by 2-days than that applied two days
before sowing (Table 2). This might be attributed to the high loss of DAP fertilizers from the earlier application
before it is used by the plant; especially N, which is highly soluble and may be lost from the soil-plant system by
leaching, de-nitrification, volatilization and erosion (Vaughan et al., 1990).
Table2:- Effect of method of sowing and time of DAP application on the days to emergence, heading and
maturity of tef.
DBP=Days Before Planting, column which has the different letters shows significant difference
Treatments 50% Emergence 50% Heading 90 % Maturity
Time of fertilizer application
At planting 8c 45cd 66cd
2-DBP 8c 44d 65d
4-DBP 9b 46bc 67bc
6-DBP 9b 47b 68ab
8-DBP 10a 48a 70a
LSD (5%) 0.54 1.25 1.80
CV (%) 4.32 1.87 1.84
3.2.2. Days to heading
The time of fertilizer application had a significant (P 0.001) on days to heading (Appendix Table 4). Days to
heading was enhanced by 4 days on DAP applied two days before sowing, compared to that of DAP applied
eight days before sowing (Table 2).Thus days to heading for application of DAP two days before sowing is
smaller; due to minimum loss fertilizer contributes for growth of crop (Brady and Weil, 2002).
3.2.3. Days to maturity
Days to 90% maturity were significantly (P 0.001) affected by time of fertilizer application (Appendix Table
4). Meanwhile application of fertilizer at planting resulted in 1-day delay and 4-days earlier mature compared to
those applied two and eight days before sowing, respectively (Table 2). Thus, applying fertilizer two days before
sowing enhanced maturity and this was because of time of application is one of the factor influencing crops
phonology and growth (Mugwe et al., 2007).

3.3. Growth Parameters

3.3.1. Plant height
The time of fertilizer application had very high significant (P 0.001) effect on plant heights, except the effect of
planting method on plant height (ph1) which was highly significant on probability level (p (Appendix
Table 5).
Application of fertilizer two days before sowing had 25% more plant height than DAP applied at sowing on the
first measurement. Whereas application of fertilizer two days before sowing had 42, 25.6 and 8.7% higher plant

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height than that of applied eight days before sowing on PH2, PH3and PH4, respectively (Table-3). The results are
in line with the report of Taylor and Francis (2005) and Vaughan et al. (1990), who indicated maximum use of N
and P with minimum loss resulting in maximum growth in height on lentil and wheat, respectively.
Table3:- Effect of time of DAP application and sowing method on growth of tef

DBP= Days Before Planting, PH = Plant Height ( PH1- was measured 20 days after emergence; PH2-measured
40 days after emergence; PH3-measured 60 days after emergence and PH4- was measured 80 days after
emergence),GR= Growth Rate (GR1-calculated from PH1& PH2, GR2-calculated from PH2& PH3, GR3-calculated
from PH3& PH4), PL= Panicle Length, PN= Panicle Number and TN= Number of Tiller. The same letter in a
column of each factor shows a non-significant difference at 5% probability level
3.3.2. Growth rate
Time of fertilizer application, had no significant effect on all growth rates; except method of sowing had
significant (P 0.05) on the first growth rate (Appendix Table-5).
The non significant effect on others growth rate were due to efficient utilization of applied DAP
fertilizer at earlier growth stage. Especially N is a constituent of chlorophyll, proteins and nucleic acids, which
are essential for plant growth (Rashid et al, 2007).
3.3.3. Panicle length
The time of fertilizer application significantly (P 0.001) affected panicle length (Appendix Table 5).
Fertilizer applied two days before sowing had 16% more and 13% less panicle length than fertilizer
applied eight days earlier sowing and at time of sowing, respectively. This might be due to maximum utilization
of nutrients on fertilizer applied two days before sowing and at the time of sowing; because time and rate of
fertilizer application has significant effect on both growth and yield (Lloveras et al., 2001).
3.3.4. Panicle number
Time of fertilizer application had significantly (p 0.001) affected number of panicles per plant (Appendix Table
5).
Application of DAP eight days before sowing and at time of sowing had 42 and 8% less panicle
number, respectively, than applied two days before sowing (Table 3). This result is in line with the finding of
Genene (2003) who reported time of fertilizer application, particularly those containing N and P affects panicle
number of wheat.
3.3.5. Tillers
Time of fertilizer application had significantly (P<0.001) affected the number of tillers (Appendix Table 5).
The DAP applied two days before sowing had 16.7% more tillers than DAP applied at the time of sowing.
Whereas the DAP applied eight days before sowing had reduce the number of tiller by 80% compared with
fertilizer applied at sowing (Table 3).These might be due to maximum loss of N when DAP was applied eight
days earlier to sowing, which could result to less tillering (Lloveras et al., 2001). Because N stimulates tillering
due to its’ effect on cytokinin synthesis (Mengel and Kirkby, 1996)

3.4. Yield and yield components

3.4.1. Total biomass
Sowing method had significantly (p 0.001) affected biomass yield (Appendix Table 6). Application of DAP at
the time of sowing resulted in 52.5 % more biomass than the treatment with DAP applied eight days prior to
sowing. Whereas applying of DAP at the time of sowing 15 % less biomass than DAP applied two days before
sowing (Table 5), this might be due to maximum use of applied fertilizer on fertilizer applied two days prior
sowing; because efficient utilization of applied fertilizer increased vegetative growth, which resulted for higher
biomass production (Wakene 2010).

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Table: - 4 Effects of time of DAP application and sowing method on yield and yield components of tef
Time of fertilizer TBM (k.g) SY(k.g) GY(Q-ha) TSW(g) HI (g)
At planting 1525.0ab 110.0ab 21.45ab 1.60a 0.93a
2-DBP 1793.8a 117.5a 25.11a 1.08b 0.93a
4-DBP 1331.3b 101.3ab 18.45b 0.64c 0.92a
6-DBP 937.5c 95.0ab 12.7c 0.31d 0.89a
8-DBP 725.0c 90.1b 9.53c 0.29d 0..84b
LSD (5%) 359.9 26.1 5.18 0.12 0.06
CV (%) 19.5 17.4 5.18 10.53 4.3
DBP= Days before Planting, CV= Coefficient of Variations, TBM = Total Bio Mass, SY = Straw Yield, GY =
Grain Yield, TSW= Thousand Seed Weight and HI= Harvest Index.
3.4.2. Straw yield
Time of fertilizer application significantly (p 0.5) affected biomass yield (Appendix Table 6).
Application of DAP at the time of sowing and two days before sowing resulted in 18 and 23.3% more
straw yield, respectively than the treatment with DAP applied eight days prior to sowing (Table 4). This might
be due to maximum use of applied fertilizer, with little loss on applied at the time of sowing and two days prior
to sowing; because efficient utilization of applied fertilizer increased vegetative growth, which contribute to
higher straw yield (Alam et al., 2005).
3.4.3. Grain yield
The time of fertilizer application (P<0.001) had significant effect on grain yield (Appendix Table 6). Application
of DAP two days before sowing increased grain yield by14.6% over DAP applied at the time of sowing, whereas
DAP applied eight days before sowing decreased grain by 55.6% compared to application at sowing (Table
4).These could attributed by minimum loss through leaching and volatilization on DAP applied two days before
sowing and which resulted in better growth (Erkossa & Teklewold, 2009)

3.4.4. Thousand Seed weight

The time of fertilizer application and their interaction had significant (p 0.001) effect on thousand seed weight
(Appendix Table 6). Meanwhile DAP applied two days before sowing had 32.5% more thousand seed weight
than DAP applied at sowing. Whereas as DAP applied eight days prior sowing was weighted 81.9% less
compared with DAP applied at sowing (Table 4). These might be because of let application enhances efficiently
utilization of applied fertilizer (Minale et al., 1999) and appropriate rate of N fertilizer at correct time, which
optimizes grain yield and quality (Abdo, 2009).
3.4.5. Harvest index
The time of fertilizer application had significant effect on harvest index (Appendix Table 6).
Meanwhile fertilizer application two days before sowing had 9.7% more harvest index than fertilizer application
eight days prior to sowing (Table 4). These might be due to, efficient utilization of Urea results for increment
vegetative growth due to compassion of N, which in turn increase grain yield by improving cumulative solar
radiation intercepted by the crop (Osman et al., 2001).

3.5. Association of Grain Yield with Yield and Yield Components

Stepwise multiple linear regressions analyses were carried out using treatment means to determine the effects of
the time of fertilizer on the grain yield formation. Grain yield considered as dependant, whereas plant height,
growth rate, tillers, panicles, panicle length, thousand seed weight, straw yield, total biomass and harvest index
were taken as explanatory variables (Table 5).
Grain yield was positively and significant (P < 0.001) associated with plant heights taken at four different times,

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first growth rate, number of tillers and panicle, panicle length and thousand seed weight, r=0.60, 0.69, 0.72, 0.70,
0.51, 0.8,0.6 and 0.81, respectively. Similar correlations were reported in barley by Mekonnen (2005) and Alam
et al. (2005). On the other hand, grain yield was associated negatively with thrid growth rate (r=-0.69***) and
panicle length (-0.75***); which was in line with the report of Getachew (2004) on bread wheat. Table 5:-
Correlation between yield and yield components of tef.
PH1 PH2 PH3 PH4 GR1 GR2 GR3 PN PL GY SY TBM
PH1 1.0 0.56*** 0.80*** 0.82*** 0.81 ns -0.09ns -0.75*** 0.64*** -0.49** 0.60*** 0.14*** 0.56***
PH2 1.0 0.80*** 0.82*** 0.82ns -0.09 ns -0.75*** 0.76*** -0.71*** 0.69*** 0.30* 0.62***
PH3 1.0 0.94*** 0.59*** 0.51*** -0.98*** 0.83*** -0.69** 0.72*** 0.37 * 0.66***
PH4 1.0 0.59*** 0.39* -0.84*** 0.81*** -0.68*** 0.70*** 0.34* 0.22***
GR1 1.0 -0.19 ns -0.56*** 0.49** -0.49** 0.51*** 0.29 ns 0.53***
GR2 1.0 -0.55*** 0.29 ns 0.38** 0.21 ns 0.18 ns 0.63 ns
GR3 1.0 -0.79*** 0.66*** -0.69*** -0.37* -0.64***
TN 0.86*** -0.77*** 0.80*** 0.31* 0.75***
PN 1.0 -0.49 0.60*** 0.14ns 0.56***
PL 1.0 -0.75*** -0.22 ns -0.69***
TSW 0.81*** 0.42 ns 0.76***
GY 1.0 0.43 ns 0.97 ns
SY 1.0 0.46 *
TBM 1.0 0.46 *
HI

ns = not significant, * ** &*** significant at 0.05, 0.01and 0.001 respectively, PH1, PH2, PH3 &PH4= first,
second, thread & fourth Plant Height respectively, GR1, GR2 & GR3= first, second & third growth rates,
respectively, TN= Tillers in Number, PL= Panicle Length TBM = Total biomass, GY = Grain Yield, SY = straw
yield, TSW = Thousand Seed Weight and HI= Harvest Index.

4. CONCLUSION
Fertilizer applied two days prior to sowing had 8, 15.6 and 15% more panicles numbers, grain and biomass yield
than DAP applied at a time of sowing. Meanwhile DAP applied two days before sowing resulted in 82.2 and
17.2 % more thousand seed weight and harvest index, than DAP applied eight days before sowing.

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