Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Validation of Fertilizer Requirement Map for Teff (Eragrostis teff (Zucc.)) at Lume District, East Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Received: 11 December 2023     Accepted: 6 January 2024     Published: 20 March 2024
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Abstract

Ethiopia's teff production, a key cereal crop, has long suffered from blanket fertilizer recommendations that fail to account for the diverse soil conditions across the country. This often leads to suboptimal yields, falling short of the crop's true potential. To address this challenge, Batu Soil Research Center embarked on a ground breaking initiative: developing a phosphorus fertilizer requirement map specifically tailored to the Lume district. To validate the effectiveness of this map, field experiments were conducted across nine peasant associations within the district. Four different fertilizer treatments were compared: unfertilized control plots, plots receiving the conventional blanket recommendation of a uniform 100/100 NPS/Urea application, plots applying phosphorus based on the newly created map (P-map), and plots receiving phosphorus calculated based on individual soil analysis (P-required). The results were striking. P-map emerged as the clear winner, driving the highest yields of both grain (2178 kg ha-1) and biomass (6639 kg ha-1) compared to all other treatments. This impressive performance translated to a significant improvement in harvest index as well, reaching 34.11%. Notably, P-map surpassed not only the control group but also the blanket recommendation, highlighting the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach. Economic analysis further solidified the case for P-map. For farmers in Lume district, adopting this map-based approach promises a 100% marginal rate of return, making it a highly profitable investment. This economic benefit, coupled with the substantial yield improvements, paves the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future for teff cultivation in the region. In conclusion, the fertilizer requirement map developed by Batu Soil Research Center holds immense potential for revolutionizing teff production in Ethiopia. By moving away from blanket recommendations and embracing a precision-driven approach, farmers in Lume district and beyond can unlock the full potential of this valuable crop, boosting their yields, income, and food security.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 12, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijema.20241202.11
Page(s) 21-28
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Blanket Recommendation, P-map, P-required, Teff, Fertilizer Requirement Map

References
[1] Habte, M. L., Beyene, E. A., Feyisa, T. O., Admasu, F. T., Tilahun, A., & Diribsa, G. C. (2022). Nutritional Values of Teff (Eragrostis tef) in Diabetic Patients: Narrative Review. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy, 2599-2606.
[2] Davidson, J. M., Aiken, R. M., Min, D. H., & Kluitenberg, G. J. (2020). Water Use and Productivity of Teff, a Dairy Quality Forage Crop. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports, 6(5), 12.
[3] Fayera, A., Mohammed, M., & Adugna, D. (2014). Effects of different rates of NPK and blended fertilizers on nutrient uptake and use efficiency of teff [Eragrostis tef (Zuccagni) Trotter] in Dedessa District, southwestern Ethiopia. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 4(25), 254-258.
[4] Teshome, H., Sisay, K., Degu, A., Wubu, T., & Hailu, T. (2023). Teff and Wheat Yield Variation With Phosphorus Application In Jamma District, Ethiopia. Journal of Tropical Crop Science Vol, 10(2).
[5] Kassa, M., & Kifle, T. (2023). Soil Test Based Fertilizer Calibration for Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Varieties of the Southern Ethiopia. Applied and Environmental Soil Science, 2023.
[6] Abdu, A., Laekemariam, F., Gidago, G., Kebede, A., & Getaneh, L. (2023). Variability analysis of soil properties, mapping, and crop test responses in Southern Ethiopia. Heliyon, 9(3).
[7] Mueller, K. E., Bryant, R. B., & Cornelius, P. L. (2001). Correcting spatial bias in field-scale yield maps. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 65(4), 930-938.
[8] Firomsa, A., Gebresamuel, G., Yigezu, B., & Abay, F. (2019). Development of fertilizer requirement maps for teff using geo-statistical interpolation for soil test-based phosphorus application in central highlands of Ethiopia. PloS one, 14(7), e0219809.
[9] Firomsa, T., Abera, T., & Assefa, K. (2019, June). Pre-extension Demonstration of Phosphorus Critical and Phosphorus Requirement Factor for Teff Crop at Lume District, East Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. In Workshop Proceedings, 26-29 June 2019, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Vol. 26, p. 144).
[10] CIMMYT Economics Program, International Maize, & Wheat Improvement Center. (1988). From agronomic data to farmer recommendations: An economics training manual (No. 27). CIMMYT.
[11] Dereje, G., Alemu, D., Adisu, T., & Anbessa, B. (2018). Response of yield and yield components of Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] to optimum rates of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer rate application in Assosa Zone, Benishangul Gumuz Region. Ethiopian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 28(1), 81-94.
[12] Hengl, T., Leenaars, J. G., Shepherd, K. D., Walsh, M. G., Heuvelink, G., Mamo, T.,... & Kwabena, N. A. (2017). Soil nutrient maps of Sub-Saharan Africa: assessment of soil nutrient content at 250 m spatial resolution using machine learning. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 109(1), 77-102.
[13] Gebreslassie, H. B., & Demoz, H. A. (2016). A review of the Effect of Phosphorus Fertilizer on crop production in Ethiopia. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 6(7), 117-120.
[14] Bouyoucos, G. J. (1951). A recalibration of the hydrometer method for making mechanical analysis of soils 1. Agronomy journal, 43(9), 434-438.
[15] Olsen, S. R. (1954). Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate (No. 939). US Department of Agriculture.
[16] Roger Payne, Darren Murray, Simon Harding, David Baird & Duncan Soutar. (2012). Introduction to GenStat for Windows 15 Edition. VSN International, 5 The Waterhouse, Waterhouse Street, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP1 1ES, UK.
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  • APA Style

    Abera, T., Worku, R., Firomsa, T. (2024). Validation of Fertilizer Requirement Map for Teff (Eragrostis teff (Zucc.)) at Lume District, East Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 12(2), 21-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241202.11

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    ACS Style

    Abera, T.; Worku, R.; Firomsa, T. Validation of Fertilizer Requirement Map for Teff (Eragrostis teff (Zucc.)) at Lume District, East Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2024, 12(2), 21-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20241202.11

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    AMA Style

    Abera T, Worku R, Firomsa T. Validation of Fertilizer Requirement Map for Teff (Eragrostis teff (Zucc.)) at Lume District, East Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2024;12(2):21-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20241202.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijema.20241202.11,
      author = {Tilahun Abera and Reta Worku and Tilahun Firomsa},
      title = {Validation of Fertilizer Requirement Map for Teff (Eragrostis teff (Zucc.)) at Lume District, East Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
      volume = {12},
      number = {2},
      pages = {21-28},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20241202.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241202.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20241202.11},
      abstract = {Ethiopia's teff production, a key cereal crop, has long suffered from blanket fertilizer recommendations that fail to account for the diverse soil conditions across the country. This often leads to suboptimal yields, falling short of the crop's true potential. To address this challenge, Batu Soil Research Center embarked on a ground breaking initiative: developing a phosphorus fertilizer requirement map specifically tailored to the Lume district. To validate the effectiveness of this map, field experiments were conducted across nine peasant associations within the district. Four different fertilizer treatments were compared: unfertilized control plots, plots receiving the conventional blanket recommendation of a uniform 100/100 NPS/Urea application, plots applying phosphorus based on the newly created map (P-map), and plots receiving phosphorus calculated based on individual soil analysis (P-required). The results were striking. P-map emerged as the clear winner, driving the highest yields of both grain (2178 kg ha-1) and biomass (6639 kg ha-1) compared to all other treatments. This impressive performance translated to a significant improvement in harvest index as well, reaching 34.11%. Notably, P-map surpassed not only the control group but also the blanket recommendation, highlighting the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach. Economic analysis further solidified the case for P-map. For farmers in Lume district, adopting this map-based approach promises a 100% marginal rate of return, making it a highly profitable investment. This economic benefit, coupled with the substantial yield improvements, paves the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future for teff cultivation in the region. In conclusion, the fertilizer requirement map developed by Batu Soil Research Center holds immense potential for revolutionizing teff production in Ethiopia. By moving away from blanket recommendations and embracing a precision-driven approach, farmers in Lume district and beyond can unlock the full potential of this valuable crop, boosting their yields, income, and food security.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Validation of Fertilizer Requirement Map for Teff (Eragrostis teff (Zucc.)) at Lume District, East Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia
    AU  - Tilahun Abera
    AU  - Reta Worku
    AU  - Tilahun Firomsa
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    PY  - 2024
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241202.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20241202.11
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    SP  - 21
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7667
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241202.11
    AB  - Ethiopia's teff production, a key cereal crop, has long suffered from blanket fertilizer recommendations that fail to account for the diverse soil conditions across the country. This often leads to suboptimal yields, falling short of the crop's true potential. To address this challenge, Batu Soil Research Center embarked on a ground breaking initiative: developing a phosphorus fertilizer requirement map specifically tailored to the Lume district. To validate the effectiveness of this map, field experiments were conducted across nine peasant associations within the district. Four different fertilizer treatments were compared: unfertilized control plots, plots receiving the conventional blanket recommendation of a uniform 100/100 NPS/Urea application, plots applying phosphorus based on the newly created map (P-map), and plots receiving phosphorus calculated based on individual soil analysis (P-required). The results were striking. P-map emerged as the clear winner, driving the highest yields of both grain (2178 kg ha-1) and biomass (6639 kg ha-1) compared to all other treatments. This impressive performance translated to a significant improvement in harvest index as well, reaching 34.11%. Notably, P-map surpassed not only the control group but also the blanket recommendation, highlighting the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach. Economic analysis further solidified the case for P-map. For farmers in Lume district, adopting this map-based approach promises a 100% marginal rate of return, making it a highly profitable investment. This economic benefit, coupled with the substantial yield improvements, paves the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future for teff cultivation in the region. In conclusion, the fertilizer requirement map developed by Batu Soil Research Center holds immense potential for revolutionizing teff production in Ethiopia. By moving away from blanket recommendations and embracing a precision-driven approach, farmers in Lume district and beyond can unlock the full potential of this valuable crop, boosting their yields, income, and food security.
    
    VL  - 12
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Batu Soil Research Center, Oromia Agricultural Research Center, Finfine, Ethiopia

  • Batu Soil Research Center, Oromia Agricultural Research Center, Finfine, Ethiopia

  • Batu Soil Research Center, Oromia Agricultural Research Center, Finfine, Ethiopia

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