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Effect of Tillage and Fertilizer Practices on Sorghum Production in Abergelle Area, Northern Ethiopia
Abstract
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) production is mainly constrained by soil water and nutrient deficits in northern Ethiopia. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of tillage and fertilizer practices on productivity of two sorghum varieties in Abergelle area, northern Ethiopia. The experimental design was split-plot design. The main-plot treatments included five tillage practices. These were shilshalo (traditional ridge without ties) for broadcasted planting (SBP), tied-ridging at planting (TR0WAP), tied-ridging at four weeks after planting (TR4WAP), zero tillage (ZT), and shilshalo for row planting (SRP). Two fertilizer rates of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), as0-0 N-P ha-1(without fertilizer, F1) and 32-10 kg N-P ha-1 (with fertilizer, F2) treatments, were used in the sub-plots. The local sorghum varieties i.e., Woitoziraand Chibal (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) were tested for two years (2002-2003). The pooled and yearly-basis data analysis showed that the main and interaction treatment effects were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) influenced the yield and yield components of both varieties. This study also demonstrated sorghum yield increment by 7 to 48% due to the interaction effect of TR0WAP with F2 as compared to the interaction effects of the other tillage treatments with F2. However, the increment of yield and yield components due to the tied-ridging and fertilizer interaction effects were higher for Chibalas compared to Woitozira. The mean sorghum crop yield due to TR0WAP interaction with F2 for Chibal was 1.45 t ha-1 and that of Woitozirawas 1.31t ha-1. Thus, suitable time of tied-ridging integrated with proper rate of fertilizer should be adopted for effective increase of crop production in the semi-arid areas of northern Ethiopia such as the Abergelle area.
Keywords: Abergelle area, Fertilizer, Sorghum varieties, Tied-ridging, Tillage practices, Northern Ethiopia
