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N fertilisation, soil type and cultivars effects on N use efficiency in tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotte]

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Abstract

Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotte] is a major staple crop in Ethiopia and a large proportion of the imported fertiliser is being applied to tef fields. However, since the 1980s the yield on farmers’ fields has stagnated. Response of the crop to applied fertiliser is influenced by several factors. We aimed to study the fertiliser N use efficiency (FNUE) of four tef varieties from ammonium sulphate and urea on different soil types with the help of the 15N isotopic dilution technique. Three experiments were conducted under greenhouse and field conditions. On a typic Eutrocrept soil, higher percent N derived from fertiliser (% Ndff) and % FNUE were obtained for all the tested tef varieties when the N source was urea, while percent N derived from soil (% Ndfs) was higher for ammonium sulphate. The mean % FNUE for urea and ammonium sulphate was 49 and 34%, respectively. When the varieties were grown on a Nitosol or a Vertisol and ammonium sulphate was applied, the % Ndff, the total and fertiliser N yield and % FNUE of the tef varieties were higher on a eutric Nitosol compared to the Vertisol. The mean % FNUE was 61.3 for the Nitosol and 27.8 for the Vertisol. In an ‘on farm’ experiment, relatively higher FNUE (33.3%) was obtained on an Andosol compared to Vertisols (17 and 27%). The tested varieties showed no difference in FNUE. As tef is the most important crop grown on Vertisols in Ethiopia, the low FNUE has a direct negative implication for the livelihood of the farmers and the environment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for International Environment and Development Studies Noragric,, Agricultural University of Norway, 1432 Aas, P.O. Box 5001, Norway

    Balesh Tulema, Jens Aune & Bishal Sitaula

  2. Joint FAO/IAEA Divisions of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400, Vienna, Austria

    Felipe Zapata

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  1. Balesh Tulema
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  2. Felipe Zapata
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Correspondence to Balesh Tulema.

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Tulema, B., Zapata, F., Aune, J. et al. N fertilisation, soil type and cultivars effects on N use efficiency in tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotte]. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 71, 203–211 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-004-5083-1

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