Tolcha Tufa - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Tolcha Tufa

International Journal of Plant & Soil Science

The field experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 cropping season to determine the effects of u... more The field experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 cropping season to determine the effects of urea stable and urea on nitrogen use efficiency and maize performance in highland Nitisol of Midakegn and Toke Kutaye districts. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Nine treatments of urea stable and urea with different application times was used. Application of different nitrogen rate from urea stable and urea were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced mean plant height, leaf area index, dry biomass, grain yield, thousand seed weight and harvest index of maize crop. Significantly higher mean leaf area index (4.1), thousand seed weight (357 g), dry biomass (16472 kg ha-1) and grain yield (5475 kg ha-1) were recorded from split application of 138 kg N ha-1 from urea stable whereas higher mean plant height was recorded from split application 138 kg N ha-1 from urea. Application of nitrogen rate were also affected nitrogen uptake and agro...

Maize growers need balanced crop nutrition to maximize its yield potential and get the most out o... more Maize growers need balanced crop nutrition to maximize its yield potential and get the most out of their fertilizer investment. In practice, this requires making all of the required nutrients available to the maize crop by the right amount or rate. So, the objective was to determine the optimum blended (NPSZnB) and urea fertilizer rates on growth, yield and yield components of maize in Toke Kutaye district west Showa Zone. The experiment was laid out using randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three replications. The treatments consisting of four rates of blended (150, 200, 250, 300 kg NPSZnB ha ) and 1 three rates of Urea (150, 250 and 350 kg ha ) were tested with negative control and blanket recommended NP 1 (119/69 kg ha ) having a total of 14 treatments for 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 cropping seasons. Application of 1 urea and blended fertilizer levels were significantly (P<0.05) affected almost all the growth, yield and yield components of maize in both...

Integrated soil fertility management using organic and inorganic fertilizer is recognized as abso... more Integrated soil fertility management using organic and inorganic fertilizer is recognized as absolute soil fertility management aims to increase yield, a better option in improving agronomic efficiency, providing a more balanced supply of nutrients and saving cost of production. Considering importance integrated soil fertility management for crop production an experiment comprised of eleven sole and integrated nutrient management practices was conducted on smallholder farmers field around Ambo for highland maize in laid in a randomized block experimental design with three replications. Yield and yield components of highland maize variety (Wenchi) was significantly affected with sole and integrated use of vermicompost and NPS fertilizer rate. Significantly higher (6187 kg ha-1) was obtained with application of 92/69/30 kg NPS ha-1 followed by (5193 kg ha-1) with 50:50 vermicompost based on N equivalency and NPS fertilizer rate. Application of 92/69/30 kg NPS ha-1 gave the highest net...

Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 2019

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most staple food crops for most of population in Ethio... more Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most staple food crops for most of population in Ethiopia. Currently, a number of improved wheat varieties have been released by breeders in Agricultural Research Institutions. The farmers have been produced wheat with traditional agronomic practices which do not improve the wheat yield in country. This experiment was conducted for three cropping season to determine the influence of seed rate and row spacing on growth and yield of bread wheat in Cheliya district on Nitisols of west Shewa Zone. Improved wheat variety (Denda'a) was used and planted with seed rate of 125,150 and 175 kg ha-1 and in row spacing of 15, 20 and 25cm. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three replications. Main effects seed rate and row spacing were significantly affected mean grain yield and yield components of wheat in the area. Wheat planting with 20cm row spacing was significantly produced higher mean grain (5092 kg ha-1), dry biomass (12142 kg ha-1), harvest index (42.93), plant height (99.48 cm) and thousands grain weight (52.04 g) in three consecutive years. Significantly higher mean tillers number plant-1 was recorded from wider row spacing (25cm). Seeding rates of wheat was significantly affected mean grain yield, biomass, harvest index, plant height, tiller number per plant and thousand grain of wheat. Significant higher mean grain yields of 4814 kg ha −1 was obtained from 150 kg ha −1 seed rate of wheat. Use of 150 kg ha-1 gave yield advantage of 34.37 and 15.13 % over 125 and 175 kg ha −1 seed rate of wheat planted with seed rate of 150 kg ha-1 and 20cm row spacing gave higher net benefit of (33,620 and 37,200 EB) for wheat producer in the area. Therefore, seed rate of 150 kg ha-1 and 20cm row spacing was recommended for sustainable wheat production in Chelia district and similar agro ecologies.

The Studies of Korean Literature, 2019

Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 2019

Currently use of conventional compost and vermicompost for crop production is common in the count... more Currently use of conventional compost and vermicompost for crop production is common in the country but their nutrient concentrations were not known. Therefore, there is a need to determine the nutrient concentrations to know the quality of conventional compost and conventional compost for crop production. Consequently, an experiment was conducted to determine the nutrient concentrations of conventional compost and vermicompost prepared from different crop residue, bedding and feed wastes at Ambo in 2017 and 2018 cropping season. The decomposed conventional compost and vermicompost were prepared following laboratory procedures and analyzed for different nutrient concentration at Holetta Research Soil and Plant Laboratory. Higher total nitrogen (0.696 %) was obtained with compost produced from ratio of 15:5 kg of wheat residue with farmyard manure followed by 15:7.5: 2.5 kg wheat residue: faba bean residue and farmyard manure combinations with total nitrogen concentration of 0.610 %....

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in Ethiopia but its yield ... more Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in Ethiopia but its yield was low because of depleted soil fertility which might be due to low levels of chemical fertilizer usage, limited knowledge on time and rate of fertilizer application and the unavailability of other modern crop management inputs. This in view a field experiment was conducted during 2018/19 and 2019/20 cropping seasons in Ambo District central Ethiopia with the objective to determine optimum blended and Urea fertilizer rate for wheat production in Vertisols. Twelve treatments combination from three levels of urea and four levels blended (NPSZnB) were used for the field experiment with one recommended NP and control. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement in three replications in four farmers’ fields. Dry biomass and grain yield of wheat were significantly affected by application of blended (NPSZnB) and urea fertilizer rates. Significantl...

International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, Aug 16, 2019

Variability in crop response and nutrient use efficiencies to fertilizer application is quite com... more Variability in crop response and nutrient use efficiencies to fertilizer application is quite common under varying soil and climatic conditions. Understanding such variability is vital to develop farmand area-specific soil nutrient management and fertilizer recommendations. Hence the objectives of this study were to assess maize grain yield response to nutrient applications for identifying yield

International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Research

Agronomic panel survey was conducted in Bako Tibe district to assess current farmers maize agrono... more Agronomic panel survey was conducted in Bako Tibe district to assess current farmers maize agronomic practices and associated actual maize grain yields. The survey was conducted using 100 households. Most of the maize farms (90%) were characterized as having strongly to strongly acidic soils, low to medium SOC, medium to high TN, very low to low av.P, high to very high exch. K, low to medium exch.Ca, and medium to high exch. Mg, high av. Zn and Fe and very high Mn contents. Most farmers (94%) grow improved maize varieties and 80% of them grew a pioneering hybrid Limu and Bako hybrids BH540 and BH543. Most farmers (97%) apply different inorganic fertilizers and of them >70% of them applied NPS+Urea or NPS alone. Farmers rarely retain crop residue. Most farmers (81%) maintain lower plant density at harvest than the recommended density and the density declined from vegetative to harvesting stage. About 99% of the farmers grow sole maize, 57% rotate maize with other. Percent weed cover of the farms were 25% on average but reached as high as 80%. About 87.5%, 86%, 75% of farmers harvested grain yield that was higher than the national, regional and zonal average, respectively. Since most maize farms (90%) were very strongly to strongly acidic, there is a need to apply lime to improve maize productivity and nutrient use efficiency in the area. The poor weed and crop residue management, sole cropping of maize and lower plant densities practiced by farmers were among the gaps observed that potentially reduce maize productivity in the study area unless the extension sector intervenes. However, the current trend improved maize varieties and inorganic fertilizers use is promising and needs to be encouraged for intensification of maize production in the study area. Contribution/Originality: This paper serves as the most recent study on maize agronomy in Ethiopia in giving sight to the nutrient status of soils of the best maize growing district in the region. It also gives an insight into what the maize agronomic practices (cropping system, crop residue management fertilizer, and improved maize variety use) look like in the distinct. 1. INTRODUCTION Maize is the second most widely cultivated crop in Ethiopia and is grown under diverse agro-ecologies and socioeconomic conditions typically under rain-fed condition (Abate et al., 2015). Maize has expanded rapidly in terms of both area and production. Following the increasing trend of farmers' investment on required inputs, mainly in improved seeds and chemical fertilizers, maize productivity has also dramatically increased in Ethiopia. As a result, maize has had a positive impact on poverty reduction in many parts of the country (Abate et al., 2015).

International Journal of Agronomy

Barley is an important food and beverage crop in the highlands of Ethiopia, although intensive cu... more Barley is an important food and beverage crop in the highlands of Ethiopia, although intensive cultivation and suboptimal fertilizer application have caused nutrient depletion and yield decline. With this in view, integrated inorganic and organic fertilizer sources on yield and yield components of barley were studied. Ten treatments involving the sole NP, vermicompost, conventional compost, and farmyard manure based on N equivalency were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons. Significantly higher grain yield and biomass yield of barley were obtained with the application of sole recommended NP and the integrated use of 50 : 50% vermicompost and conventional compost with recommended NP. Mean grain yield of 2567 and 2549 kg·ha−1 barley was obtained from application of 50 :50% conventional compost and vermicompost based on N equivalence with recommended NP fertilizer rate, which markedly reduce the cost of chemical NP fe...

International Journal of Plant & Soil Science

The field experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 cropping season to determine the effects of u... more The field experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 cropping season to determine the effects of urea stable and urea on nitrogen use efficiency and maize performance in highland Nitisol of Midakegn and Toke Kutaye districts. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Nine treatments of urea stable and urea with different application times was used. Application of different nitrogen rate from urea stable and urea were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced mean plant height, leaf area index, dry biomass, grain yield, thousand seed weight and harvest index of maize crop. Significantly higher mean leaf area index (4.1), thousand seed weight (357 g), dry biomass (16472 kg ha-1) and grain yield (5475 kg ha-1) were recorded from split application of 138 kg N ha-1 from urea stable whereas higher mean plant height was recorded from split application 138 kg N ha-1 from urea. Application of nitrogen rate were also affected nitrogen uptake and agro...

Maize growers need balanced crop nutrition to maximize its yield potential and get the most out o... more Maize growers need balanced crop nutrition to maximize its yield potential and get the most out of their fertilizer investment. In practice, this requires making all of the required nutrients available to the maize crop by the right amount or rate. So, the objective was to determine the optimum blended (NPSZnB) and urea fertilizer rates on growth, yield and yield components of maize in Toke Kutaye district west Showa Zone. The experiment was laid out using randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three replications. The treatments consisting of four rates of blended (150, 200, 250, 300 kg NPSZnB ha ) and 1 three rates of Urea (150, 250 and 350 kg ha ) were tested with negative control and blanket recommended NP 1 (119/69 kg ha ) having a total of 14 treatments for 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 cropping seasons. Application of 1 urea and blended fertilizer levels were significantly (P<0.05) affected almost all the growth, yield and yield components of maize in both...

Integrated soil fertility management using organic and inorganic fertilizer is recognized as abso... more Integrated soil fertility management using organic and inorganic fertilizer is recognized as absolute soil fertility management aims to increase yield, a better option in improving agronomic efficiency, providing a more balanced supply of nutrients and saving cost of production. Considering importance integrated soil fertility management for crop production an experiment comprised of eleven sole and integrated nutrient management practices was conducted on smallholder farmers field around Ambo for highland maize in laid in a randomized block experimental design with three replications. Yield and yield components of highland maize variety (Wenchi) was significantly affected with sole and integrated use of vermicompost and NPS fertilizer rate. Significantly higher (6187 kg ha-1) was obtained with application of 92/69/30 kg NPS ha-1 followed by (5193 kg ha-1) with 50:50 vermicompost based on N equivalency and NPS fertilizer rate. Application of 92/69/30 kg NPS ha-1 gave the highest net...

Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 2019

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most staple food crops for most of population in Ethio... more Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most staple food crops for most of population in Ethiopia. Currently, a number of improved wheat varieties have been released by breeders in Agricultural Research Institutions. The farmers have been produced wheat with traditional agronomic practices which do not improve the wheat yield in country. This experiment was conducted for three cropping season to determine the influence of seed rate and row spacing on growth and yield of bread wheat in Cheliya district on Nitisols of west Shewa Zone. Improved wheat variety (Denda'a) was used and planted with seed rate of 125,150 and 175 kg ha-1 and in row spacing of 15, 20 and 25cm. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three replications. Main effects seed rate and row spacing were significantly affected mean grain yield and yield components of wheat in the area. Wheat planting with 20cm row spacing was significantly produced higher mean grain (5092 kg ha-1), dry biomass (12142 kg ha-1), harvest index (42.93), plant height (99.48 cm) and thousands grain weight (52.04 g) in three consecutive years. Significantly higher mean tillers number plant-1 was recorded from wider row spacing (25cm). Seeding rates of wheat was significantly affected mean grain yield, biomass, harvest index, plant height, tiller number per plant and thousand grain of wheat. Significant higher mean grain yields of 4814 kg ha −1 was obtained from 150 kg ha −1 seed rate of wheat. Use of 150 kg ha-1 gave yield advantage of 34.37 and 15.13 % over 125 and 175 kg ha −1 seed rate of wheat planted with seed rate of 150 kg ha-1 and 20cm row spacing gave higher net benefit of (33,620 and 37,200 EB) for wheat producer in the area. Therefore, seed rate of 150 kg ha-1 and 20cm row spacing was recommended for sustainable wheat production in Chelia district and similar agro ecologies.

The Studies of Korean Literature, 2019

Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 2019

Currently use of conventional compost and vermicompost for crop production is common in the count... more Currently use of conventional compost and vermicompost for crop production is common in the country but their nutrient concentrations were not known. Therefore, there is a need to determine the nutrient concentrations to know the quality of conventional compost and conventional compost for crop production. Consequently, an experiment was conducted to determine the nutrient concentrations of conventional compost and vermicompost prepared from different crop residue, bedding and feed wastes at Ambo in 2017 and 2018 cropping season. The decomposed conventional compost and vermicompost were prepared following laboratory procedures and analyzed for different nutrient concentration at Holetta Research Soil and Plant Laboratory. Higher total nitrogen (0.696 %) was obtained with compost produced from ratio of 15:5 kg of wheat residue with farmyard manure followed by 15:7.5: 2.5 kg wheat residue: faba bean residue and farmyard manure combinations with total nitrogen concentration of 0.610 %....

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in Ethiopia but its yield ... more Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in Ethiopia but its yield was low because of depleted soil fertility which might be due to low levels of chemical fertilizer usage, limited knowledge on time and rate of fertilizer application and the unavailability of other modern crop management inputs. This in view a field experiment was conducted during 2018/19 and 2019/20 cropping seasons in Ambo District central Ethiopia with the objective to determine optimum blended and Urea fertilizer rate for wheat production in Vertisols. Twelve treatments combination from three levels of urea and four levels blended (NPSZnB) were used for the field experiment with one recommended NP and control. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement in three replications in four farmers’ fields. Dry biomass and grain yield of wheat were significantly affected by application of blended (NPSZnB) and urea fertilizer rates. Significantl...

International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, Aug 16, 2019

Variability in crop response and nutrient use efficiencies to fertilizer application is quite com... more Variability in crop response and nutrient use efficiencies to fertilizer application is quite common under varying soil and climatic conditions. Understanding such variability is vital to develop farmand area-specific soil nutrient management and fertilizer recommendations. Hence the objectives of this study were to assess maize grain yield response to nutrient applications for identifying yield

International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Research

Agronomic panel survey was conducted in Bako Tibe district to assess current farmers maize agrono... more Agronomic panel survey was conducted in Bako Tibe district to assess current farmers maize agronomic practices and associated actual maize grain yields. The survey was conducted using 100 households. Most of the maize farms (90%) were characterized as having strongly to strongly acidic soils, low to medium SOC, medium to high TN, very low to low av.P, high to very high exch. K, low to medium exch.Ca, and medium to high exch. Mg, high av. Zn and Fe and very high Mn contents. Most farmers (94%) grow improved maize varieties and 80% of them grew a pioneering hybrid Limu and Bako hybrids BH540 and BH543. Most farmers (97%) apply different inorganic fertilizers and of them >70% of them applied NPS+Urea or NPS alone. Farmers rarely retain crop residue. Most farmers (81%) maintain lower plant density at harvest than the recommended density and the density declined from vegetative to harvesting stage. About 99% of the farmers grow sole maize, 57% rotate maize with other. Percent weed cover of the farms were 25% on average but reached as high as 80%. About 87.5%, 86%, 75% of farmers harvested grain yield that was higher than the national, regional and zonal average, respectively. Since most maize farms (90%) were very strongly to strongly acidic, there is a need to apply lime to improve maize productivity and nutrient use efficiency in the area. The poor weed and crop residue management, sole cropping of maize and lower plant densities practiced by farmers were among the gaps observed that potentially reduce maize productivity in the study area unless the extension sector intervenes. However, the current trend improved maize varieties and inorganic fertilizers use is promising and needs to be encouraged for intensification of maize production in the study area. Contribution/Originality: This paper serves as the most recent study on maize agronomy in Ethiopia in giving sight to the nutrient status of soils of the best maize growing district in the region. It also gives an insight into what the maize agronomic practices (cropping system, crop residue management fertilizer, and improved maize variety use) look like in the distinct. 1. INTRODUCTION Maize is the second most widely cultivated crop in Ethiopia and is grown under diverse agro-ecologies and socioeconomic conditions typically under rain-fed condition (Abate et al., 2015). Maize has expanded rapidly in terms of both area and production. Following the increasing trend of farmers' investment on required inputs, mainly in improved seeds and chemical fertilizers, maize productivity has also dramatically increased in Ethiopia. As a result, maize has had a positive impact on poverty reduction in many parts of the country (Abate et al., 2015).

International Journal of Agronomy

Barley is an important food and beverage crop in the highlands of Ethiopia, although intensive cu... more Barley is an important food and beverage crop in the highlands of Ethiopia, although intensive cultivation and suboptimal fertilizer application have caused nutrient depletion and yield decline. With this in view, integrated inorganic and organic fertilizer sources on yield and yield components of barley were studied. Ten treatments involving the sole NP, vermicompost, conventional compost, and farmyard manure based on N equivalency were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons. Significantly higher grain yield and biomass yield of barley were obtained with the application of sole recommended NP and the integrated use of 50 : 50% vermicompost and conventional compost with recommended NP. Mean grain yield of 2567 and 2549 kg·ha−1 barley was obtained from application of 50 :50% conventional compost and vermicompost based on N equivalence with recommended NP fertilizer rate, which markedly reduce the cost of chemical NP fe...