Effect of NPS and Nitrogen Rates on Yield and Yield Components of Teff[Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] under Lime Treated Soils in Western Ethiopia

Teff is the most significant crop among the cereal crops, but its production is constrained by biotic and abiotic factors, in which acidic soil is the major challenge. A field experiment was conducted from the 2020-2022 season at Gedo, Shambu, and Arjo locations. The experiment was conducted to evaluate and identify NPS and nitrogen rates that increase the yield and to determine an economically feasible level of NPS and Nitrogen fertilizer rates for the growth and yield of teff in Western Oromia, Ethiopia. The experiment consisted of twelve factorially combined treatments with four NPS (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha-1) and three Nitrogen (0, 23, and 46 kg ha-1) rates. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used to set up the experiment. The main effects of NPS and Nitrogen (N) rates had a highly significant difference (p<0.01) on days to heading, plant height, panicle length, and number of effective tillers. The main and interaction effects of NPS and nitrogen rates at all locations showed a highly significant (p<0.01) difference in grain yield and aboveground biomass but significantly influenced the harvest index by their interaction only. The combination of 150 NPS and 46 kg ha-1 rates on the Dursi variety gave a grain yield (1506.40 kg ha-1) with the net benefit (58551.49 birr ha-1) and MRR (3211.86%) being an economic alternative to the other treatments. Therefore, it is advisable to use a combination of 150 NPS and 46 kg N ha-1 rates for the Dursi variety in the study area, as it is economically viable for the farmers. However, further research is expected to discover the level at which it showed a turning point.