Effects of Sowing Methods and Seed Rates on Yield Components and Yield of Tef in Soro Woreda, Hadya Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is among the major cereals of Ethiopia and occupies the largest cultivated land more than any other cereals. The need for its production as a staple food is increasing from year to year; however, its productivity is almost stagnant. Tef variety, Kuncho (Dz-Cr-387) was sown during the main cropping season of 2014/15 at First Oda Kebele, Soro District, Hadya Zone, Southern Ethiopia to study the effect of two types of sowing methods (broadcast and row) and three levels of seed rates (25, 20 and 10 kg/ha) and to investigate the interaction effect of sowing methods and seed rates on yield components and yield of tef. A factorial experiment was laid out in RCBD in three replications. All plant parameters were significantly affected by main effects of sowing methods and seed rates. Only two plant parameters (Days to 90 % PM and grain yield) were significantly affected by the interaction effect of sowing methods and seed rates. Sowing plants in rows increased plant height by 4.67cm over the broadcast sowing method. Similarly, there was significant increase in plant height by decreasing the seed rate from 25 kg/ha to 10 kg/ha.  There was 2.55 cm increase of panicle length observed on plants sown in rows as compared to plants sown in broadcast. In the same way, there was significant increase of panicle length by decreasing the seed rate from 25 kg/ha to 10 kg/ha. The highest days to 90 % physiological maturity was recorded by combining row sowing method with 20 kg/ha seed rate. There was 7 days delay of days to 90 % physiological maturity due to this combination as compared to the control treatment. Lodging was more in broadcast sowing than in row sowing. There was 7.78 percent more lodging observed in the treatments under broadcast sowing method as compared to treatments under row sowing method. It was not statistically different by using 25 kg/ha and 20 kg/ha seed rates but it was lower and significant at 10 kg/ha seed rate as compared to the first two seed rates. There was 15.7 % increase of grain yield of tef by combining the row sowing method with 10 kg/ha seed rate as compared to the control treatment.  There was more straw yield (327.8 kg/ha) obtained from treatments under row sowing method as compared to treatments under broadcast sowing method. Similarly, there was significant increase of straw yield by decreasing the seed rate from 25 kg/ha to 10 kg/ha. The higher biomass yield (6 %) was obtained from plants grown under row sowing as compared to plants grown under broadcast sowing. Correspondingly, there was biomass yield increment observed by decreasing the seed rate. In general, the combination of row sowing method with 10 kg/ha seed rate was the best treatment for high grain yield of tef at the study site. Yet, repeated experiment over different seasons and locations necessitates for conclusive recommendation. Keywords: Row sowing, Kuncho tef