REVIEW ON EFFECT OF PHOSPHOROUS AND NITROGEN FERTILIZER ON TEFF PRODUCTIVITY

Abstract

Teff [Eragrostis teff (Zucc.) Trotter] is an annual C4 grass that belongs to the family Poaceae and it is an indigenous cereal crop in Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, tef is a highly valued crop and it is primarily grown for its grain that is used for preparing injera, which is a staple and very popular food in the national diet of most Ethiopians. It can also be used in many other food products such as kitta (unleavened bread), anebaberro (double layered injera), porridge, gruel, and local alcoholic beverages such as tella and katikala. Soil fertility is manageable soil property and its management is of utmost importance for optimizing crop nutrition on both short-term and a long-term bases to achieve sustainable crop production. Soil fertility decline is considered as an important cause for low productivity of many soils. It has not received the same amount of research attention as soil erosion; possibly as soil fertility decline is less visible and less spectacular and more difficult to assess. Phosphorus is the major essential element next to nitrogen for plants. It is a component of DNA, ribonucleic acid (RNA) that directs protein synthesis, ATP (the high energy phosphate group that drives most energy driven biochemical process like uptake of nutrients, transportation and assimilation of biomolecules), and also the phospholipids that form all cell membranes. The efficiency of fertilizer P use by crops ranges from 10 to 30% in the year that it is applied. The remaining 70 to 90% becomes part of the soil P pool, which is released to the crop over the following months and years where this pool contributes to future crop production. Despite the great efforts on N and P sources fertilizers application to improve the yield of tef by farmers, the no affordable cost of inorganic fertilizer and high risk in the semiarid areas challenge adopting fertilizer technology by farmers. Generally, in cereal crops the nutrient stimulates root and tiller growth, strengthens structural tissue such as those found in stalks, hastens plant maturity and contributes to the production of good quality seed. Phosphorus is the most limiting factor for the teff production areas due to its maximum role in growth and development.