Agricultural Systems ( IF 6.1 ) Pub Date : 2021-12-02 , DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103338 Fekremariam Asargew Mihretie 1, 2, 3 , Atsushi Tsunekawa 1 , Nigussie Haregeweyn 4 , Enyew Adgo 5 , Mitsuru Tsubo 1 , Tsugiyuki Masunaga 6 , Derege Tsegaye Meshesha 5 , Kindiye Ebabu 1, 5 , Zerihun Nigussie 1, 5 , Shinjiro Sato 3 , Mulatu Liyew Berihun 7 , Yuta Hashimoto 6 , Ayaka Kawbota 6 , Muluken Bayable 2
|
CONTEXT
Teff is an important food-security crop for millions of people in Ethiopia. The demand for teff products is also increasing globally due to its health benefits as a gluten-free grain. However, teff productivity is low compared with other cereals. Crop yields vary widely among farms in rainfed production system. Identifying the key crop management practices and soil properties responsible for these variations will help to raise crop productivity through informed decision making by farmers, experts, researchers, and policy makers.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study were to assess the characteristics of the Ethiopian teff-cropping system, quantify the variability of grain yields among farms, and identify the impacts of different crop management practices and soil fertility parameters on yield variability.
METHODS
The study examined 82 teff farms at three sites representing different teff-growing agro-ecologies in Ethiopia. Practices used to manage crops and soil on each farm were assessed. Composite topsoil samples were collected from farms at each site and analyzed for selected physical and chemical parameters. Grain and straw yields were quantified when crops were matured. Descriptive statistics, and factor analysis followed by multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the factors that caused the variability of yields among farms.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
Teff yields were highly variable within and across different agro-ecologies. The crop management factors that greatly affected yields were N and P application rates and days to harvesting. The most important soil characteristics were total nitrogen, texture and micronutrients. Poor teff yields were attributable to failure to implement improved agronomic practices, poor soil fertility, and inefficient production systems. Teff production system is a low-yielding, less-profitable, and resource-intensive enterprise. The observed variations in yields among farms indicated that there is a big opportunity to improve teff productivity. The high frequency of tillage, monocropping, and complete removal of crop residues were major causes of the low soil fertility.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding teff yield variability among farms helps to design appropriate yield improvement strategies. The use of low-cost crop-intensification options such as planting of improved cultivars using improved sowing methods, reduced tillage, incorporation of crop residues and legume-based crop rotation could sustainably improve productivity and restore soil fertility with minimal increases of costs in rainfed teff production system.
中文翻译：
在埃塞俄比亚的农业生态对比中探索与农场管理和土壤性质相关的画眉草产量变异性
语境
画眉草是埃塞俄比亚数百万人的重要粮食安全作物。由于其作为无麸质谷物的健康益处，全球对画眉草产品的需求也在增加。然而，与其他谷物相比，画眉草的生产力较低。作物产量在雨养生产系统中的农场之间差异很大。确定导致这些变化的关键作物管理实践和土壤特性将有助于通过农民、专家、研究人员和政策制定者做出明智的决策来提高作物生产力。
目标
本研究的目的是评估埃塞俄比亚画眉草种植系统的特征，量化农场之间粮食产量的变异性，并确定不同作物管理实践和土壤肥力参数对产量变异性的影响。
方法
该研究调查了三个地点的 82 个画眉草农场，代表了埃塞俄比亚不同的画眉草种植农业生态。评估了每个农场用于管理作物和土壤的做法。从每个地点的农场收集复合表土样品，并分析选定的物理和化学参数。谷物和秸秆产量在作物成熟时进行量化。进行描述性统计和因子分析，然后进行多元回归分析，以确定导致农场产量差异的因素。
结果和结论
画眉草产量在不同农业生态内和之间差异很大。对产量有很大影响的作物管理因素是氮磷施用率和收获天数。最重要的土壤特征是全氮、质地和微量营养素。画眉草产量低的原因是未能实施改良的农艺措施、土壤肥力差和生产系统效率低下。画眉草生产系统是一个低产、低利润、资源密集型的企业。观察到的农场产量差异表明，提高画眉草生产力的机会很大。频繁耕作、单作和彻底清除作物残留物是造成土壤肥力低的主要原因。
意义
了解农场之间画眉草产量的差异有助于设计适当的产量提高策略。使用低成本的作物集约化方案，例如使用改进的播种方法种植改良品种、减少耕作、结合作物残留物和以豆类为基础的作物轮作，可以可持续地提高生产力并恢复土壤肥力，同时将雨养画眉草的成本增加降至最低生产系统。
京公网安备 11010802027423号