Nutrient deficiency is a major constraint in tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) production in Ethiopia. In the past, a blanket recommendation of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers has been applied regardless of the diversity of agroecological zones and soil types. As crop responses declined with widespread deficiencies of nutrients, farmers have lost interest in applying the recommended fertilizer rates. The present study was conducted with the objective of quantifying the response of tef to different rates of N, P, potassium (K) and sulphur (S) fertilizers under balanced application of the nutrients other than the one under investigation. In each region, the same set of trials was implemented on farmers’ fields for three years. All trials were implemented on Vertisols across four agroecological zones (AEZs). The treatments were seven rates of N, six rates each of P and S and eight rates of K with a basal application of zinc (Zn) and boron (B). The results showed that the most limiting nutrient is N followed by P in each agroecological zone on the Vertisols. There was clear evidence of increases in grain yield with increasing rates of N and P, but the responses to K and S rates did not follow clear trends across AEZs. With balanced application of the other nutrients, 23–92 kg N ha−1 increased grain yield by 11–92%, while 10–40 kg P ha−1 increased yields by 12–33% over the control in the different AEZs. Based on results from dose–response models, it is concluded that the agronomic optimum rates for tef production are 69 kg N, 20 kg P, 30 kg K and 10 kg S ha−1 in the cool sub-moist mid-highlands and the tepid sub-humid mid highlands; 92 kg N, 30 kg P, 15 kg K and 10 kg S ha−1 in tepid moist mid highlands but 69 kg N, 10 kg P, 15 kg K and 10 kg S ha−1 in the tepid sub-moist mid highlands. On Vertisols not covered by this study, these recommendations should be subject to appropriate soil and plant analysis. We also recommend further studies on the nutrient requirement of tef on other soil types and AEZs.

营养缺乏是 tef 的主要限制因素 ( Eragrostis tef(Zucc.) Trotter) 在埃塞俄比亚生产。过去，无论农业生态区和土​​壤类型的多样性如何，都采用氮 (N) 和磷 (P) 肥料的一揽子建议。随着作物反应因普遍缺乏养分而下降，农民对使用推荐的施肥量失去了兴趣。本研究的目的是量化 tef 对不同比例的 N、P、钾 (K) 和硫 (S) 肥料在均衡施用除所研究的养分之外的肥料的响应。在每个地区，在农民田间进行了三年相同的试验。所有试验均在四个农业生态区 (AEZ) 的 Vertisols 上实施。处理是7个N的比率，在锌 (Zn) 和硼 (B) 的基础施用下，P 和 S 各有 6 种比率，K 有 8 种比率。结果表明，在Vertisols的每个农业生态区中，最限制的养分是N，其次是P。有明确的证据表明，随着 N 和 P 比率的增加，谷物产量会增加，但对 K 和 S 比率的反应在 AEZ 中并没有遵循明显的趋势。平衡施用其他养分，23–92 kg N ha-1增加了 11-92% 的谷物产量，而 10-40 kg P ha -1在不同的 AEZ 中比对照增加了 12-33% 的产量。根据剂量反应模型的结果，得出的结论是，在凉爽的亚湿润中高地和中部高原地区， tef 生产的最佳农艺率为 69 kg N、20 kg P、30 kg K 和 10 kg S ha -1 。温和的半湿润中部高地；92 kg N、30 kg P、15 kg K 和 10 kg S ha -1在温和潮湿的中部高地，但 69 kg N、10 kg P、15 kg K 和 10 kg S ha -1在不温不火的亚潮湿中部高地。对于本研究未涵盖的 Vertisol，这些建议应经过适当的土壤和植物分析。我们还建议进一步研究 tef 对其他土壤类型和 AEZ 的养分需求。