Fertilization of teff

Dr. Uri Yermiyahu
Start: Dec 2015 –  End: Dec 2018

Teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is an annual small grained cereal crop native to Ethiopia and a staple food for the majority of population. It is well known that fertilization is essential for improving the nutrient use efficiency and yield of teff. However, the amount of nutrients needed for optimized plant growth and yield is still unclear. There is a particular lack of knowledge regarding K application in Ethiopian Vertisol soil. The main objective of this research is to determine fertilizer application for optimal growth and seed yield of teff under Ethiopian conditions (soil and climate). The research will be conducted in Israel and Ethiopia. In Israel the study will concentrate on optimizing teff fertilization (N, P and K) while in Ethiopia the research will concentrate on K soil interaction and fertilization in field experiments.