Yield Loss Because of Lodging
Lodging is a serious problem in tef cultivation. No lodging-resistant varieties have been developed so far. No acceptable agronomic practices have been developed to control it. Using lower seed rates and late sowing dates decreased the problem of lodging.
Table 14. Weight gains of steers fed on crop residue-based diets for 116 days, Holetta, (1974/75).
|
Roughage Source |
Initial weight (kg) |
Final weight (kg) |
Daily intake (kg) |
Feed per kg of live weight gain |
Daily gain (g) |
|
Tef straw |
186.0 |
258.8 |
6.9 |
11.0 |
628 |
|
Wheat straw |
185.0 |
225.9 |
5.0 |
14.2 |
352 |
|
Oats hay |
182.0 |
231.9 |
5.5 |
12.8 |
430 |
|
Native hay |
184.3 |
239.6 |
5.9 |
12.4 |
477 |
Table 15. Yielding ability of three different tef varieties under different growth
conditions.|
Variety |
Farmers' Condition (kg/ha) |
Experimental Lodged Condition (kg/ha) |
Experimental Non-lodging Condition (kg/ha) |
|
DZ-01-94 DZ-01-354 DZ-Cr-37 National Average |
2 000-2 500 1 700-2 200 1 700-2 200 890 |
2 400-3 400 2 400-3 200 1 800-2 800 |
4 600 4 100 4 200 |
Source: EARO, 1999.
However, these are not the accepted and refined recommendations, since no contingencies have been developed to counterbalance their negative effects on grain yield. Lodging causes damage to the vegetative part of the plant, due to rotting and the fast spread of pests and diseases; it renders the straw relatively useless as fodder and also reduces grain yield. The overall loss in grain yield due to lodging is estimated to be within the range of 11-22 percent with an average loss of 17 percent. It significantly lowers 1 000 seed weight by 35 percent, reduces grain yield per panicle by 51 percent and decreases percentage of germination.