Determination of appropriate tillage implements combination and frequency of operation for Ethiopia’s teff and wheat crop-growing areas

Aim/Background: This study was carried out to determine the appropriate tillage implement combination and frequency of operation for Ethiopia’s teff and wheat crop-growing areas. Agriculture is a key component of Ethiopia's Growth and Transformation agenda, which aims to improve the quality of life, food self-sufficiency, and income generation of its citizens. Methods: The experiment was conducted at three experimental sites with four, six, and three treatments at Kulumssa, Debre Zeit, and Melkassa Agricultural Research Centers, respectively. Data gathered on the implement performance and engineering aspects were analyzed using Statistics 8 software. Soil engineering properties such as moisture content, bulk density, porosity, void ratio, and degree of saturation were measured at soil depths of 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm at the three experimental sites. Results: From the experimental test results, it was observed that the Debre Zeit teff trial (moldboard plough + disc plough + disc harrow) and (moldboard plough + twice harrowing + compaction) produced relatively higher yields. Similarly, the experimental results showed that the Kulumssa wheat trial (moldboard plough + twice harrowing and moldboard plough + ripping + harrowing) yielded more. The study also found that more frequent ploughing generally led to increased yield and reduced weeding time. However, it also resulted in higher costs due to increased fuel consumption, tractor maintenance, and implement wear. Conclusion: According to the experimental test results, the following treatment combinations are recommended for each site: Kulumssa: Moldboard plough + twice harrowing (M+2H), Debre Zeit: Moldboard plough + disc plough + harrowing (M+D+H), and Melkassa: Disc plough + twice harrowing (D+2H).