Nitrogen Fertilizer and Precursor Crops Effects on the Productivity of Tef and Soil Fertility in East Gojam zone, North West Ethiopia

Development of appropriate cropping sequence and optimization of nitrogen fertilizer is a cost effective approach to improve soil fertility and productivity of tef. Field experiments were carried out in Dejen and Enemay districts of East Gojjam Zone for two consecutive cropping years of 2021 and 2022 to determine the effects of precursor crops on nitrogen requirement of the succeeding tef yield and soil properties. Experiments were laid out in split plot design having three precursor crops (chick pea, grass pea and tef) as main plots and five nitrogen rates (0, 23, 46, 69 and 92 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>) as sub plots with three replications. In both locations precursor crops (chick pea and grass pea) showed significant increase grain yield of tef. In Dejen experimental site, growing of tef following grass pea and chick pea resulted better yield advantage more than 20% compared to continuously tef planting. Similarly, in Enemay experimental location grain yield of tef was maximized by 17.31% and 16.84% when tef was planted after chick pea and grass pea respectively over tef-tef cropping sequence. Grain yield of tef tended to increase with increasing nitrogen rates in both locations. Application of 92 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> resulted the highest grain yield and maximum net benefit with acceptable marginal rate of return. Overall, growing tef following pulse precursor crops like chick pea and grass pea with optimum fertilizer is desirable to maintain soil fertility and maximize yield of tef in the sudy areas.