Determination of the Optimum Population Density of Seedlings during Transplanting for the Productivity Improvement of Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.)] Trotter] in Central zone of Tigray, Etiopia

A study was conducted in 2012/13 cropping seasons across two locations (Adet in N/adet district and Axum in L/Maychew district) to determine the appropriate population density for transplanting Tef. Field experiment was conducted during the 2012 and 2013-cropping season from (June to December) to address the question whether or not the population for transplanting determines the yielding components of for Tef. The trial consisted of seven treatments and arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. All agronomic data were collected and the difference was analyzed by Gene stat (16th edition). At Adet and Axum, the transplanted treatments had shorter maturity days, highest plant height, highest panicle length, more number of tillers per tuber and less lodging index percentages. In addition to this, the transplanted treatments T5 (20cm*10cm spacing) and T6 (20cm*15cm spacing) scored the highest grain yield (3086 Kg/ha and 3076 Kg/ha respectively). These treatments also scored the highest biomass yield (9593 Kg/ha and 9685 Kg/ha respectively). Hence based on these results, for transplanting Tef seedlings a row spacing of 20cm and plant spacing of 10cm-15cm is recommended for better Tef grain and biomass yield and for improved grain quality of the crop. Keywords: Tef, transplanting, broadcasting, row planting, grain yield, biomass yiel