AshEse Journal of Agricultural Science
Vol. 1(1), pp. 001-005, 21 January, 2015
ISSN: 2059-1225
© 2015 AshEse Visionary Limited
http://ashese.co.uk/agricultural-science
Full Length Research
Legesse Hidoto and Gobeze Loha
Hawassa Agricultural Research Centre, Ethiopia.
Received 29 December, 2014; Accepted 17 January, 2015
In low moisture stress areas, like some parts of Amaro, Southrrn Ethiopia, low productivities of crops have been attributed to low moisture stress and lack of appropriate production technologies. On farm field experiment was conducted under rain-fed conditions between 2005 to 2008 to evaluate a combination of five improved sorghum varieties (Seredo, Teshale, Meko, 76T1#23, Gambell 1107) and one local (landrace) sorghum varieties with 46 kg P2O5 + 18 kg N ha-1 and moisture conservation practices (tie ridge and open ridge) was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The data were combined over a year after carrying out analysis of variance for each year separately, and homogeneity was tested (the ratio of larger mean square to smaller mean squares). Means were separated using Fisher’s Least Significant Difference (LSD). Combined analysis of variance over years indicated that combination of varieties, conservation practices and fertilizer showed highly significant effect (p<0.01) on growth and yield of sorghum. Varieties 76T1#23 with 46 kg P2O5 + 18 kg N ha-1 sown in ridges tied 3 m long gave the highest sorghum grain yield (5877 kg ha-1) whereas the landrace regardless of fertilizer application gave the least (494 kg ha-1). The results indicate that soil and water conservation with improved crop varieties is indispensable for increasing crop yield. Therefore, sowing improved varieties in tied ridge with NP fertilizer is recommended for sorghum production in areas where there is short and erratic rain fall like lowland parts of Amaro.