Abstract

Objective: A field experiment was carried out in Lasta and Sekota woreda of the Eastern Amhara Region in Ethiopia to evaluate the effects of Ridging and tie-ridging time on the yield performance of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor).

Methodology: The experiment consisted of eight treatments of ridging time & time of tie (Tie ridging at planting, Ridge at planting tying 2 Weeks After Planting, Ridge at planting tying 4 Weeks After Planting, Tie-ridging 3 Weeks After Planting, Ridging 2 Weeks After planting & tying 4 Weeks After Planting, Ridge 3 Weeks After Planting & tying 6 Weeks After Planting, Tie-ridging 6 Weeks After Planting); including Shilshalo as a control farmer practice which was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replication.

Result: The experiment revealed that ridging and tie-ridging time has a significant effect on the yield of sorghum. Based on the result Tie- ridging at planting increased the yield of sorghum by about 37.9 % at Sekota (Aybira) relative to the control (farmer practice). On the other hand ‘Tie ridging 3 weeks after planting’ and ‘ridging 2 weeks & tying 4 weeksafter planting’ increased sorghum yield by 30.11% and 21.58% respectively at Lalibela as compared to the control (farmers practice)respectively. The highest yield of 3642kg/h and 1903kg/ha and 1696kg/ha was obtained from tie ridge at planting for Sekota (Aybira) and tie ridging 3 weeks after plant and ridge2 weeks and tie 4 weeks after planting with recommendation NP fertilizer at Lalibela.

Conclusion: Therefore, tie and ridge at planting could be appropriate for sorghum production at Sekota (Aybira) and sorghum growing areas. However, tie-ridge 3 weeks after planting and ridge 2 weeks and tie 4 weeks after planting could be appropriate for sorghum production at Lalibela (Kechinabeba) and sorghum growing areas.