Effect of ridging and tie-ridging time on yield and yield component of sorghum in Northern Ethiopia

Soil moisture stress and low soil fertility are the main constraints to sorghum production in the semi-arid region of northern Ethiopia. A field experiment was conducted in Lasta and Sekota Woreda of Amhara Region, eastern Ethiopia, to evaluate the effect of ridge and tie ridge time on the yield and yield component of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). 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. The results of the experiment revealed that the timing of ridging and tie ridging had a significant effect on sorghum yield. The results showed that tie ridging at planting time increased sorghum yield by about 37.9% in Sekota compared to the control (farmer practice), and tie ridging three weeks after planting in Lalibela increased sorghum yield by 30.11% compared to the control (farmer practice). The highest yields of 3.642 tons/ha were obtained with tie ridging at planting in Sekota and 1.903 tons/ha with tie ridging three weeks after planting in Lalibela. Therefore, tie ridging and ridging at planting may be appropriate for sorghum production in the Sekota and sorghum growing areas. However, in Lalibela and sorghum growing areas, tie-ridging three weeks after planting may be appropriate for sorghum production.