CHARACTERIZATION OF TEF ( Eragrostis tef   Zucc. Trotter [cv. Magna]) IN MINJAR SHENKORA DISTRICT OF CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Tef (Eragrostis tef Zucc. Trotter) is a major cereal crop in Ethiopia and performs well in altitudes ranging from 1700 to 2400 m above sea level. Tef “cv. Magna” exhibits high variability in quality and productivity per unit area in different parts of the country, hence it gives different market prices accordingly. This variety, also known as “Minjar magna Tef’” in the study area, is intensely preferred by the consumers than produced elsewhere thought the country. Thus, participatory variety characterization trial was conducted in 2015 and 2016 in Minjar Shenkora district of central Ethiopia to characterize Tef “cv. Magna” variety so as to obtain and create a primary platform for the branding of the variety in the future. Forty-five (45) farmers were selected purposively for the study at nine Tef “cv. Magna” producing sub-districts: Arerti, Agirat, Ameti, Adama, Bolo Giorgis, Bolo Silase, Chele, Kombolcha and Korma. A quadrant (1m x 1m) was used by throwing at five different locations per farmer field, and ten plants were randomly selected as experimental plants. Results revealed that the mean days were found to be 6.78, 42.44 and 100.89 for 50% emergence, 50% heading, and 50% maturity, respectively. The results of the present study show that the mean plant height and panicle length of the crop were 1.24m and 0.46m, respectively. The average tiller number, weight of main panicle and main panicle seed weight of Tef “cv. Magna” was found to be 4.49, 1.58 gm and 1.03 gm, respectively. Furthermore, the mean yield and shoot biomass were found to be 19.49 Qt/ha and 123 Qt/ha, respectively. The proximate compositions of Tef “cv. Magna” were 11.09% moisture content, 2.49% ash content, 74.07% carbohydrate, 1.75% crude fiber, 9.08% crude protein, 3.27% crude fat and 361.98 Kcal/mole energy. The mineral contents of Tef “cv. Magna” was Na: 49.99, K: 5686.54, P: 2935.23, Fe: 115.79, Cu: 6.36, Zn: 26.22, Ca: 1741.24 and Mg: 1427.08 mg/Kg. Though characterization of the variety at the molecular level and comparative study with different varieties of the crop should be done in the near future, our study forms a primary platform for further activities to give a brand name for Tef “cv. Magna”.

Keywords
Brand; Characterization; Minerals; Proximate composition; Tef ‘cv. Magna’