ABSTRACT
Chapter 6 WATER PRODUCTIVITY OF IMPROVED AND MINIMUM TILLAGE SYSTEMS FOR TEF PRODUCTION IN SEMI-ARID ETHIOPIA12 6.1 Overview In Ethiopia, tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc) Trotter) (Figure 6.1) is the staple food for the majority of the population and covers 32% of the cultivated land (CSA, 1995). It is grown over a wide soil moisture regime because of its relative resistance to water logging in highland vertisols and to moisture stress in dry semi-arid areas (Ketema, 1997). Tef is endemic to Ethiopia and its major diversity is found only in that country. Although, the exact date and location for the domestication of tef is unknown, there is no doubt that it is a very ancient crop in Ethiopia where domestication took place more than 2000 years ago (Ketema, 1997).
