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Desta, Mesfin (2025) AGRONOMIC BIOFORTIFICATIONS OF TEFF (ERAGROSTIS TEF): FROM SOIL PROPERTIES TO ZINC FERTILIZERS APPLICATION STRATEGIES IN ETHIOPIA. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

Most Ethiopian soils are low in plant available zinc (Zn), and this varies with the landscape position and soil type. This affects grain Zn loadings and subsequently human health when diets are primarily based on cereals grown on these soils. The link from soil – plant - human is strong and unlocking Zn availability in the soil helps efforts for improved nutrition and health in Ethiopia. Therefore, a better understanding of soil properties (Chapter 3 and 4) and devising best fit fertilizer application strategies (Chapter 5 and 6) are important for increasing grain Zn loading by crops, biofortifying crops with Zn.

Two sets of laboratory experiments were run on representative soil samples collected from the different landscape positions in the Amhara Regions for their capacity to retain and release Zn from stock solutions to identify the main soil factors driving Zn availability (Chapter-3). A subsequent estimation of the potential availability of Zn from the soil and fertilizer applications and link with the actual grain Zn concentrations through developing predictive models based on soil properties and soil applied Zn fertilizer (Chapter-4) were encouraging. Knowing a few soil parameters, such as soil pH, SOC, Mehlich-3, clay, and the amount of fertilizer applied, has the potential for predicting the actual grain Zn concentrations of maize, teff and wheat up to 52% enabling a tailored fertilizer application to be made based on the target grain Zn concentrations of crops.

Two sets of greenhouse experiments were run to devise fertilizer applications strategies (4Rs) for improved teff grain Zn loading on the five dominant soils in Ethiopia. This study proved that the current 5 kg Zn for soil application is not enough to increase grain Zn loading of teff, and a minimum of 15 kg is needed for soil (Chapter-5) and 1.25 kg for foliar at tillering or both at tillering and flowering stages (Chapter-6). This helps improve nutrition through biofortifying teff with Zn. Increased grain Zn concentrations of teff through the best fertilizer application strategies with the decreases in the PA:Zn ratios across the soil types implying that bioavailability= of the grain Zn to human improves as compared to the absence of Zn applications, control treatments. Therefore, a better understanding of soil properties coupled with best-fit Zn application strategies would help the biofortification of crops grown on low Zn soils in Ethiopia.

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors:	Broadley, Martin Haefele, Stephan
Keywords:	Landscape position, low Zn soils, phytic acid, PA: Zn, soil types, Ethiopia
Subjects:	Q Science > QD Chemistry > QD146 Inorganic chemistry S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Science > School of Biosciences
Item ID:	80932
Depositing User:	DESTA, MESFIN
Date Deposited:	31 Jul 2025 04:40
Last Modified:	31 Jul 2025 04:40
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/80932

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