Enhancement of barley productivity through improved crop management practices in the semi-arid highlands of northern Ethiopi

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is among the important cereal crops cultivated annually on 1.02 million ha of land in Ethiopia. However, its productivity is low (1.9 t ha-1) compared to the potential attainable yield (5.3 ton ha-1) due to water stress; low soil fertility; crop losses by weeds, insect pests and diseases; the use of low yielding local barley cultivars, and use of traditional cultivation methods. Enhancing crop productivity generally contributes to national food self-sufficiency and food security. Regional and national crop production can be increased by expanding the cultivation area and/or by enhancing crop productivity. Even though both options are feasible in Ethiopia, focusing on practices that improve crop productivity is the preferred alternative particularly in the Tigray region, northern Ethiopia. The focus of this study is to optimise soil water, soil fertility and weed managements, method of sowing, tillage operations and time of planting with respect to barley production in Ethiopia.