Agronomic biofortification and mineral composition of teff <em>(Eragrostis teff (Zucc.)Trotter)</em> grown with different organic residue products and inorganic soil amendments

Berhanu Tigabu; Kaleab Baye; Paulos Getachew

doi:10.31893/multiscience.2025488

Keywords:

Abstract

Teff (Eragrostis teff (Zucc.) Trotter) is the oldest indigenous cereal crop cultivated in Ethiopia and is gluten-free. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of various organic residue products on the agronomic characteristics of teff. The treatments included a factorial combination of five organic residues: compost (4.2 kg/plot), vermicompost (3.6 kg/plot), slurry-solid (3 liters/plot), slurry-liquid (1.5 liters/plot), and animal manure (12 g/plot). Additionally, one mineral fertilizer, NPSZnB (22 g/plot), was used along with a control group. Two teff varieties were tested: Negus and Felagot. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Compared with those of the control treatment, the organic residue products presented positive and highly significant differences in terms of days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, panicle length, lodging index, total biomass yield, and grain yield. However, the application of organic residue and mineral fertilization did not affect the lodging index or several off-types. The grain yield was highest for both teff varieties grown with compost and vermicompost, followed by those grown with NPSZnB, bioslurry solid, liquid, or animal manure. The lowest grain yield was observed in the control treatments for both teff varieties. However, there was no significant difference in yield between the treatments that used compost and those that used vermicompost for both varieties. A significant interaction was observed between organic residue and the different varieties of teff in terms of plant height, panicle length, total biomass, grain yield, and harvest index. Compared with the mineral and control treatments, the application of organic residue products had a more substantial effect on the yield and yield components of teff. Teff could be a good source of protein, calcium, iron and zinc which are limited in other cereals. Grain yield and mineral composition could be affected by organic residue products and variety. Therefore, further research needs to be conducted on the effect of the organic residue products on agronomic biofortification and mineral compositions of the two teff vatities.
References
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7. AL-Gahri, M.A., Almussali, M.S., (2008). Microelement contents of locally produced and imported wheat grains in Yemen. J. Chem 5 (4), 838–843. 10.1155/2008/308183.
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13. Bhattacharya P, Samal AC, Majumdar J, Santra SC, (2010). Arsenic Contamination in rice, wheat, pulses, and vegetables: A Study in an Arsenic Affected Area of West Bengal, India. Water Air Soil Pollut. 213 (1), 3–13. 10.1007/s11270-010-0361-0369.
14. Brackhage C, Huang J-H, Schaller J, Elzinga EJ, Dudel EG, (2014). Readily available phosphorous and nitrogen counteract for arsenic uptake and distribution in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Sci. Rep 4 (1), 4944. 10.1038/srep04944. [PubMed: 24821134]
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16. Chen Y, Wang M, Ouwerkerk PBF, (2012). Molecular and environmental factors determining grain quality in rice. Food Energy Secur. 1 (2), 111–132. 10.1002/fes3.11.
17. Cubadda F, Ciardullo S, D’Amato M, Raggi A, Aureli F, Carcea M, (2010). Arsenic contamination of the environment Food chain: a survey on wheat as a test plant to investigate phytoavailable arsenic in italian agricultural soils and as a source of inorganic arsenic in the diet. J. Agric. Food Chem 58 (18), 10176–10183. 10.1021/jf102084p. [PubMed: 20735003]
18. Dame ZT, (2018). Analysis of major and trace elements in teff (Eragrostis tef). J. King Saud Univ. - Sci 10.1016/j.jksus.2018.03.020.
19. FAO/WHO, (2001). Food and Additive and Contaminants by the Joint FAO/WHO Food Codex Alimentarius. Commision Standard Program, ALINORM 01/12a, pp. 1–289.
20. Fraga CG, 2005. Relevance, essentiality and toxicity of trace elements in human health. Mol. Aspects Med 26 (4–5), 235–244. 10.1016/j.mam.2005.07.013. [PubMed: 16125765].
21. Fritzsche F, Zech W, Guggenberger G, 2007. Soils of the main ethiopian Rift Valley escarpment: a transect study. CATENA 70 (2), 209–219. 10.1016/j.catena.2006.09.005.
22. Gebremariam MM, Zarnkow M, Becker T, 2014. Teff (Eragrostis tef) as a raw material for malting, brewing and manufacturing of gluten-free foods and beverages: a review. J. Food Sci. Technol 51 (11), 2881–2895. 10.1007/s13197-012-0745-5. [PubMed: 26396284]
23. Glahn R, Tako E, Gore MA, (2019). The germ fraction inhibits Iron bioavailability of maize: identification of an approach to enhance maize nutritional quality via processing and breeding. Nutrients 11 (4). 10.3390/nu11040833.
24. Glenske K, Donkiewicz P, Köwitsch A, Milosevic-Oljaca N, Rider P, Rofall S, Franke J, Jung O, Smeets R, Schnettler R, Wenisch S, Barbeck M, (2018). Applications of metals for bone regeneration. Int. J. Mol. Sci 19 (3) 10.3390/ijms19030826.
25. Goldhaber SB, (2003). Trace element risk assessment: essentiality vs. Toxicity. Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol 38 (2), 232–242. [PubMed: 14550763]
26. Haileselassie B, Stomph T-J, Hoffland E, (2011). Teff (Eragrostis tef) production constraints on Vertisols in Ethiopia: farmers’ perceptions and evaluation of low soil zinc as yield-limiting factor. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr 57 (4), 587–596. 10.1080/00380768.2011.593482.
27. Hailu H, Mamo T, Keskinen R, Karltun E, Gebrekidan H, Bekele T, (2015). Soil fertility status and wheat nutrient content in Vertisol cropping systems of central highlands of Ethiopia. Agric. Food Secur 4 (1), 19. 10.1186/s40066-015-0038-0.
28. Hong Y-S, Song K-H, Chung J-Y, (2014). Health effects of chronic arsenic exposure. J. Prev. Med. Public Health 47 (5), 245–252. 10.3961/jpmph.14.035. [PubMed: 25284195]
29. Hongxing Z, Yu-Kui R, (2011). Determination of trace elements, heavy metals and rare earth elements in corn seeds from Beijing by ICP-MS simultaneously. J. Chem 8. 10.1155/2011/152713.
30. Hopman E, Dekking L, Blokland M-L, Wuisman M, Zuijderduin W, Koning F, Schweizer J, (2008). Tef in the diet of celiac patients in the Netherlands. Scand. J. Gastroenterol 43 (3), 277–282. 10.1080/00365520701714871. [PubMed: 18266174]
31. Hussain A, Larsson H, Kuktaite R, Johansson E, (2010). Mineral composition of organically grown wheat genotypes: contribution to daily minerals intake. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 7 (9), 3442–3456. 10.3390/ijerph7093442. [PubMed: 20948934]
32. Islam Md.S., Ahmed Md.K., Habibullah-Al-Mamun Md., (2014). Heavy metals in cereals and pulses: health implications in Bangladesh. J. Agric. Food Chem 62 (44), 10828–10835. 10.1021/ jf502486q. [PubMed: 25307424]
33. Jaishankar M., Tseten T., Anbalagan N., Mathew B. B., Beeregowda KN, (2014). Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip. Toxicol 7 (2), 60–72. 10.2478/intox-2014-0009. [PubMed: 26109881]
34. Joy EJM, Young SD, Black CR, Ander EL, Watts MJ, Broadley MR, (2013). Risk of dietary magnesium deficiency is low in most African countries based on food supply data. Plant Soil 368 (1/2), 129 137. JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/42952553.
35. Ketema S. A., 1997. Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter. Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. Bioversity International Publication No. 12. Gatersleben/International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy.
36. Kibatu G., Chacha R., Kiende R., (2017). Determination of major, minor and trace elements in tef using portable total X-Ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometer. EC Nutrition 9 (1), 51–59.
37. Knowling M, (2015). Planting maize, beans, wheat and teff in Ethiopia. Nuru International. https:// nuruinternational.org/blog/agriculture/planting-maize-beans-wheat-and-teff-in-ethiopia/
38. Miller, D. (2009). Teff grass: A new alternative. UC Cooperative Extension, Plant Sciences Department, University of California, Davis.
39. Zhou, W., Lv, T., Yang, Z., Wang, T., Fu, Y., Chen, Y., Hu, B., Ren, W. (2017). Morphophysiological mechanism of rice yield increase in response to optimized nitrogen management. Scientific Reports, 7, 17226.

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How to cite

Tigabu, B., Baye, K., & Getachew, P. (2025). Agronomic biofortification and mineral composition of teff <em>(Eragrostis teff (Zucc.)Trotter)</em> grown with different organic residue products and inorganic soil amendments. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 7(10), 2025488. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2025488

[1] Abebe, A., Chandravanshi, B.S., (2017). Levels of essential and non-essential metals in the raw seeds and processed food (roasted seeds and bread) of maize/corn (Zea mays L.) cultivated in selected areas of Ethiopia. Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop 31 (2) 10.4314/bcse.v31i2.1, 185–199–199.

[2] Abebe, Y., Bogale, A., Hambidge, K.M., Stoecker B.J., Bailey K., Gibson R.S., (2007). Phytate, zinc, iron and calcium content of selected raw and prepared foods consumed in rural Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, and implications for bioavailability. J. Food Compos. Anal 20 (3), 161–168. 10.1016/ j.jfca.2006.09.003.

[3] Addis, W., Abebaw, A., (2017). Determination of heavy metal concentration in soils used for cultivation of Allium sativum L. (garlic) in East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Cogent Chem 3 (1), 1419422. 10.1080/23312009.2017.1419422.

[4] Ahmed, A., Randhawa, M.A., Sajid, M.W., (2014). Bioavailability of calcium, iron, and zinc in whole wheat flour. In: Watson RR, Preedy VR, Zibadi S (Eds.), Wheat and Rice in Disease Prevention and Health. Academic Press, pp. 67–80. 10.1016/B978-0-12-401716-0.00006-4.

[5] Akinyele, I.O., Shokunbi, O.S., (2015). Comparative analysis of dry ashing and wet digestion methods for the determination of trace and heavy metals in food samples. Food Chem. 173, 682–684. 10.1016/ j.foodchem.2014.10.097. [PubMed: 25466076]

[6] Alemayehu, K., Sheleme, B., Schoenau, J., (2016). Characterization of problem soils in and around the south central Ethiopian Rift Valley. J. Soil Sci. Environ. Manag 7 (11), 191–203. 10.5897/ JSSEM2016.0593.

[7] AL-Gahri, M.A., Almussali, M.S., (2008). Microelement contents of locally produced and imported wheat grains in Yemen. J. Chem 5 (4), 838–843. 10.1155/2008/308183.

[8] Ali MHH, Al-Qahtani K.M., (2012). Assessment of some heavy metals in vegetables, cereals and fruits in Saudi Arabian markets. Egypt. J. Aquat. Res 38 (1), 31–37. 10.1016/j.ejar.2012.08.002.

[9] Arain, M.B., Kazi, T.G., Baig, J.A., Jamali, M.K., Afridi, H.I., Shah, A.Q., Jalbani, N., Sarfraz, R.A., (2009). Determination of arsenic levels in lake water, sediment, and foodstuff from selected area of Sindh, Pakistan: estimation of daily dietary intake. Food Chem. Toxicol 47 (1), 242–248. [PubMed: 19041679]

[10] Azam SMGG, Afrin S, Naz S, (2017). Arsenic in cereals, their relation with human health risk, and possible mitigation strategies. Food Rev. Int 33 (6), 620–643. 10.1080/87559129.2016.1210633.

[11] Baye K, Mouquet-Rivier C, Icard-Vernìere C, Picq C, Guyot J-P, (2014). Changes in mineral absorption inhibitors consequent to fermentation of Ethiopian injera: implications for predicted iron bioavailability and bioaccessibility. Int. J. Food Sci. Technol 49 (1), 174–180. 10.1111/ijfs.12295.

[12] Behera SK, Shukla AK, (2012). Yield and zinc, copper, manganese and iron concentration in maize (Zea mays L.) grown on Vertisol as influenced by zinc application from various zinc fertilizers. J. Plant Nutr 38 (10), 1544–1557.

[13] Bhattacharya P, Samal AC, Majumdar J, Santra SC, (2010). Arsenic Contamination in rice, wheat, pulses, and vegetables: A Study in an Arsenic Affected Area of West Bengal, India. Water Air Soil Pollut. 213 (1), 3–13. 10.1007/s11270-010-0361-0369.

[14] Brackhage C, Huang J-H, Schaller J, Elzinga EJ, Dudel EG, (2014). Readily available phosphorous and nitrogen counteract for arsenic uptake and distribution in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Sci. Rep 4 (1), 4944. 10.1038/srep04944. [PubMed: 24821134]

[15] Chaudhary DP, Kumar S, Yadav OP, (2014). Nutritive value of maize: improvements, applications and constraints. In: Chaudhary Dharam Paul, Kumar S, Langyan S (Eds.), Maize: Nutrition Dynamics and Novel Uses. Springer, India, pp. 3–17. 10.1007/978-81-322-1623-0_1.

[16] Chen Y, Wang M, Ouwerkerk PBF, (2012). Molecular and environmental factors determining grain quality in rice. Food Energy Secur. 1 (2), 111–132. 10.1002/fes3.11.

[17] Cubadda F, Ciardullo S, D’Amato M, Raggi A, Aureli F, Carcea M, (2010). Arsenic contamination of the environment Food chain: a survey on wheat as a test plant to investigate phytoavailable arsenic in italian agricultural soils and as a source of inorganic arsenic in the diet. J. Agric. Food Chem 58 (18), 10176–10183. 10.1021/jf102084p. [PubMed: 20735003]

[18] Dame ZT, (2018). Analysis of major and trace elements in teff (Eragrostis tef). J. King Saud Univ. - Sci 10.1016/j.jksus.2018.03.020.

[19] FAO/WHO, (2001). Food and Additive and Contaminants by the Joint FAO/WHO Food Codex Alimentarius. Commision Standard Program, ALINORM 01/12a, pp. 1–289.

[20] Fraga CG, 2005. Relevance, essentiality and toxicity of trace elements in human health. Mol. Aspects Med 26 (4–5), 235–244. 10.1016/j.mam.2005.07.013. [PubMed: 16125765].

[21] Fritzsche F, Zech W, Guggenberger G, 2007. Soils of the main ethiopian Rift Valley escarpment: a transect study. CATENA 70 (2), 209–219. 10.1016/j.catena.2006.09.005.

[22] Gebremariam MM, Zarnkow M, Becker T, 2014. Teff (Eragrostis tef) as a raw material for malting, brewing and manufacturing of gluten-free foods and beverages: a review. J. Food Sci. Technol 51 (11), 2881–2895. 10.1007/s13197-012-0745-5. [PubMed: 26396284]

[23] Glahn R, Tako E, Gore MA, (2019). The germ fraction inhibits Iron bioavailability of maize: identification of an approach to enhance maize nutritional quality via processing and breeding. Nutrients 11 (4). 10.3390/nu11040833.

[24] Glenske K, Donkiewicz P, Köwitsch A, Milosevic-Oljaca N, Rider P, Rofall S, Franke J, Jung O, Smeets R, Schnettler R, Wenisch S, Barbeck M, (2018). Applications of metals for bone regeneration. Int. J. Mol. Sci 19 (3) 10.3390/ijms19030826.

[25] Goldhaber SB, (2003). Trace element risk assessment: essentiality vs. Toxicity. Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol 38 (2), 232–242. [PubMed: 14550763]

[26] Haileselassie B, Stomph T-J, Hoffland E, (2011). Teff (Eragrostis tef) production constraints on Vertisols in Ethiopia: farmers’ perceptions and evaluation of low soil zinc as yield-limiting factor. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr 57 (4), 587–596. 10.1080/00380768.2011.593482.

[27] Hailu H, Mamo T, Keskinen R, Karltun E, Gebrekidan H, Bekele T, (2015). Soil fertility status and wheat nutrient content in Vertisol cropping systems of central highlands of Ethiopia. Agric. Food Secur 4 (1), 19. 10.1186/s40066-015-0038-0.

[28] Hong Y-S, Song K-H, Chung J-Y, (2014). Health effects of chronic arsenic exposure. J. Prev. Med. Public Health 47 (5), 245–252. 10.3961/jpmph.14.035. [PubMed: 25284195]

[29] Hongxing Z, Yu-Kui R, (2011). Determination of trace elements, heavy metals and rare earth elements in corn seeds from Beijing by ICP-MS simultaneously. J. Chem 8. 10.1155/2011/152713.

[30] Hopman E, Dekking L, Blokland M-L, Wuisman M, Zuijderduin W, Koning F, Schweizer J, (2008). Tef in the diet of celiac patients in the Netherlands. Scand. J. Gastroenterol 43 (3), 277–282. 10.1080/00365520701714871. [PubMed: 18266174]

[31] Hussain A, Larsson H, Kuktaite R, Johansson E, (2010). Mineral composition of organically grown wheat genotypes: contribution to daily minerals intake. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 7 (9), 3442–3456. 10.3390/ijerph7093442. [PubMed: 20948934]

[32] Islam Md.S., Ahmed Md.K., Habibullah-Al-Mamun Md., (2014). Heavy metals in cereals and pulses: health implications in Bangladesh. J. Agric. Food Chem 62 (44), 10828–10835. 10.1021/ jf502486q. [PubMed: 25307424]

[33] Jaishankar M., Tseten T., Anbalagan N., Mathew B. B., Beeregowda KN, (2014). Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip. Toxicol 7 (2), 60–72. 10.2478/intox-2014-0009. [PubMed: 26109881]

[34] Joy EJM, Young SD, Black CR, Ander EL, Watts MJ, Broadley MR, (2013). Risk of dietary magnesium deficiency is low in most African countries based on food supply data. Plant Soil 368 (1/2), 129 137. JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/42952553.

[35] Ketema S. A., 1997. Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter. Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. Bioversity International Publication No. 12. Gatersleben/International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy.

[36] Kibatu G., Chacha R., Kiende R., (2017). Determination of major, minor and trace elements in tef using portable total X-Ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometer. EC Nutrition 9 (1), 51–59.

[37] Knowling M, (2015). Planting maize, beans, wheat and teff in Ethiopia. Nuru International. https:// nuruinternational.org/blog/agriculture/planting-maize-beans-wheat-and-teff-in-ethiopia/

[38] Miller, D. (2009). Teff grass: A new alternative. UC Cooperative Extension, Plant Sciences Department, University of California, Davis.

[39] Zhou, W., Lv, T., Yang, Z., Wang, T., Fu, Y., Chen, Y., Hu, B., Ren, W. (2017). Morphophysiological mechanism of rice yield increase in response to optimized nitrogen management. Scientific Reports, 7, 17226.

Multidisciplinary Science Journal

Research Article | Vol. 7 Issue 10 (2025), e2025488 | Published in 14 April 2025

Agronomic biofortification and mineral composition of teff (Eragrostis teff (Zucc.)Trotter) grown with different organic residue products and inorganic soil amendments

Abstract

References

How to cite