1. Highlight of TAMASA Activities (2015-2016)

2. TAMASA (Taking Maize Agronomy to Scale in Africa) is a four year project funded by BMGF
Being implemented in three African countries (Ethiopia, Tanzania and Nigeria)

3. Why TAMASA?
Ethiopia is characterized by high variability of maize yields
National average = 3.4t/ha
On farm yields = 6-7t/ha
On station yields = 8-9t/ha
Poor soil fertility management/nutrient deficiency
Inappropriate variety
Low plant population
Poor crop management (weed, diseases, pests)
Socio-economic factors
Other factors (moisture stress, climate change effects)

4. Aim of the project: General:
To use innovative approaches to transform agronomy at scale
Specific:
To use available geospatial and other agronomic data to map maize areas, soil constraints and attainable yields at different scales
To co-develop systems and applications (decision support tools) that transform this data and information to useable products to reach clients/farmers more effectively
To build capacity of the national programs to support and sustain these approaches

5. Among the core products and services of this project include:
decision-support tools for site specific nutrient management and variety selection;
Increased capacity of the national programs and partners through training

6. Major TAMASA ETH- activities (2015-2016)

7. 1. Established multi-location nutrient omission trials and PTs (2015 & 2016 crop seasons)
Objective of NOTs: To calibrate NE tool for Ethiopia
Objective of PTs: To validate NE tool in Ethiopia
2015 crop season
NOTs: 88 farmers field (6 districts)
23 fields at Bako area (Bako-Tibe and Gobu-sayo districts)
24 fields at Jimma area (Omo-Nada & Kersa districts)
41 fields at Hawassa Zuria and Adami tulu districts)-collaboration with IFA project
NOTs sites in ETHIOPIA

8. Treatments –Calibration trials
Control
PK (-N)
NK (-P)
NP (-K)
NPK
NPK+Mg+Ca+S+Zn+B
Data recorded
NDVI reading
Grain yield
Tissue (flag leaf, stalk and grain) nutrient Concentration

9. 2016 crop season 52 PTs and 70 NOTs=122 experimental fields
52 validation trials/PTs at Bako and Jimma
37 calibration trials at Bako and Jimma
33 Calibration trials at Hawassa, Adami tullu

10. Tissue (flag leaf, stalk and grain) nutrient Concentration
Treatments –Performance trials
Control
NE Recommendation
Regional Recommendation
Soil Test based Recommendation
Data recorded
NDVI reading
Grain yield
Tissue (flag leaf, stalk and grain) nutrient Concentration

11. 2. Established multi-location Variety Trials (2016 crop season)
Objective: To Calibrate Variety selection tool for Ethiopia
Variety trials were established at 6 locations-contrasting temperature

12. Table 3: Characterization of test locations
Temp.
Latitude
Longitude
Altitude (masl)
Holleta
Very low
2369
Ambo
Low
2150
Bako
Intermediate
1640
Uke Kersa
High
1318
Welenchiti
1438
Didessa
Very high
1237

13. Parameters recorded-variety trials List of Varieties tested
Days to emergence
Days to silking
Days to tasseling
Days to physiological maturity
Days to harvesting
Biomass weight
Grain yield
GPS coordinate of each trial site
Min and max temperature of trial site
List of Varieties tested
BH-661 (Hybrid)
BH-660 (Hybrid)
BH-540 (Hybrid)
BH-543 (Hybrid)
Shone (Hybrid)
Limu (Hybrid)
AMH851 (Hybrid)
AMH760Q (Hybrid)
MH138Q (Hybrid)
MH140 (Hybrid)
AMH853 (Hybrid)
BHQPY545 (Hybrid)
BH546 (Hybrid)
BH547 (Hybrid)
AMH854 (Hybrid)
Melkasa 6Q(OPV)
Morka (OPV)
Melkasa-4 (OPV)
Melkasa-2 (OPV)
Gibe-2 (OPV)

14. Plan for 2017 cropping season
Current status
All the phenology and yield data were collected and variety tool is being calibrated
Plan for 2017 cropping season
Validation of tool prediction

15. Number of farmers surveyed
3. Baseline survey/APS
Table 4: Summary of number of farmers surveyed
Survey year
Number of farmers surveyed
2015
616
2016
686

16. Data on maize production practices
GPS coordinate
Variety Type Used (Improved/Local)
Name of the Variety
Fertilizer Use (Yes/No)
Organic Fertilizer (Yes/No)
Inorganic Fertilizer (Yes/No)
Amount of Inorganic fertilizer used
Amount of Organic fertilizer used
Unit for Organic fertilizer (Sack/Bag)
Soil data
Soil carbon
soil PH
Aluminium
Calcium EC
Sulfur
Manganese
Zinc
Potassium
Magnesium
Sodium
Iron
Boron
Total nitrogen
Crop data
Crop Stand Count
Field weight of cobs
Field weight of sub-sample grain
Air dried weight of sub-sample (grain moisture content)
Grain Yield
No. of cobs
Maize field area

17. Maps of maize grain yield in different survey area (N=682)

18. 4. Panel Survey of Agronomic Practices (Bako)
100 farmers (in 10km X 10km grid)
Vegetative stage
Flowering stage
Harvesting stage

19. Variables measured Crop residue cover (%)
Crop stand count at different stages
Weed percentage (%)
Disease and pests incidence
Input use (organic and inorganic fertilizer)
Variety use (local/improved, name of variety)
Grain yield
Other socio-economic parameters

20. Agronomic panel survey sampling points

21. Data sharing and Joint publications Integration of field trials
Possibilities of Imagine-TAMASA collaboration
Data sharing and Joint publications
Integration of field trials
Organizing joint field days/visits
Exchange of research updates

22. 2015 cropping season

23. 2015 cropping season

24. 2016 cropping season