PHOSPHORUS RESPONSE STUDIES ON SOME VARIETIES OF DURUM-WHEAT (TRITICUM-DURUM DESF) AND TEF (ERAGROSTIS TEF (ZUCC) TROTTER) GROWN IN SAND CULTURE

The response of four varieties each of durum wheat (DZ-04-118, DZ-320, DZ-918 and TOB-2) and tef (DZ-01-354, DZ-01-787, DZ-01-1445, and DZ-C r-37) to P application levels was examined in a sand culture study con ducted in a glasshouse for 4 weeks. Results showed that plant height, shoot and root dry weights, and plant P uptake were increased by incre asing levels of P application from 0 to 5 (tef) and 0 to 10 mg P 100 g (-1) (wheat). Varietal differences were also observed in all parameter s, except in shoot dry weight of the four durum wheat varieties. In ge neral, all modern varieties of the two crops showed better growth and P uptake than the corresponding traditional varieties. The short perio d study proved that variations generally existed in the P responses of durum wheat and tef varieties which may be confirmed by long-term stu dy up to maturity. Inclusion of more populations in similar studies ma y help to identify P efficient genotypes.