Evaluation of Quality and Dormancy Period of Improved and Local Potato (solanum tuberosum l.) Cultivars Grown in Eastern Ethiopia

Field experiments were conducted at Haramaya and Hirna with the objective of assessing the quality and dormance period of local (farmers’) and improved potato cultivars during the main cropping season of 2011. The treatments consisted of five released cultivars (Badhasa, Chala, Chiro, Gabbisa, Zemen) and four local (farmers’) potato cultivars (Batte, Daddafa, Jarso, Mashenadima). The experiment was laid out as a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Chala at Haramaya produced the highest specific gravity (1.105) and dry matter content (27.10%) and Daddafa produced lowest (1.061) and (21.05%), respectively at Hirna. Tubers of the local cultivars had generally shorter dormancy whereas tubers of the released cultivars had longer dormancy. Keywords: potato (solanum tuberosum l.), yield Performance, Improved, local, Ethiopi

Evaluation of Seed Rates and Sowing Methods on Growth, Yield, and Yield Attributes of Tef [Eragrostis Tef (Zucc.) Trotter] in Ada District, East Shewa, Ethiopia

Tef is a major staple cereal crop in Ethiopia. However, its productivity is limited, amongst others, by the use of improper sowing methods and inappropriate seed rates. A field experiment was conducted at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centre, East Shewa Zone during the 2012 main cropping season under rain-fed condition, to assess the effect of seed rates and sowing methods on growth, yield, and yield attributes of tef. Factorial combinations of two sowing methods (row and broadcast) and six seeding rates (2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 kg ha-1) were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Seed rate significantly affected days to panicle emergence, days to physiological maturity, main panicle weight, main panicle seed weight, and thousand seed weight. Accordingly, the maximum values of these parameters were obtained at the seed rate of 2.5 kg ha-1. Moreover, significant main effects of both seed rate and sowing method were observed on the number of total tillers, productive tillers, plant height and grain yield. Row planting method and seed rate of 2.5 kg ha-1 had produced the maximum number of total and productive tillers with concurrent decrease in plant height and grain yield as compared to the other treatments. Higher grain yield of 2702 kg ha-1 was obtained at seeding rate of 25 kg ha-1 followed by 15 and 20 kg ha-1 which had produced grain yield of 2453 and 2371 kg ha-1, respectively. There were significant interaction effects of sowing methods and seed rates on shoot biomass yield, straw yield, lodging percentage, culm length and harvest index. The highest seed rate of (25 kg ha-1) with both sowing methods produced higher shoot biomass yield, straw yield, and lodging percentage. However, combining the highest seeding rate with the broadcasting method resulted in lower harvest index. Lodging index was consistently increased with increasing seed rate under row planting. Hence, considering the growth and yield obtained from the current study by using 25 kg ha-1 seed rate together with row planting can be suggested for higher tef production in the study area. Key words: Tef, row sowing, broadcasting, seed rate, yield, and yield attribute

System productivity and yield of component crops as affected by intercropping maize and common bean varieties with distinct morphological characteristics

Selection of maize and legumes variety selection in Ethiopia target only sole cropping system without considering the relative performance of varieties of varying morphologies under maize/legume intercropping. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of intercropping maize and common bean varieties with different morphologies on yield and system productivity of maize/common bean intercropping system. The treatments consisted of factorial combinations of three maize (BH543, BH661 and Gibe-2) and three common bean (Anger, Nassier and Haramaya) varieties and sole crops of the six varieties, which were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. The experiment was conducted at Bako, western Ethiopia, during the main cropping seasons of 2011 and 2012. Main effects due to variety and cropping system were significant for maize biomass and grain yield in both years. Relative to sole cropping system, intercropping significantly reduced maize and common bean grain yields by 7% and 70%, respectively. Intercropping increased plant height of common bean by 48% relative to sole crop conditions. Among the different intercropping combinations, growing common bean variety, Haramaya with maize hybrid BH661 gave the highest land equivalent ratio of 1.28, highest relative crowding coefficient of 6.75 and highest net benefit of Birr 23,328 ha-1. As a strategy to maximize land productivity and resource use efficiency, intercropping that involves the two compatible varieties of the component crops is recommended for Bako and similar areas of western Ethiopia

Evaluation on Growth Performance of Improved and Local Potato (solanum tuberosum l.) Cultivars Grown in Eastern Ethiopia

Field experiments were conducted at Haramaya and Hirna with the objective of assessing growth performance of local (farmers’) and improved potato cultivars. The treatments consisted of five released cultivars (Badhasa, Chala, Chiro, Gabbisa, Zemen) and four local (farmers’) potato cultivars (Batte, Daddafa, Jarso, Mashenadima). The experiment was laid out as a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Earliest cultivar to attain days to 50% emergence was Chiro at Hirna and Mashenadima emerged late at Haramaya. The earliest cultivars to reach 50% flowering was Jarso (43.83 days) and Mashenadima late (57.67 days). Chiro matured in (86.17 days) while Daddafa (114 days), indicating that they are early and late maturing, respectively. The tallest plants were recorded at Hirna for Zemen (106.48 cm) while the shortest (39.93 cm) were for Batte at Haramaya. Maximum (6.58) and minimum (2.41) stem numbers per hill were produced by Chala and Mashenadima, respectively. Keywords: potato (solanum tuberosum l.), Growth Performance, Improved, local, Ethiopia

Assessing the Yield Performance of Improved and Local Potato (solanum tuberosum l.) Cultivars Grown in Eastern Ethiopia

Potato is an important cash and food security crop in Eastern Ethiopia. However, the yield of the crop is very low due to a number of constraints. Cultivation of low yielding local cultivars is one of the constraints. Therefore, field experiments were conducted at Haramaya and Hirna with the objective of assessing the yield performances of local (farmers’) and improved potato cultivars during the main cropping season of 2011. The treatments consisted of five released cultivars (Badhasa, Chala, Chiro, Gabbisa, Zemen) and four local (farmers’) potato cultivars (Batte, Daddafa, Jarso, Mashenadima). The experiment was laid out as a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The highest total tuber yield was produced by cultivar Badhasa (37.39 t/ha) while the lowest by Mashenadima (19.46 t/ha) at Hirna. In case of tuber number, Jarso produced (24.37) highest tubers per hill and Mashenadima (7.04) least tubers per hill. Minimum average tuber weight was produced by cultivar Jarso (31.37 g) and maximum by Mashenadima (88.93 g). Zemen at Haramaya had higher (86.60%) harvest index and least was obtained from Daddafa (70.10%) at Hirna. Keywords: potato (solanum tuberosum l.), yield Performance, Improved, local, Ethiopi

Improving Yield and Economic Benefits of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Through Integrated Use of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Different Soil Types

Soil fertility depletion is among the major impediments to sustained crop productivity because of limited application of fertilizers in Ethiopia. Crops yield  can be enhanced through balanced application of inorganic and organic soil nutrients. Thus, field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of  chicken manure (CM) with reduced levels of inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers on garlic growth, yields and economic benefits at  Debrezeit Agricultural Research Centre on two soil types (Andosols and Vertisols) in 2013/14 cropping season. The treatments consisted of factorial  combinations of three levels each N (0, 46, 92 kgha-1), P (0, 20, 40 kgha-1) and CM (0, 10, 20 tha-1); which were laid out in randomized complete block  design with three replications at each site. The analysis result showed that there was a significant main effect of N, P, CM and soil type on the evaluated  growth and yield traits in the experiments. Effect of the manure on growth and yield of garlic bulb were significantly higher on both soils than the mineral  NP fertilizers but the highest bulb yield of garlic was recorded from Vertisols than from Andosols. The applied fertilizers interacted and  significantly influenced the yield attributes of garlic on both soils. The highest bulb yield was obtained with the application of 46 kg N ha-1, 40 kg P ha-1  and 20 t CM ha-1 on Andosols and with the application of 46 kg N ha-1, 20 kg P ha-1 and 20 t CM ha-1 combination on Vertisols. There was a yield  advantage of 110% and 139% due to these two combinations over the lowest yield obtained from the control plot on Andosols and Vertisols, respectively.  Application of fertilizers at the combination rates of 46 kg N ha-1, 20 kg P ha-1 and 20 t CM ha-1 significantly improved bulb yield by 57% on Vertisols than  the yield produced on Andosols. Moreover, the mean bulb yield produced on Vertisols was higher by 21% compared to that of Andosols. In addition,  the higher economic yield and marginal rate of return was obtained by the application of 10 t CM ha-1 along with 46 kg N ha-1 and 20 kg P ha-1  on Andosols. Thus, application of 10/20 tha-1 CM saved the recommended levels of N and P fertilizers by 50%, without reducing the bulb yield and  economic benefits of garlic.&nbsp

Chemical quality of common beans as influenced by genotype and aluminium rates under two soil liming regimes

Soil acidity affects seed yield and crop quality negatively due to aluminium toxicity in most humid tropics where the crop is cultivated for food and cash income by smallholder farmers. This study was conducted to assess the effect of different exchangeable aluminium concentrations on bean chemical quality of two common bean genotypes grown on lime-treated and lime-untreated soils. Factorial combinations of five aluminium rates (0.0, 12.5, 25.0, 50.0, and 100.0 mg Al/ kg soil) and two common bean genotypes (New BILFA 58 and Roba 1) were laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications. For each treatment, four plants were raised per pot in the vegetation hall of Nekemte Soil Laboratory, western Ethiopia. The experiment was established in two sets: lime-treated soil and lime-untreated soil. The results revealed that aluminium toxicity caused major changes in the composition of the common beans. Significant differences (P < 0.01) were found among the different aluminium rates and between the two genotypes for bean crude protein, crude fibre, crude fat, and ash, carbohydrate, calcium, magnesium, and aluminium contents under both liming regimes. The interaction of aluminium and genotype also influenced most of the bean chemical quality attributes negatively. New BILFA 58 (acidic soil tolerant genotype) had better bean chemical quality attributes (except aluminium and condensed tannins contents) than Roba 1 (acidic soil sensitive genotype) under both liming regimes. On the average, lime application increased bean crude protein, crude fat, ash, and calcium contents by 4.1%, 20.7%, 7.9%, and 11.7%, respectively. However, it decreased bean crude fibre and aluminium contents. Bean carbohydrate and condensed tannin contents of the genotypes increased in response to increasing aluminium application under both liming regimes. The total ash, which is an indirect indicator of the mineral content of foodstuffs, was found to be higher for New BILFA 58 than Roba 1 under both liming regimes. In conclusion, the results of this study have demonstrated that increased soil aluminium contents have significant negative effects on common bean quality, but integrated use of tolerant genotypes and application of lime can simultaneously alleviate the problem of low yield and reduced bean nutritional quality of the crop.Keywords: Aluminium, proximate, Lime, soil, Phaseolusvulgari

Selected heavy metals in some vegetables produced through wastewater irrigation and their toxicological implications in eastern Ethiopia

Vegetables widely consumed in some areas of eastern Ethiopia such as cabbage (Brassica oleraceae var. capitata L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), and khat (Catha edulis Forsk.) are cultivated through irrigation with wastewater. The purpose of this study was to analyse the contents of selected toxic heavy metal (Cr, Co, Cd and Pb) of the vegetables, the effluents used to irrigate the crops, and the soils on which the crops were grown, using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The optimized wet digestion procedure was employed to solubilise the metals from the samples. The validation was performed by spiking the samples with a standard solution of each metal having a known concentration and the percentage recovery values in the range of 91.0–98.3% for soil, 92.0–102% for effluent, and 89.0–101% for vegetable samples. The following concentrations (mg kg-1) of the metals were found in the edible parts of the cabbage, potato, and khat plants, respectively: Cr [less than method detection limit (<MDL)- 17.13], (11.96-14.21), and (9.04-15.54); Co (5.72-9.72), (5.15-8.72), and (<MDL-8.87); Cd (1.15-2.46), (1.22-1.46), and (0.38-3.22); Pb (5.48-11.95), (5.43-7.78), and (4.49-11). The concentrations in the effluent samples (mg kg-1) ranged from 0.17-0.26, 0.57-1.02, 0.04-0.08, and 0.82-2.52 for Cr, Co, Cd, and Pb, respectively. Similarly, concentrations (mg kg-1) of the metals in the soil samples were in the ranges of 25.71-41.45, 17.69-23.59, 0.79-2.56, and 26.04-47.29 for Cr, Co, and Cd, and Pb, respectively. The study revealed that the concentrations of all metals in the vegetables, except Co, were found to be above the safe limits set by different international organizations for consumption, posing a serious health hazard to humans. Therefore, regular monitoring of effluents, soils, and vegetables are essential to prevent excessive build-up of the toxic heavy metals in food. Thus, the health risk and the extent of heavy metal contamination can be reduced.Keywords: Vegetables, wastewater, safe limits, irrigatio