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

Response to Soil Acidity of Common Bean Genotypes (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Under Field Conditions at Nedjo, Western Ethiopia

Soil acidity has become a serious threat to crop production in most  highlands of Ethiopia in general and in the western part of the country in particular. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate soil acidity tolerant on 25 genotypes of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on lime treated and untreated acid soils. The genotypes were evaluated based on morpho-agronomic parameters. Soil acidity had an effect on maturity, growth and yield of the tested genotypes. High significant(P<0.01) differences were observed among genotypes for days to maturity, leaf area index, plant height, number of pods per plant, pod length, hundred seed weight, grain yield, pod harvest index and harvest index in lime treated and untreated soils. Considerable variability exists among the genotypes tested based on the growth, and yield components measured for soil acidity tolerance. The genotypes gave higher yield and yield components when grown in lime treated soil than lime untreated with average yield reduction of 26% due to soil acidity effect. Relative grain yield was calculated as the ratio of grain yield in lime untreated to lime treated soil also showed higher significant differences among the tested genotypes. Genotypes such as Dimtu, new BILFA 58, Beshbesh, SER176, new BILFA51 and new BILFA 61 gave higher absolute and relative yield, whereas Dinknesh, Chore, Nasser and new BILFA 60 gave lower absolute grain and relative yield. Moreover, the great variability of 25 commonbean genotypes exhibited a good potential to screening large germplasm of common bean for soil acidity tolerance and develop a cultivar that are tolerant to soil acidity in the country. Keywords: Common bean, Genotypes, Lime, Soil acidity, Relative yiel

Growth and Nutrients Content and Uptake of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) as Influenced by Different Types of Fertilizers and Soils

Farmers strive to produce high yield and good quality garlic both for  consumption and economic value but soil fertility depletion is among the major impediments to sustained garlic production, especially in the less developed countries, because of limited application of suitable rate, type and sources of fertilizers. Thus, the study was conducted on Andosol and Vertisol soils at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia, for two consecutive (dry and main rainy) seasons to assess the effect of various rates of compound fertilizers on growth, and nutrient content and uptake  of garlic. The treatments consisted of control (unfertilized), one level of recommended NP (92/40 kg ha-1), three levels of Azofertil (100, 200, 300 kg ha-1), four levels of Basic (100, 200, 400, 600 kg ha-1) and three levels of D-coder (100, 200, 400 kg ha-1). The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design with three replications at each site. The morphological characters like plant height, neck thickness and leaf  area index of garlic at different growth stages, and the contents and uptake of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur of the crop were significantly increased due to the applications of higher levels of Azofertil, Basic and D-coder compound fertilizers on Andosol soil during both seasons. However, the lowest growths, and nutrients content and uptake were recorded from the garlic plants fertilized with lower levels of the three compound fertilizers, recommended NP and the control plot, especially on Vertisol. Generally, plant growths, and nutrients contentsand uptake of garlic followed by Azofertil at the rate of 300 kg ha-1 on Andosol during dry season by irrigation

INFLUENCE OF TREATMENT OF SEED POTATO TUBERS WITH PLANT CRUDE ESSENTIAL OIL EXTRACTS ON PERFORMANCE OF THE CROP

Farmers in most developing countries store seed potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers in traditional storage that invariably leads to rapid deterioration in the quality of the seed tubers due to sprouting and aging. Thus, potato seed tubers senesce and are past their prime when planted. A pot experiment was conducted at Sirinka Agricultural Research Centre, in north-eastern Ethiopia, to evaluate the effect of treating seed potato tubers with crude plant essential oil extracts, on the growth and yield of the potato crop. Treatments consisted of seed potato tubers treated with dill weed, spearmint, black cumin and eucalyptus crude essential oil extracts, each applied at 45, 90 and 135 mg kg-1 of potato tubers for one month, plus a control treatment. The control consisted of untreated tubers. Results revealed that potato plants grown from seed tubers treated with oil extracts from dill weed, spearmint, and eucalyptus at 135 mg kg-1, took the longest time to sprout, flower, and tubers to mature. Potato plants grown from seed tubers treated with dill weed, spearmint, black cumin and eucalyptus crude essential oil extracts at 135 mg kg-1 were 23 - 38% taller than plants from the untreated seed tubers. Similarly, potatoes from these treatments had 21 - 89% more numbers of leaves compared to plants from the untreated seed tubers. Crude essential oils from dill weed at the concentrations of 90 and 135 mg kg-1 and eucalyptus at 135 mg kg-1, had the greatest positive effects on growth and yield of the potato crop.Dans plusieurs pays en d\ue9veloppement, les paysans conservent les tubercules de pomme de terre ( Solanum tuberosum L.) en stockage traditionnel, ce qui est responsable de la d\ue9t\ue9rioration rapide de la qualit\ue9 des semences due au vieillissement et au bourgeonnement des tubercules. Alors, les tubercules de pomme de terre vieillissent et perdent leur fra\ueecheur avant d\u2019\ueatre plant\ue9. Une exp\ue9rimentation en pots a \ue9t\ue9 conduite au Centre de Recherche Agricole de Sirinka au North-Est de l\u2019Ethiopie pour \ue9valuer l\u2019effet du traitement des tubercules de pomme de terre avec des huiles essentiels sur la croissance et le rendement la culture subs\ue9quente. Les traitements consistaient en l\u2019utilisation des huiles essentielles de la fenouille, la menthe verte, du cumin noir et de l\u2019eucalyptus \ue0 diff\ue9rente concentrations (45, 90 et 135 mg kg-1) pour traiter les tubercules de pomme de terre pendant un mois, et un traitement t\ue9moin (tubercules non trait\ue9s). Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 que les plants de pomme de terre trait\ue9s \ue0 l\u2019huile essentielle de fenouille, menthe verte, et eucalyptus \ue0 135 mg kg-1 ont le plus retard\ue9 le bourgeonnement, la floraison, et la maturation des tubercules. Les plants de pomme de terre cultiv\ue9s apr\ue8s traitement \ue0 l\u2019huile essentielle de fenouille, menthe verte, cumin noir et eucalyptus \ue0 135 mg kg-1 \ue9taient 23 \ue0 38% plus grands que les plants provenant de tubercules non trait\ue9es. De la m\ueame fa\ue7on, les plants trait\ue9s avaient 21 \ue0 89% plus de feuilles que les plants non trait\ue9s. Les huiles essentielles de fenouille \ue0 90 et 135 mg kg-1 et de l\u2019eucalyptus \ue0 135 mg kg-1 ont entrain\ue9 une croissance plus accrue et un rendement plus \ue9lev\ue9 de la culture subs\ue9quente de pomme de terre

Seeding Rate And Genotype Effects On Agronomic Performance And Grain Protein Content Of Durum Wheat ( Triticum Turgidum L. Var. Durum) In South-Eastern Ethiopia

The use of optimum seeding rate for the genotype may enhance productivity and grain protein content of durum wheat. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at two locations in south-eastern Ethiopia during the main cropping season of 2008 with the objective of elucidating the effects of seeding rate and genotype on agronomic performance and grain protein content of the crop. The experiment consisted of factorial arrangements of four improved durum wheat genotypes and five seeding rates, which were laid out as a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Seeding rates significantly influenced agronomic performances including number of fertile spikes m-2, plant height, number of seeds spike-1, and grain yield. Number of fertile spikes m-2 was increased proportionally with the seeding rate and the highest number (382 spikes m-2) was recorded in the highest seeding rate of 200 kg ha-1. Inversely, the highest number of kernels spike-1 (29.8) was at the seeding rate of 100 kg ha-1. The highest grain yield (4341 kg ha-1) was obtained in response to seeding rate of 175 kg ha-1, which was in statistical parity with the yield obtained at the seeding rate of 150 kg ha-1. However, grain protein content was not influenced by the seeding rates. There were significant (P ≤ 0.05) variations among the genotypes for all the agronomic traits measured. The largest number of fertile spikes m-2 was recorded for the genotypes Oda (360 spikes m-2) and Bakalcha (345 spikes m-2). Genotype Illani produced the longest spike (6.9 cm). Oda and Illani produced the highest numbers of seeds spike-1, 38.8 and 36.9, respectively. The number of fertile spikes m-2, number of seeds spike-2 and kernels weight significantly contributed grain yield. The genotypes had exhibited less variation for grain protein content. Except for grain yield and harvest index, seeding rate x genotype interaction had no significant effect on other agronomic traits. Highest grain yields of 4938 kg ha-1 and 4774 kg ha-1 were obtained from genotypes Ejersa and Bakalcha when sown at the seeding rate of 150 kg ha-1 and 175 kg ha-1, respectively. Grain protein response was significantly influenced by the interaction effect in which genotype Oda had the highest (12.9%) and lowest (10.5%) protein contents at the highest (200 kg ha-1) and lowest (100 kg ha-1) seeding rates, respectively

Effect of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulphur Fertilizers on Growth Yield, and Economic Returns of Garlic (Allium sativum L.)

No Abstrac

InnovAfrica project baseline survey data for Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania

A data set was generated thorugh surveys to establish a baseline inforamtion for a project entitled "Innovations in Technology, Institutional and Extension Approaches towards Sustainable Agriculture and enhanced Food and Nutrition Security in Africa (Acronym - InnovAfrica)". The InnovAfrica is a consortium of 16 institutions comprising five institutions from Europe and eleven institutions from Africa and the project was implemented in six countries of eastern and southern Africa namely Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania from June 2017 to November 2021.There is no restriction to use these data set.Funding provided by: Horizon 2020Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100007601Award Number: 727201The baseline data was collected from 12 pilot sites (2 sites per country) with in the first 12 months of the project using structured questionnaire. Data was first collected using papper based printed questionnaire and later digitalized in KIPUS system (a smart data software)