Agronomy

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EFFECT OF INTRA-ROW SPACING ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND YIELD OF ONION (Allium cepa L.) VARIETIES AT MIZAN-AMAN, SOUTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2016) DIRO BUZAYO TOLESSA
Onion is among the most important vegetable crops produced in Mizan-Aman for home consumption and as income sources. However, lack of site based varieties and inappropriate planting density have been the major bottlenecks of onion production and productivity in the area, since there are no recommended spacing and variety for that area specifically. Rather farmers use to practice non-uniform plant spacing. This study was thus conducted at Mizan ATVET College in 2015/2016 with the objective of investigating the effect of intra-row spacing on growth performance and yield components of onion varieties. Three varieties (Adama Red, Bombay Red and Melkam) were evaluated under four different intra-row spacings (6, 10, 14 and 18 cm) and constant inter-row spacing of 20 cm by using randomized complete block design replicated three times. Data on days to maturity, growth performance and yield were recorded and subjected to analysis of variance using SAS version-9 software. Results of the study indicated that, intra-row spacing and variety had significant effect on plant height, leaf number per plant, leaf length, days to maturity, bulb diameter and length, bulb dry matter, total bulb yield as well as, marketable and unmarketable bulb yield. Closer intra-row spacings enhanced early maturity, while wider spacing delayed maturity. The maximum plant height, leaf length and leaf number were recorded in 10 cm intra-row spacing. Bombay Red variety was early maturing with the highest mean value for growth and yield parameters. It had the highest total bulb and marketable bulb yield than Melkam and Adama Red onion varieties specially when planted at 10 cm intra-row spacing. Bombay Red with 10 cm intra-row spacing also gave highest total bulb and marketable bulb yield. The correlation values also confirmed the significant and positive association between growth parameters and bulb yield. Based on the result of this study, higher onion yield with better quality was attained when Bombay Red variety was planted with 10 cm intra-row spacing under Mizan-Aman condition, for recommendation, although additional verification trial is needed to substantiate the result.
GROWTH, SYMBIOTIC AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF SOYBEAN (Glycine max L.) VARIETIES IN RESPONSE TO Bradyrhizobium INOCULATION AND PHOSPHORUS APPLICATION AT ASSOSA, WESTERN ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2017) TESFAYE TEKOLA SEIFU
This research was conducted during 2016 main cropping season on field at Assosa, in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State with the objectives of investigating growth, symbiotic and yield performance of three soybean (Glycine max L.) varieties in response to Bradyrhizobium inoculation and P fertilizer application. The treatments studied included three P levels (0, 10 and 20 kg P ha -1 ), two inoculation levels (uninoculated and inoculated with Bradrhizobium strain; MAR-1495) and three soybean varieties (Gizo,Belessa-95 and Local) in randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement using three replications. The results revealed that Bradyrhizobium inoculation with MAR-1495 significantly (P<0.01) increased most of the parameters studied as compared to the control. Inoculation with strain MAR-1495 significantly (P < 0.01) increased nodule number, nodule dry weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, leaf area, grain yield, and above ground total biomass as compared to the control. Application of P at 20 and10 kg ha -1 significantly increased nodule number, nodule dry weight, and root dry weight, shoot dry weight, leaf area, above ground total biomass and grain yield. There was significantly (P < 0.01) cultivars effect for most of studied parameters; Belessa-95 variety had better responded on nodule number, nodule dry weigh, grain yield and above ground total biomass as compared to Gizo and Local varieties. The highest grain yield was recorded from Belessa-95 variety 3.29 ton ha -1 from combined application of 20 kg P and Bradyrhizobium inoculation. Nodule number plant -1 was positively and significantly correlated with most of growth parameters, yield and yield components. It could, thus, be deduced that use of MAR-1495 Bradyrhizobium strain and Belessa-95 variety with application of 20 kg P markedly increased the productivity of the crop at Assosa area, however economic analysis revealed that the highest net return was obtained from application of 10 kg P and Bradyrhizobium inoculation with strain MAR-1495. The use of MAR-1495 strain and Belessa-95 variety with application P at 10 kg ha -1 could be recommended, but verification of the results on different farmers’ field could be required before wide use of this study.
EFFECTS OF SEEDLING AGE AND VARYING RATES OF PHOSPHORUS ON GROWTH AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF ONION (Allium cepa L.) UNDER IRRIGATION IN ALAGE DISTRICT, CENTRAL RIFT VALLEY OF ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2017) TILAYE ANBES WASIE
Onion is an important cultivated crop used as a condiment as well as a source of income for many farmers in Ethiopia. However, the yield of the crop is constrained by a number of factors among which inappropriate transplanting age and poor fertilizer management practices are important factors. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at Alage Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training College (Alage) campus, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia, during 2016/17 season to determine the effect of seedling age and phosphorus rate on growth and yield performance of onion. The treatments comprised of three seedling ages (6, 7 and 8 weeks of seedling age) and four phosphorus rates (0, 46, 92 and 138 kg ha -1 ). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The result showed that seedling age and phosphorus rate significantly affected plant height, leaf length, days to maturity, fresh bulb weight, bulb dry matter fraction, bulb length, marketable bulb yield, total bulb yield, harvest index, medium and large sized bulb yield. Among these parameters, marketable bulb yield, total bulb yield and harvest index were also significantly affected by the interaction of seedling age and phosphorus rate. On the other hand, leaf number per plant, bulb diameter, bulb dry weight, total biomass yield, small bulb sized yield, under sized bulb yield and unmarketable bulb yield were only influenced by the main effect of phosphorus rate. In this study result, transplanting at 8 weeks of seedling age fertilized with 138 kg P 2O5 ha -1 recorded the highest total bulb yield (50.6 t ha -1 ) and marketable bulb yield (48.33 t ha -1 ), but no significant difference was showed with that obtained at 92 kg P 2O5 ha -1 with the same seedling age. Treatment combinations of seedling age at 6 weeks and no P (control) produced the lowest amounts of total bulb yield (24.27 t ha -1 ) and marketable bulb yield (21.63 t ha -1 ). The partial budget analysis revealed that the highest net benefit with low cost of production was obtained in response to the application of 92 kg P2O5 ha -1 and the transplanting age of 8 weeks. The marginal rate of return for this treatment was 5657% which is found to be economically feasible for producing onion in the study area.
EFFECT OF NITROGEN SOURCES ON GROWTH, YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) VARIETIES AT MESKAN, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2019) MESERET SHIFA
Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are an important cash crop and protein source for farmers in many parts of Ethiopia. However, lacks of adequate information on the use of nitrogen source fertilizers are the major yield limiting factors for common bean production in the study area. Thus, the field experiment was conducted at Meskan District in 2018 cropping season to evaluate the effect of nitrogen sources on growth, yield and yield components of common bean varieties; and to identify economically appropriate combination of nitrogen sources that give optimum yield of major common bean varieties. Factors studied includes four common bean varieties (Hawassa Dume, Gegeba, Rori and Ibado) and four level of N sources (T1= Control; T2=Rhizobium inoculated; T3=46 kg N ha -1 , T4= 46 kg N ha -1 + Rhizobium inoculated). The treatments were arranged using randomized complete block design in factorial arrangements with three replications. Results revealed varietal differences on growth, yield and yield components. The highest pod number plant -1 (29.1), seed number pod -1 (5.6) and grain yield (2.7 t ha -1 ) were recorded from variety Hawassa Dume. Similarly, nitrogen sources had significant effect on growth, yield and yield components. Significantly, higher number of pods plant -1 (27.5), seeds pod -1 (5.6), and grain yield (2.7 t ha -1 ) were recorded from combined application of Rhizobium inoculation+46kg N ha -1 . There was significant interaction effect of N sources with varieties on nodule number, root dry weight and straw yield, where by the highest nodule number plant -1 (40), root dry weight (11.6 ) and straw yield (4.5 t ha -1 ) were recorded from combined application of Rhizobium strain HB-429 and 46 kg N ha -1 with variety Hawassa Dume except number of nodule plant -1 . Grain yield was positively and significantly correlated with phenological, growth, nodulation, yield and yield components except maturity date. Partial budget analysis of the study revealed that the highest net return (32,748 ETB ha -1 ) was obtained from Hawassa Dume variety with combined application of inoculation and 46 kg N ha -1 . Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that combined application of Rhizobium inoculation with 46 kg N ha -1 found to be appropriate for common bean variety Hawassa Dume in the study area. However, the result of the present study need to be evaluated and reconfirmed on farmers field across season and areas in order to reach to a conclusive recommendation.
GROWTH AND YIELD OF ONION (Allium cepa L.) AS AFFECTED BY VARIABLE RATES OF POULTRY MANURE AND MINERAL NITROGEN FERTILIZER AT ALAGE, CENTRAL RIFT VALLEY OF ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2019) NEJEHA REDY ALEMAR
Onion is one of the important vegetable crops produced in many home gardens and in some extent commercially in different parts of Ethiopia. However, the average yield of the crop is low compared with the world average yield. Declining soil fertility and lack of information on appropriate fertilizer type and rates are the most important factors attributing for the low yield of onion in Ethiopia. Therefore, the field experiment was carried out at Alage Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia, during 2018/19 cropping season, with the objectives of assessing the growth, yield and quality response of onion to the variable rates of poultry manure and mineral nitrogen fertilizer. The experiment comprising of three nitrogen levels (0, 46 and 92 kg ha -1 ) and four levels of poultry manure (0, 5, 10 and 15 t ha -1 ) were laid out in randomize complete block design with three replications. Data on plant growth, yield and quality components were collected and subjected to ANOVA using SAS (9.2 version) software. The main effects of poultry manure and nitrogen fertilizer significantly affected the leaf length, leaf number, days to maturity, bulb length, unmarketable bulb yield and bulb dry matter content, except total bulb yield and marketable bulb yield. Plant height, bulb diameter and harvest index were significantly affected by the interaction of poultry manure and nitrogen fertilizer levels. Application of poultry manure at the rate of 15 t ha -1 recorded the highest total bulb yield (63.33 t ha -1 ) and marketable bulb yield (62.52 t ha -1 ), but statistically there were no x significant difference between 15t ha -1 and 10t ha -1 poultry manure application. Lower amount of total bulb yield (53.44 t ha -1 ) and marketable bulb yield (52.40 t ha -1 ) were obtained from the control plot as compared to the maximum yields obtained from other treatments. Marketable bulb yield was positively and significantly correlated with most of the growth parameters. The results of partial budget analysis showed that 15 t ha -1 poultry manure application gave the highest marginal rate of returns. Since, the highest bulb yield and maximum marginal rate of returns are obtained at 15 t ha -1 poultry manure application, this rate can be recommended for onion production in the researched area, and areas having similar agro-ecologies. However, as the research is conducted for a single season and location, repeating the experiment over location and year will be required to give a conclusive recommendation.
RESPONSE OF MALT BARLEY (Hordeum vulgare L.) TO DIFFERENT RATES OF NPSB AND UREA FERTILIZERS IN BULE HORA WOREDA, GUJI ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2020) ASHENAFI TADESSE FOLLA
Malt Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of major crops grown in Bule Hora woreda,oromia region South western Ethiopia. The soil in the area is poor in most of the available nutrients due to intensive soil erosion and long history of cultivation. Therefore, a field experiment was carried out in 2019 cropping season to evaluate response of malt barley to the different rates of NPSB and N fertilizer. The treatments consisted of four levels of NPSB (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg NPSB ha -1 ) and four levels of N (0, 23, 46, 69 kg N ha -1 ). The experiment was laid out in three replication of the randomized complete block design in a factorial arrangement. The results revealed that the interaction effect had a highly significant (p<0.001) on Days to heading, Days to physiological maturity, thousand kernel weight, grain yield and Hectoliter weight. The main effect N fertilizer had a significant effect on spike length, number of tiller per plant, number of spikelet per spike and protein content. Blended NPSB also had significant (p<0.05) effect on number of effective tiller, above ground biomass. Plant height had significantly (p<0.05) by blended NPSB and N fertilizer The highest yield (3691kgha -1 ) was recorded from the interaction effect of 150 kg NPSB ha -1 and 69kg N ha -1 . The partial budget analysis also indicated that the best treatments were interaction of 150 kg NPSB ha -1 and 69kg N ha -1 , which gave net benefits of 63203 ETB ha -1 with acceptable marginal rate of return (5776%). Therefore, it could be concluded that application of 150 kg blended NPSB ha -1 with 69kg N ha -1 fertilizer rates were economically profitable yield and the application of 23kg N ha -1 acceptable for grain quality for malt barley production in the study area.
EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION FREQUENCY ON YIELD RESPONSE OF TWO COMMONLY GROWN TOMATO VARIETIES AT SHASHOGO WOREDA OF SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2020) GETAHUN LENDABO HELAMO
Tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops widely grown in Ethiopia. It has many nutritional values and considered as high value cash crop in the country. However, its productivity among small scale growers is far below its potential. This is partly due to lack of access and awareness to improved cultivars and agronomic packages. The objective of the study was to identify the response of two tomato cultivars under different irrigation intervals and to determine the optimum irrigation interval. The design was randomized complete block with factorial arrangement of two varieties (variety Galilea and variety Roma VF) and three irrigation intervals (4, 6, and 8 days), with three replications. The experiment was conducted from December 2018 to April 2019, at Shashogo Woreda of Southern Ethiopia. A Data were recorded on Phenological, growth and yield characteristics. Varieties differed significantly (P<0.05) in all characteristics, except in number of primary branches and fruit set percentage. Variety Roma VF was earlier by 8 and 13 days in days to first harvest and days to 50% maturity respectively than variety Galilea. Whereas variety Galilea had significantly (P<0.05) higher number of secondary branches per plant, clusters per plant, flowers per cluster, fruits per cluster, fruits per plant, marketable fruit yield and total fruit yield than Roma VF. Similarly, irrigation interval of 6 days resulted in higher values in all these characters than irrigation interval of 4 and 8 days. The highest net benefit of ETB 682,584 was obtained from Variety Galilea under irrigation interval of 6 days. Hence, economically attractive combination is to grow variety Galilea under irrigation interval of 6 days. Growing Roma VF under irrigation interval of 6 days might be considered when earliness is needed to meet special market demands.
EFFECT OF ALTERNATE FURROW IRRIGATION UNDER DIFFERENT MOISTURE REGIMES ON WATER USE EFFICIENCY, GROWTH, YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) AT ALAGE, CENTRAL RIFT VALLEY OF ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2020) HUNDE HAYILE TOLOSA
The farmers use common traditional irrigation methods which at times lead them to over irrigate, resulting in high water losses and low irrigation efficiency. Under such conditions understanding and application use of deficit and alternate furrow irrigation systems on crop production would enhance food security through improved water use. Thus, this study evaluated that the effect of alternate furrow irrigation under different moisture regimes on water use efficiency, growth, yield and yield components of common bean, during 2019 at Alage ATVET College. The experiment was laid out in factorial combination of two factors, following randomized complete block design in split plot arrangement with three blocks consisting twelve treatments; four irrigation levels (100% ETc (I 0 ), 80% ETc (I 1 ) 60% ETc (I 2 ) and 40% ETc (I 3) as the main plot and three irrigation methods (fixed alternate furrow irrigation (FAFI), variable alternate furrow irrigation (VAFI) and conventional furrow irrigation (CFI)) as the sub plot. This experiment showed that deficit irrigation (DI) and AFI significantly (P<0.01) affected days to physiological maturity, No of nodules plant -1 , grain yield, CWUE and IWUE. DI also significantly (P<0.05) influenced days to 50% flowering, stand count, plant height, No of branch, shoot dry weight, nodule dry weight, No of pods plant -1 , No of seeds pod -1 , pod length, 100-seed weight and HI. The interaction effect of DI and AFI also significantly (P<0.05) influenced the biological yield. Maximum (5.16 t ha -1 ) and minimum (3.38 t ha -1 ) biological yield was recorded at I0 and I 3 respectively with combination of FAFI and CFI, in that order. The highest grain yield was obtained under I 0 (2.45 t ha -1 ) and the lowest (1.34 t ha -1 ) was at I 3 . On the AFI, the maximum grain yield (2.11 t ha -1 ) was obtained under FAFI and the minimum (1.78 t ha -1 ) was under CFI. The uppermost CWUE (1.03 kg m -3 ) was recorded at I 3 followed by I 2 (0.92 kg m -3 ) and the smallest was at I0 (0.70 kg m -3 ) followed by I1 (0.77 kg m -3 ). The maximum CWUE (0.92 kg m -3 ) was recorded under FAFI followed by VAFI (0.86 kg m -3 ) and CFI (0.79 kg m -3 ). The partial budget analysis showed that I 0 , I 1 and I 2 gave marginal rate of return above the acceptable threshold value with additional investment advantages for the later. However, there was significant yield difference between I 0 and I 1 ; farmers can save 20% of the irrigation water in the expenditure of the reduced yield (0.33 ton ha -1 ). The highest net benefit was obtained from FAFI, thus the farmers option allows for FAFI at which high yield was recorded. Generally this analysis indicates that farmers at study area and related agro-ecology can use I 0 (100% ETc) in order to maximize their income from increased investment, but if there is lack of adequate irrigation water they can use I 1 (80% ETc) in order to save and use irrigation water more economically.
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF MUNG BEAN (Vigna radiata(L.) Wilczek) VARIETIES UNDER VARIABLE PHOSPHOROUS FERTILIZER RATES AT ALAGE, CENTRAL RIFT VALLEY OF ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2020) HABTAM TILAHUN ASRATIE
Mung bean is an important pulse crop in Ethiopia. However, lack of adapted high yielding varieties and poor soil fertility, especially low levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, have been demonstrated to be important constraints for the production of the crop. Field experiment was conducted during the 2019 belg season to determine the Performance Evaluation of Mung Bean (Vigna Radiata(L.) Wilczek) Varieties Under Variable Phosphorous Fertilizer Rates at Alage Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education Training college Experimental field. The treatments consisted of factorial combinations of four mung bean varieties ( Boreda-1, N26, NVL-1 and shoa robit local) and four phosphorus fertilizer rates (0, 23, 46 and 69 kg P2O5 ha-1 ) laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. Data were collected on plant height , number of nodules plant-1 , nodules dry weight plant-1 , root dry weight plant-1 , shoot dry weight plant-1 , number of branches plant-1 ,number of pods plant-1 , number of seeds pod-1 , hundred seeds weight, grain yield, harvest index, biological yield, days to flowering and maturity. The variety Boreda-1 showed the best performance in number of pods plant-1 , number of seeds pod-1 ,and grain yield whereas NVL1 gave the lowest performance.Variety Boreda-1 also gave the highest gross benefit of 47624.22 ETB and the highest net benefit of 46749.22 ETB. But the lowest gross return and net return were obtained from variety NVL-1 ,with 40044.38 ETB and 39169.38 ETB, respectively. The increasing rates of phosphorous fertilizer showed substantial improvement in nodules dry weight plant-1 , shoot dry weight plant-1 , plant height, grain yield, and biological yield up to fertilizer rates of 46 kg P2O5 ha-1 . Application of 46 kg P2O5 ha-1 recorded the highest gross income of 47053.13 ETB and net return of 45003.13 ETB and the lowest values were recorded from the control; which were 40280.63 ETB and 40280.63 ETB in that order. From the study,the interaction of variety Boreda-1 with phosphorous fertilizer rates of 46 Kg P2O5 ha-1 recorded highest gross income of 50321.25 ETB and net return of 47396.25 ETB .While, the lowest was recorded from the interaction of variety NVL-1 with phosphorous fertilizer rates of 0 Kg P2O5 ha-1 with a gross income of 36303.75ETB and net return of 35428.75 ETB. Accordingly,variety Boreda-1 and application of 46 kg P2O5 ha-1 ,can be used to improve productivity of mung bean in the study area.
RESPONSE OF BARLEY (Hordeum vulgare L.) GENOTYPES TO INORGANIC FERTILIZER TYPES UNDER ACIDIC SOIL OF HAGERESELAM, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2020) HAILU HAMESO
Barley is one of the most important cereal crops in the world. It is a staple food grain, especially for Ethiopian highlanders. However, the barley productivity is commonly influenced by different biotic and abiotic factors. Soil acidity is one of the main environmental factors affecting growth and crop yield. Field experiment was conducted on acidic soil of Hagereselam, southern Ethiopia in 2019 cropping season to evaluate the performance of barley genotypes in terms of yield and yield components under different inorganic fertilizer types. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with factorial arrangement with three replication and consisted of four fertilizer types (control, NP, NPS and NPSB) and four barley genotypes (217176b, 240478, 234911b and 208855b) and one barley variety (HB- 1307) as a check. Both main and interaction effects influenced days to physiological maturity, plant height, number of effective tillers m -2 , above ground total biomass and grain yield. However, days to heading, spike length, number of grain per spike, 1000 grain weight, straw yield and harvest index were only affected by main effects. Barley Genotype 217176b with NPSB fertilizer exhibited the highest grain yield of (4.9 ton ha -1 ). However, it did not significantly differ from the yield obtained from the same genotype under NP (4.72 ton ha -1 ) and genotype 240478 with NPSB fertilizer application (4.58 ton ha -1 ). The lowest yield was recorded from genotype 208855b with control fertilizer. Genotypes 217176b and 240478 were categorized as efficient and responsive to fertilization under the evaluation. The highest marginal rate of return (MRR %), 3745.35, recorded from the application of recommended rates of NPSB fertilizer for genotype 217176b. Greater net benefits with more than the minimum acceptance value of 100% of MRR were obtained for the same genotype with NP. Similarly economically acceptable performances were obtained for genotype 240478 either with NPSB or NP fertilization. Given the fact that grain yield performance between the two genotypes in combinations either with NPSB or NP is not statistically significant, either of the two genotypes with the NPSB or NP fertilizer can be recommended for barley production in acidic soils of Hagereselam and acidic soils of similar agro-ecologies in the highlands of Ethiopia. Further studies that are replicated at least over seasons are needed to investigate response of the two promising barley genotypes to application of inorganic fertilizers under acidic soil conditions in order to come up with a conclusive recommendation.
EFFECT OF PLANT DENSITY ON GROWTH, YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) VARIETIES AT CENTRAL RIFT VALLEY OF ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2021) SHANKO BAKURE TUFA
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the major grain legumes grown in various parts of Ethiopia. Despite, the productivity and quality of bean crops was determined due to lack of improved varieties, poor soil fertility, lack of optimum planting date, row and plant spacing, weed and disease control, and weather conditions. Hence, two field experiments were conducted at Arsi Negele and Melkassa Agricultural Research Center during 2019 main cropping seasons to evaluate the effect of plant density on growth, yield and yield components of common bean varieties. The treatments includes: three plant spacing (5, 10, and 15cm), three row-spacing (30, 40, and 50cm) and three released common bean (Dame, SER-119 and KAT-B9) varieties laid out in factorial arrangement with RCBD design in three replications. The results revealed that plant height, leaf area, leaf area index, number of primary branches, shoot dry weight, initial and final stand count as well as nodulation parameters such as nodule number and dry weight were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by plant spacing, row spacing and varieties at both study sites. Similarly, pods plant-1 , seeds pod-1 , total dry biomass and grain yield were significantly influenced by plant spacing, row spacing and varieties at both locations. Hundred seed weight was affected by all factors at both sites. Harvest index was affected only by varieties at MARC, whereas all factors affected the harvest index at Arsi Negele. The narrower row and plant spacing (30 x 5, 40 x 5 and 50 x 5) had higher total dry biomass. The economic analysis indicated that the highest net benefits (32417.1, 31117.72, 30303.47 and 32233.61 ETB) were obtained from the treatment combinations of (50 cm x 10 cm and 30 cm x 15 cm) with SER-119, (40 cm x 5 cm) with dame and (50 cm x 5 cm) with KATB9 at both studied sites respectively. In addition to these treatment combinations of (40 cm x 10 cm, 40 cm x 15 and 50 cm x 15 cm) were also worth’s better yield for all the three given varieties. From this research output varieties SER-119 and KAT-B9 performs better yields ha -1 at Arsi Negele and MARC, whereas; Dame achieves better yield at Arsi Negele than MARC. Finally, repeated researches have been conducted to confirm the outcomes on similar agroecological zones in depth.
GROWTH, NODULATION, AND YIELD OF MUNGBEAN (Vigna radiata L. (Wilczek) AS AFFECTED BY THE COMBINED USE OF BIOCHEMICAL FERTILIZERS AT HAWASSA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2021) TAMIRAT TADEWOS GIYA
Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. (Wilczek) is a short duration, legume crop cultivated for consumption, industrial processing, with a potential for alleviation of climate change effects on crop production due to its biological nitrogen fixing ability. Integrated use of bio-chemical fertilizers is beneficial in achieving sustainable crop yield improvement and sole dependency on chemical fertilizer is not recommendable due to its unaffordable cost and contribution to climate change. Hence, this experiment was conducted under field condition in the 2019/20 main cropping season at Hawassa University experimental site to determine the combined effects of bio-chemical fertilizer sources on the growth, nodulation, and yield of mungbean. The factorial combinations of four bio-slurry levels (control, 50, 100, and 150%) and four inoculant/N fertilizer treatments (control, 23kg N ha-1 , strain MB-001, and 23kg N + strain MB-001) were laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Data on growth, nodulation, gas-exchange, and yield parameters were collected following the standard procedures. The results revealed that the interaction effects of bio-slurry and inoculant/N fertilizer had a marked effect on phenology, nodulation, and yield parameters. Combined application of bio-slurry and inoculant/N fertilizer delayed days to flowering and days to physiological maturity. Rhizobium inoculation alone and applying with 100% bio-slurry resulted in significant improvement in nodule number, nodule dry weight, and nodule diameter of mungbean. Similarly combined application of bio-slurry and inoculant/N fertilizer had shown a significant impact on a hundred seed weight, above ground biological, grain, and straw yields. For instance, the application of 150% bio-slurry with 23 kg N ha-1 resulted in the highest biological and straw yield whereas the application of 100% bio-slurry with inoculant resulted in marked improvement of seeds pod-1 and grain yield. Pod number plant-1 and hundred seed weight were highest when 100% bio-slurry was applied. The highest net benefit with the highest marginal rate of return was obtained from the combined application of 50% bio-slurry with 23kg ha-1 N fertilizer followed by 100% bio-slurry with Rhizobium inoculation. From this result, it can be concluded that the application of 50% bio-slurry ha-1 in combination with 23kg ha-1 N fertilizer can be recommended for mungbean production in the experimental area and areas having similar agroecology and socio-economic status.
NODULATION, NITROGEN FIXATION AND YIELD POTENTIAL OF COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) VARIETIES UNDER SHADE
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2021) SELAMAWIT ASSEGID
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a herbaceous annual crop which in a symbiotic relationship with specific soil bacteria, ‘fixes’ atmospheric nitrogen (N 2 ) into amino form that can be used for plant growth.A field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of shade and Rhizobium inoculation on nitrogen fixation, nodulation, yield and yield components of three common bean varieties at Hawassa University Research Farm, Hawassa Southern Ethiopia. The experimental treatments consisted of a factorial combination of 2 levels of shade (25% shading and non-shading), 2 levels of inoculation (inoculated and non-inoculated) and three common bean varieties (HawassaDume, Nasir and Ibbado). The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design with four replications. The result showed that inoculation of common bean with Rhizobium strain HB-429 significantly affected all parameters compared to the non-inoculated plants in the field trial. The interactions of variety,shade and inoculation affects leaf area, leaf area index, specific leaf area,grain yield and 100 seed weight of common bean. The highest nodule number was recorded from rhizobium inoculated plots, while the lowest nodule number was recorded from the 25% shade treatments. Similarly the highest grain yield was recorded from inoculated Hawassa dume variety of open treatments while the lowest grain yield was recorded from non-inoculated Ibbado variety at 25% shade treatments.Also this study indicated inoculated Hawassa dume variety from the open treatments derived the greatest percentage of N from N 2 fixation and the lowest percentage of N was derived from non-inoculated Ibbado variety from the 25% shade treatments N uptake of common bean grown on full light had significantly greater N content than wheat this increase in N uptake of common bean is presumably derived from N2-fixation capacity of the legumes. Therefore, variety Hawassa dume inoculated with rhizobium strain HB-429 in open generated the highest seed yield. It would be worthwhile to do similar experiments on the area with the inclusion of more shade levels to refine the findings
GROWTH, SYMBIOTIC AND YIELD RESPONSES OF SOYBEAN (Glycine max L.) VARIETIES TO BRADYRHIZOBIUM INOCULATION AND PHOSPHORUS APPLICATION AT ALAGE, CENTRAL RIFT VALLEY OF ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2021) AYANA YADETA GEMEDA
Soybean (Glycine max L.) is one of the most important food legumes of great nutritional value that has the highest protein content (40%) of all food crops and is equivalent to the protein of animal product. However, in Ethiopia its productivity is constrained mainly by low soil fertility and lack of improved varieties. A field experiment was conducted during 2020 belg cropping season at Alage Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia with the objective of evaluating the effects of Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain inoculation and P fertilizer rates on growth, symbiotic and yield response of soybean varieties. The treatments studied includes four P levels (0, 10, 20 and 30 kg P ha-1 ), two inoculation levels (un-inoculated and inoculated with Bradyrhizobium strain; TAL-379) and two soybean varieties (Afgat and Nova) in randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement with three replications. The results revealed that the main effect of varieties were significantly (P≤ 0.01) influenced most of measured parameters. The results also revealed that inoculation of soybean varieties with Bradyrhizobium strain TAL-379 significantly (P≤ 0.01) influenced days to maturity, nodule number, nodule dry weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, pod number plant-1 , hundred seed weight, grain yield, above ground biological yield and harvest index. Conversely, days to emergence, days to flowering, plant height and seed number pod-1 was not statistically affected by inoculation of strain TAL-379. The effect of P fertilizer was also significant for most of studied parameters except branch number and harvest index. The interaction effect of varieties x strain, strain x P, and varieties x P caused significant variation on days to maturity, number of nodule, nodule dry weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, pod plant-1 , hundred seed weight, grain yield and above ground biological yield. Hence, the use of Afgat variety with Bradyrhizobium strain TAL-379 inoculation significantly gave the highest grain yield (2.99 t ha-1 ) followed by the interaction of Afgat variety with the supply of 20 kg P ha-1 (2.89 t ha-1 ). Grain yield was positively and significantly correlated with most of studied parameters. From the economic point of view the partial budget analysis of the study treatments revealed that the highest net return (63750 ETB ha-1 ) was gained from Bradyrhizobium strain TAL-379 inoculation followed by application of 20 kg P ha-1 and Afgat variety. Thus, it could be recommended that the use of Afgat variety, Bradyrhizobium strain TAL-379 and application of 20 kg P ha-1 to get higher yield and profit of this crop at Alage Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. However, verification of the result on farmers’ fields across season and areas could be required before wide use of this study to put the recommendation in firm ground
EFFECTS OF INOCULANT AND NPS FERTILIZER ON NODULATION, GROWTH AND YIELDS OF COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) VARIETIES AT BILATE ZURIA DISTRICT, SIDAMA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2021) ENJAMO NAGESSO SATO
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a major grain legume grown and consumed in subSaharan Africa, including Ethiopia. It is the most important food legume, fodder and cover crop. However, its cultivation is globally constrained mainly by low soil fertility and lack of improved agronomic practices. Four common bean varieties (Ibaddo, Hawassa Dume, Omo95 and Nasir were studied under three nutrient conditions (0kg ha-1 ,100 kg ha-1 NPS, Inoculation by strain HB-429) in three replication of randomized complete block design (RCBD) during the 2019 main cropping season (June to September). The objectives of the study were investigating the response these varieties to the three nutrient statuses in nodulation, growth, yield and yield components and investigating the variety X inoculant/fertilizer interaction in the same traits. There were significant differences between the four varieties in all traits (nodulation, growth, yield and yield components). Ibaddo had the highest grain yield (2.81 t ha-1 ) while Hawassa Dume had the highest mean in yield (2.53 t ha-1 ). The three fertilizer levels also differed significantly in all traits, 100 kg ha-1 NPS giving the highest means in all traits, while the control (no fertilizer application) had the lowest mean in all traits. Inoculation by rhizobium strain had intermediate mean of all traits. The variety X inoculant/fertilizer interaction was also significant for all traits except for nodule dry weight, leaf area index, shoot dry weight, grain yield, above biological yield and harvest index. Omo95 variety had the lowest means in all traits except leaf area index, plant height, number of primary branches where ranks first, second and third. The highest net return (48325 ETB ha-1 ) with acceptable marginal rate return (5993%) was obtained from Hawassa Dume variety with 100 kg NPS ha-1 followed by Hawassa Dume variety with strain HB-429 inoculation had net return of 41337 ETB ha-1 with 4895% marginal rate of return. This implies that the grower on the study area can gate additional benefit of 59.93 and 48.95 ETB for every 1 ETB expense by growing Hawassa Dume with the application of 100 kg NPS ha-1 and strain HB-429 inoculation, in that order. Moreover, the highest net benefits (37763.5) with MRR (%) of 3084 ETB and net benefits of 3935ETB with MRR (%) obtained from variety Ibaddo and Nasir grown with strain HB-429 and 100 kg NPS ha-1 fertilizer application. Therefore, use of both Hawassa Dume and Nasir varieties with 100 kg NPS ha-1 and Hawassa Dume and Ibaddo grown with strain HB-429 found to be economically feasible at the study area. However, verification of the result on farmers’ fields across season and similar areas could be required before wide use of this study to put the recommendation in firm ground.
EFFECTS OF SEED AND BLENDED FERTILIZER RATES ON YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF BREAD WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.) AT DUNA DISTRICT, HADIYA ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2021) BIRHANU ARASO LATEBO
Bread wheat is one of the major staple and strategic food security crops in Ethiopia. However, the production and productivity of the crop are far below the global average. This is partly due to the low soil fertility and poor crop management practices including the use of suboptimal seed and fertilizers rates. Hence, this experiment was conducted to assess the effect of seed and blended fertilizer (NPSB) rates on the growth and yield of bread wheat; and determine the economically feasible seed and NPSB fertilizers rates for wheat production in the study area. Treatments consisting of four levels of seed rates (80, 100, 120, and 140 kg ha1 ) and four levels of blended NPSB fertilizers (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha-1 ), was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block design in factorial combinations with four replications. Data were collected on phenology, growth, and yield parameters and subjected to ANOVA using SAS software version 9.0. Results revealed that the days to heading, days to physiological maturity, plant height, spike length, thousand kernels weight, straw yield, and above-ground dry biomass were significantly (p<0.01) affected by the main effect of seed and NPSB fertilizer rates. The longest days to heading, days to physiological maturity, and spike length were recorded at 80 kg ha-1 seed rate. The maximum thousand kernels weight was obtained from the 120 kg ha-1 seed rate. However, the tallest plant height, straw yield, and above-ground dry biomass were recorded at 140 kg ha-1 seed rate. The tallest plant height, spike length, number of kernels spike-1 , thousand kernels weight, straw yield, and above-ground dry biomass were obtained from 150 kg ha-1 NPSB rate. However, the longest days to heading and days to physiological maturity were recorded from the control. The treatment interactions significantly (p<0.05) affected the number of total tillers, number of productive tillers, grain yield, and harvest index. The highest number of total and productive tillers were recorded at the combination of 140 kg ha-1 seed rate with 150 kg ha-1 NPSB fertilizer rate. However, the highest grain yield and harvest index were recorded from the combination of 120 kg ha-1 seed and 150 kg ha-1 NPSB fertilizer rates. Grain yield was strongly and positively correlated with plant height, number of total tillers, number of productive tillers, number of kernel spike-1 and above-ground dry biomass. As per the partial budget analysis the highest net benefit of 81,914 ETB ha-1 was obtained from the combined application of 120 kg ha-1 seed rate with 150 kg ha-1 NPSB fertilizer with a MRR of 988.2%. Hence, the combination of 120 kg ha-1 seed and 150 kg ha-1 NPSB fertilizer rates are profitable than other combinations, therefore this combination can be recommended for wheat production in the Duna District and areas sharing similar agro-ecology.
EVALUATION OF THE GROWTH, PHYSIOLOGICAL AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) VARIETIES UNDER SOIL MOISTURE STRESS CONDTITIONS
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2021) MITIKE MULATU ALEMU
Common bean is one of the most important food crops, with significant economic importance and it is suitable for food security due to its short growing cycle and adaptability to different cropping systems. However, its average yield reported at the national levels remains far below the potential due to various biotic and abiotic constraints among which is moisture stress. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of moisture stress on growth, physiological and yield and yield components of common bean varieties. A pot experiment was conducted under lath house from June to September 2020, at Hawassa University College of agriculture. Seven common bean varieties viz. Gofta, Fedis, Awash-2, Tinike, Awash-1, Dursitu and Nasir were grown under three irrigation intervals/moisture level viz. watered every day (waterlogging stress), watered every four days (control) and watered every eight days (moisture deficit), in factorial combination using Completely Randomized Design with three replications. The main and interaction effects were significant on Days to flowering, physiological maturity, plant height, leaf number, Shoot fresh weight, Shoot dry weight, root length, Transpiration rate, photosynthesis rate, stomata conductance, water use efficiency, stomata number, stomata width and length, chlorophyll concentration, Proline content, Length of pod, pods plant-1 , seeds pod-1 and yield gram-1 plant-1 . However, branch number and Internode length, leaf relative water content, hundred seed weight, total biomass (biological yield), straw yield and harvest index were significantly affected by main effects of moisture levels and varieties but chlorophyll fluorescence was affected by only moisture levels. Moisture stress significantly reduced growth, stomata conductance, photosynthesis, yield and yield components. Varieties performed differently in response to moisture stress. The highest hundred seed weight, biological yield, and straw yield were recorded for Awash-1 and Tinike varieties, respectively in control moisture stress. The highest yield was recorded from the variety Awash-1 and Gofta irrigated every 4 days of interval ( control); whereas the lowest yield was recorded from Fedis variety treated with daily irrigation ( water logging). Also Awash - 2 varieties is relatively better compared to the Tinike, Fedis, Dursitu and Nasir on yield and yield parameters at all moisture levels. Varieties Gofta, Awash-2 and Awash-1 appeared to be moisture stress-tolerant duo to maximum proline accumulation mechanism, high water use efficiency, low transpiration rate and better photosynthesis and yield performance by using different mechanisms.
RESPONSE OF COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) VARIETIES TO DIFFERENT RATES OF PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER AT NEGELLE BORENA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2021) GADISA BEYENE FUFA
Even though its production and demand is highly increasing in Ethiopia due to its fast maturity and nutritional value, Common bean productivity is constrained by soil phosphorus along with proper use of variety. In view of this problem, a field experiment was conducted at Negelle Borena, Southern Ethiopia under rain fed in 2020 cropping season to determine the optimum phosphorus rate needed to get the highest and economically feasible yield of Common bean variety. The experiment was designed in factorial combinations of five levels of Phosphorus (0, 23, 46, 69 and 92 kg ha-1 ) and three haricot bean variety (Hawassa Dume, Omo-95 and Nassir) in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Data on days to flowering, days to maturity, number of nodules plant-1 , number of leaves plant-1 , plant height, number of primary branches plant-1 , number of pod plant-1 , number of seed pod-1 , hundred seed weight, above ground biomass, grain yield and harvest index were recorded and subjected to analysis of variance using SAS software. The results revealed that both P rates and common bean variety had significant effect on days to flowering, days to maturity, number of leaves plant-1 , number of primary branches plant-1 , number of pods plant-1 , number of seeds pod-1 , total above ground biomass, hundred seed weight and grain yield.The interaction effect of phosphorus fertilizer rate and Common bean variety significantly influenced total of nodule number and effective nodules number plant-1 . All parameters tested were positively correlated except days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and leaves number plant-1 was Negatively correlated but plant height was not siginificant with grain yield . The highest grain yield (2.38 tons ha-1 and 2.11 tons ha-1 ) was recorded from 46 kg P ha-1 rate and Hawassa Dume Common Beanvariety, respectively.The highest net return (37,630 ETB ha1 ) with acceptable marginal rate return (1140.54 %) was obtained from Hawassa Dume variety with 46 kg P2O5 ha-1 application. This implies that the growers at the study area can get additional benefit of 11.4054 ETB for every 1 ETB expense by this treatment, followed by Hawassa Dume variety with 23 P2O5 kg ha-1 supply having a net return of 27,080ETB ha-1 . The lowest net economic return was recorded in the Omo-95 variety with zero-P application (17,550Birr ha-1 ). Thus, it can be concluded that application of 46 kg P ha1 and Hawassa dume haricot bean variety were found superior both in productivity and economically at Negelle Borena area.
RESPONSE OF MUNGBEAN (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) VARIETIES TO DIFFIRENT RATES OF NPSB FERTILIZER RATESAT ZALA DISTRICT, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2021) HABTAMU HARINGO
Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) is the sixth exportable pulse crop in Ethiopia and is a useful protein source for consumers in semi-arid and arid areas of the country. However, its current national productivity is 1.003ton ha-1 , which is much lower than its potential due to the unavailability of balanced nutrients in the soil. Therefore, thisstudy was carried out to evaluate the response of Mungbean varieties toNPSB fertilizer rates. The experiment was conductedin Zala woreda, during the main cropping season of 2021.The experiment was laid out using RCBD in a factorial arrangement with three replications. There was a total of sixteen treatments from a factorial combination of four fertilizer rates (0, 50,100 &150 kgha1 ) and four varieties of Mungbean (Borda,Rasa (N26),NVL-1 & Gofa local).The results revealed that fertilizer had a significant (P<0.05) effect on days to flowering, days to physiological maturity, plant height, brunch number, nodule number, pod number per plant, seed number per pod, thousand seed weight, grain yield, above ground dry biomass, and strow yield. Varieties also had a significant (P<0.05) effect on days to physiological maturity, branch number, pod number per plant, seed number per pod, thousand seed weight, grain yield and harvest index.The interaction of NPSB fertilizer application with verities also had a significant(P<0.05) effect on days to flowering, days to physiological maturity, number of seeds per pod, thousand seed weight, grain yield, dry above ground biomass and harvest index.The highest yield (2.5tonha-1 ) resulted from the interaction effect of the150kg NPSB with the Boreda Varity application. The partial budget analysis also indicated that the best treatments were interaction of the 150kgha-1NPSB with Borda and Rasa (N-26), which gave the first and second highest net benefits of 126126 and 96600 ETB ha-1 , respectively, with an acceptable marginal rate of returns. Therefore, mung bean producers can use the NPSB mixed fertilizer at the rate of 150kg ha-1 and Boreda Variety in the Zala district of the Gofa Zone and other similar areas to increase their productivity.
EFFECTS OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER RATES ON GRAIN YIELD AND QUALITY OF MALT BARLEY (Hordeum vulgare L.) VARIETIES IN KOFELE WOREDA, WEST ARSI ZONE, ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2022) AHMED GELETO
Malt barley being an important cash crop of Kofele Woreda and was cultivated for both home consumption and for market. However, its productivity and grain quality was constrained mainly by low yielding varieties and application of low levels of N fertilizers. Thus, a field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of nitrogen fertilizer rates on growth, yield, yield components and quality of malt barley varieties and to determine economic optimum rates of nitrogen fertilizer that give high grain yield of acceptable malt quality. A three malt barley varieties (Traveler, IBON and Local) and four levels of N fertilizer rate (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha-1 ) was arranged in three replications of RCBD. Data was collected on 12 agronomic and seven malt quality traits. The study revealed that the N main effect was significant for all agronomic and quality traits except for TKW, HI, and GPR. There was significant difference among the varieties in DH, DM, PH, SL, NET, KPS, GPR, GPS, HLW and GE. The VxN interaction was significant for DH, DM, PH, SL and two of the seven quality traits (AE and HLW; malt quality traits were less affected by GxE interaction. The study revealed that nitrogen fertilization with 150kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizer rate improved barley yield and quality.The maximum (3904.75kg ha-1 ) and minimum (2977.25kg ha-1 ) grain yield were observed from Travelear treated with 150 kg ha-1 N and IBON treated with 0 kg ha-1 N, respectively. In the present investigation, quality parameters increased with an increase in N rate, application of 150 kg N ha-1 gave the highest quality parameters studied except sieve test. Partial budget analysis revealed maximum net benefit of Birr 78095 ha-1 with an acceptable marginal rate of returns (MRR) of 2675.7% with the treatment Traveler variety with combination of 150kg N ha-1 . The lowest net benefit of (Birr 59545 ha-1 ) was recorded from IBON barley variety treated with 0 kg ha-1 Nitrogen fertilizer rate. Therefore, production of Traveler variety in combination with 150 kg N ha-1 was economical, and recommended for production of malt barley in the study area.