College of Agriculture

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The College of Agriculture is committed to advancing agricultural education, research, and community service. It serves as a center for knowledge creation and dissemination in crop science, animal production, natural resource management, and sustainable agriculture.

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EFFECT OF SUBSTITUTION OF KOCHO FOR MAIZE ON FEED INTAKE, DIGESTIBILITY, AND BODY WEIGHT GAIN OF SHEEP FED RHODES GRASS HAY AS BASAL DIET
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2014) AMAN GETISO
A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of substitution of kocho for maize on feed intake, digestibility, and body weight gain of sheep supplemented Rhodes grass hay as basal diet. Twenty four yearling male Adilo lambs with initial body weights of 15.03 ±1.96 kg (mean ± SD) were used. Animals were grouped into six blocks of four animals, and fed with 74% maize + 25%noug cake + 1% salt (T1), 46.25% maize + 27.75% kocho + 25% noug cake + 1%slt (T2), 27.75% maize + 46.25% kocho + 25% noug cake + 1% salt (T3), and 74% kocho + 25%noug cake + 1% salt (T4). Rhodes grass hay was offered as a basal diet ad libitum. The supplements were offered at the rate of 300 g/d during the feeding and digestibility trials of 72 and 7 days, respectively. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in dry matter, organic matter, acid detergent and Metabolizable energy intake, dry matter and organic matter digestibility and weight gain among treatments. Lambs in T1 had the highest (P < 0.05) CP intake (49.03 g/d) followed by T2, T3 and T4 with 42.85, 39.35 and 33.50 g/d, respectively. Nitrogen intake was lowest (p<0.05) for sheep fed T4 and highest (P<0.05) for sheep fed T1, T2 and T3 diets which had comparable values among themselves. The highest (P<0.05) N retention was for T2 and the lowest (P<0.05) was for T1 and T4, while T3 had an intermediate value. The study conducted inferred that kocho can replace maize without any unfavorable effect on nutrient intake, digestibility and weight gain. It was concluded that kocho could be used as an alternative good energy source to replace maize in areas where its economic advantages are practicable.
ASSESMENT OF FACTORS INFLUENCING ADOPTION OF AGROFORESTRY TECHNOLOGIES IN HALABA SPECIAL WOREDA, SOUTHEREN ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2016) MIHRETU ERJABO
Halaba special district is characterized by drought, soil erosion, high population pressure, poor livestock production, lack of feed for livestock, very deep water table, very low productivity of crops and food insufficiency. In order to address these problems, the woreda Agricultural Development office along with other management practices such as soil physical conservation measures agroforestry was introduced decades ago as a means to alleviate the problem. However, the level of agroforestry adoption remains low. The main objective of this study was to identify the factors that influence adoption of agroforestry technologies by farmers in the district. Random sampling procedure was employed to select two kebele administrations and respondents. Data collection was conducted by employing five different types of techniques such as rural household questionnaire survey, participatory rural appraisal, questionnaires for local and woreda extension staff, scanning government records & secondary data resources and field observation. A total of 12 key informants, 6 extension staffs and 182 households, samples were used in the data collection process. Chi-square test and t-test were used to determine whether there were statistically significant relationships between adoption of agroforestry and 15 selected variables. Out of which eleven were found to be significant to affect farmers’ adoptiveness. These were frequency of visits of farmers(13.39%), participation in training(11.49 %), farmers’ attitude towards agroforestry practices(10.61%), frequency of visits of extensionists(10.38%), participation in extension meeting(10.34%), participation in field day(10.28%), land holding size(9.29%), level of literacy(8.78%), awareness about the importance of agroforestry technology packages(7.06%), time taken from their residence to nearest extension(5.04%) and gender of respondents(3.34%). This study also identified various factors that may result in low adoption rates of agroforestry including fear of competition between trees & crops for water and nutrients uptake, seedling shortage, rainfall shortage, free grazing after crop harvest, financial problem, labor shortage, expecting trees as soil degrader & long span of trees and lack of need ranking of farmers by extension staff. To improve farmers’ adoption, the factors identified should be well addressed by launching a series and recurrent outreach extension program appropriate and suitable to farmers need.
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.
HUSBANDRY PRACTICES AND PRODUCTIVITY OF ARSI-BALE GOATS IN AGARFA DISTRICT OF OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2016) BEHAILU SAMUEL
This study was conducted in Agarfa district with the objectives; to assess the husbandry practices and reproductive performance, to evaluate the productive performance and estimate offtake rates and also to identify the major constraints and opportunities of Arsi-Bale goats production in Agarfa district. Semi-structured questionnaire survey was carried out on 150 interviewees who are selected randomly from the three agro-ecologies. On-farm monitoring of the growth performance of kids owned by farmers was also conducted. The data obtained from the survey was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages; while data on growth performance was analyzed applying Analysis of Variance using General linear model procedure of SPSS version 17.0.The result showed that the average land holding per household was 2.3 ± 0.13 ha. Goats were the most(p<0.05) widely reared livestock species next only to cattle in terms of TLU. The main purpose of keeping goats in the study area was for income generation. The major feed and water sources were natural pasture and river water respectively. Most farmers let their goats alone to graze. The most common type of goats house in the study area is the one which is constructed attached to the family house sharing the common wall. Small proportion of farmers practice weaning of kids to maintain body condition of dams. Most farmers (40%) in the study area practice castration of goats for fattening and selling, of which only (50%) of farmers used modern method of castration. The major reason for culling of goats in the area was old age(71.2%). Most of the kidding(34.7%) in the study area were from September to November. The overall mean age at first mating (female), age at first mating (male),age at first kidding and kidding interval were reported to be 7.28±0.04,8.48±0.05,14.57±0.04 and 7.11±0.03 months respectively. The overall mean birth weight and two month weight of kids were found to be 2.38±0.1 kg and 6.94±0.2kg respectively. The mean average daily weight gain was 76.2 ± 1.9 g/day up to two months.The birth weight of kids born from first parity does(irrespective of sexes) was significantly lower(P<0.001) than kids from second and above parity does. The triplets had significantly lower (P<0.001) birth weight than twins and triple born kids. The effect of sex too indicated that the buck kids were significantly heavier ( P<0.001) than the doe kids. Kids that were born from first and fifth parity does had significantly lower (P<0.01) average daily weight gain than kids from second,third,fourth and sixth parity does. Single born and male kids had significantly heavier(P<0.01) average daily weight gain than twins and female kids. The survival rate and commercial offtake rates of goats in the area was 91.67% and 16.6% respectively. Disease and parasites and drought were reported to be the two major constraints of goats production in the area. Even though the current overall productivity of goats in the area is fairly encouraging as compared to other indigenous Ethiopian goats breeds, full potential need to be exploited by improving husbandry practices,offtake potential and solving production constraints
ASSESSMENT OF GRAZING LAND CONDITION, HERBACEOUS BIOMASS SPECIES AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION IN ADAMI-TULLU JIDO-KOMBOLCHA AND ARSI NEGELLE WOREDAS, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2016) MULUGETA GUDISA GORO
This study was conducted in Adami-Tullu Jido-Kombolcha and Arsi Negelle woredas, Southern Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were: (1) To assess the effects of grazing pressure and altitude on range condition, herbaceous biomass and species composition in the study areas and (2) To evaluate the effects of grazing pressure and altitude on chemical composition of herbaceous plants in the study areas. In the assessment of rangeland condition: grass species composition, basal cover, litter cover, number of seedlings, age distribution of dominant grasses, soil erosion and compaction were considered. The data were analyzed using GLM procedure in SPSS 16.0 version, which was used for mean comparisons using post-hoc t-test that can be employed to compare mean differences for enclosure and open grazed areas. To test the effect of management and altitude on rangeland condition, biomass production, chemical composition of herbaceous species, mixed model analysis was used where site was used as a random variable while management and altitude were fixed variables. The rangeland condition assessment factors showed that grass species composition, basal cover, litter cover, age distribution, number of seedlings, soil erosion and compaction, and total range condition scores in the enclosed areas were significantly (p<0.05) higher than in the open grazed areas. A total of 28 herbaceous species were identified. Of the identified herbaceous species, 20 were grasses, 2 were legumes while 6 species were forbs. Among the recorded grass species, some were highly desirable, while others were in the category of intermediate in terms of desirability and less desirable. The total biomass production of grasses, forbs and legumes in the enclosure areas were significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of the open-grazed areas across the study sites. The dominant and common grass species included: Arstida adscensionis, Cenchrus ciliarus, Chloris gayana, Chloris roxburghiana, Bothriochloa insculpta, Entropogon, Eragrostis papposa, Heteropogon contorus, Panicum maximum, Bides pilos sida ovate,Indigofer spinosa, Tephrosia pumila, Sporobolus pyrmidalis, Themeda triandra, B. nigropedata, Ocimum basilicum, Amaranthus dubis, Tribulos terrestris and Achyrantes aspera. The chemical composition of herbaceous plants were evaluated for DM, CP, NDF, ADF, ADL and Ash between the two management systems and among three site of different altitude for grazing land condition. The average CP content in the open-grazed area was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of enclosure grazing areas. This suggests that proper management of grazing lands in the study areas is required as part of the grassland monitoring activities and restoration programs. It is also suggested that the herbaceous forages were utilized at early stage of maturity to provide optimum nutrients for animals in the study area
ASSESSMENT OF PRODUCTION SYSTEM, EGG QUALITY AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF VILLAGE CHICKEN IN BENCH MAJI ZONE, SOUTH WESTERN ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2016) WELELAW EDMEW WORKU
The study was conducted in three districts of Bench Maji Zone in Southern Ethiopia with the objective of assessing the production system, egg quality traits and carcass characteristics of indigenous chicken. A total of 270 households were selected by multi-stage purposive random sampling technique and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. A total of 450 eggs and 45 adult male chickens were also purchased to evaluate the egg quality traits and carcass characteristics, respectively. The results revealed that the flock size per household was 10.4 with cock to hen ratio of 1:2.9. Scavenging with occasional supplementation was the major feeding system (80.7%). Maize (91.1%), sorghum, Taro and Kocho were the types of supplementary feeds used in their order of importance. Seasonal disease outbreak and predation were the most challenges of village chicken productivity. The average age of cockerel at first mating and pullet at first egg laying was 5.9 and 6.4 months, respectively. The average number of eggs per clutch and the annual egg number of local chicken in the study area were 14.8 and 54.6, respectively. The mean number of eggs incubated by local hen was 11.8 with 82.2% hatchability and 48.8% survivability of hatched chicks. The purpose of rearing chicken and the egg produced was primarily for selling as a source of cash income followed by hatching and home consumption. The average egg weight and shape index of local chickens was 43.9 g and 72.7%, respectively. The average shell thickness of local chickens was about 0.33 mm. The respective average albumen height and the HU score was 3.4 mm and 61.2. The average yolk height and yolk color were 14 mm and 10.9, respectively. The average slaughter weight of local male chicken was about 1449 g. The edible carcass yield was 966 with 66.7% dressing. The proportions of breast meat, thigh, drumstick and wing were 25.4%, 19.5%, 15.4% and 10.2%, respectively. The study revealed variations in different production traits which might be due to management difference and genetic dissimilarities of local chicken ecotypes in the studied districts. Further research is recommended to evaluate their performance potentials under improved feeding and management systems
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.
GENETIC AND NON-GENETIC FACTORS AFFECTING SURVIVABILITY, GROWTH AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF BOER AND CENTRAL HIGHLAND GOATS AND THEIR CROSSES REARED AT ATAYE FARM, NORTH SHOA, ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2017) AMINE MUSTEFA
This study was conducted at Ataye site of Debre-Birhan Agricultural Research Center. Data pertained to512 kids/ yearlings of Boer (B), Central Highland Goats (CHG), and F1 (B X CHG), F2 (a) (F1 X F1), F2 (b) (B X F1), were collected from 381 kiddings, recorded between 2012 and 2017. The study was aimed to access the effects of genetic and non-genetic factors on growth, reproductive and survivability performances of the above genotypes. The data was analyzed using GLM of SAS (9.0) to investigate the effect of genetic and non-genetic factors (dam parity, sex, year, season and type of birth) affecting body weight and daily weight gain from birth to 1 year of age, litter size and weight at birth and at weaning. Non-parametric tests were used to investigate the genetic and non-genetic factors influencing the conception, kidding and abortion rates. Survival analysis study was carried out using Weibull proportional hazards models using Survival Kit version 6.0 and chi square sub-dividing analysis using SAS (9.0) was used to access the genetic and non-genetic factors influencing the survival of the kids from birth to yearling age. Similarly Animal model were used for the estimation of genetic parameters and sire ranking based on their breeding value estimates using WOMBAT®. The overall least-squares means for body weight (kg) at birth, at weaning, at six months and at yearling and body weight gain to weaning, weaning to six-months and six months to yearling (grams) were 2.68±0.04, 9.11±0.19, 11.69±0.26, 16.41±0.38, 69.73±1.89, 30.48±1.54 and 24.33±1.21 respectively. Genotype and all the studied non genetic factors affected the body weight and weight gain from birth to yearling age. However, parity of the doe only influenced body weight gain six month to yearling. Weaning weights were not affected by sex of the kids. Yearling weights were not affected by breed and season of birth. Similarly season of birth did not affect six-month weight. The overall conception, kidding and abortion (%) of the does were recorded to be 48.75, 77.05 and 20.49 respectively. Genetic and non-genetic factors influence the studied traits but kidding and abortion percentages were not affected significantly by mating season similarly conception (%) were not affected by mating weight. The overall least-squares means for litter size at birth was (1.40±0.03), at weaning was (0.67±0.03), litter weight (kg) at birth was (3.63±0.07) and at weaning was (10.68±0.28) respectively. The traits were not affected by parity. Similarly litter size at birth and at weaning were not affected by breed of the doe and season of kidding. Litter size at birth was not affected by year of kidding while litter weight at weaning was not affected by type of birth. The overall least squares means for body weight at mating and at kidding (kg) of the does were 26.52±0.40 and 28.04±0.39 respectively. These traits were affected by breed of the does and year of mating year but not by season of mating. The heritability estimates ranged were slightly over estimated due to small sample size. The h2 among the (B and F1) for body weight at birth, at weaning, at six-months and at yearling ages were (0.43±0.28 and 0.73±0.17), (0.78±0.50 and 0.67±0.27), (0.75±0.52 and 0.65±0.27) and (0.23±0.70 and 0.65±0.27). Similarly genetic and phenotypic correlations were also over estimated. Sires were also ranked based on their estimated breeding values for body weight from birth to yearling age among the B and F1. The overall survival (%) of the kids at day 4, 90, 180 and 365 were 73.99, 53.57, 47.98 and 40.27 respectively. The above survivability traits were not influenced by sex and parity. Similarly survival at day 90 and 180 were not affected by genotype. Season of birth also influenced the survivability of the kids at the 4th day (after birth). So from this study we can conclude that the overall growth, reproductive and survivability performances of all the studied genotypes were quit low which indicating their sub-optimal adaptability to the study area. Thus, evaluating the genotypes based on a large sample size reared across different locations under different management is desired to come to a definite conclusion. Similarly as the yearling weight were highly correlated with the weaning and six month weight then we can therefore consider them as indicator traits for yearling weight of the goats. The findings also showed variation across bucks (based on their EBV) for the growth traits.
DETECTION OF VIRULENCES AND EVALUATION OF WHEAT LINES (Triticum spp.) FOR RESISTANT TO STRIPE , LEAF AND STEM RUST (Puccinia spp.) IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH-EAST ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2017) TAMIRAT NEGASH GURE
Wheat rusts caused by Puccinia spp. are among the major biotic constraints of wheat production all over the world, including in Ethiopia. Nowadays different virulent races of stem, yellow and also leaf rust have evolved and threaten wheat production worldwide across all the wheat belt, among which Ethiopia is the most vulnerable. In view of the above facts, the present investigation was carried out to detect the prevailing virulent races, to identify resistance wheat lines and resistance genes to triple rusts in central and south eastern parts of the country. An inventory of 93 wheat lines and checks was made for triple rusts resistance under field conditions of Sinana and Debrezeit. Besides, 409 wheat lines including checks were tested for triple rust resistance at field conditions of Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center in 2015. The experiments were laid out in augmented design. Each plot consisted of two rows of 2-m long with 0.2 m between rows. Leaf, stem and yellow rust severity varied among wheat lines. Wheat lines also varied in their seedling infection types against races and isolates of triple rust in green house. The terminal severity and infection types varied across locations and wheat lines both at field and greenhouse conditions. The terminal severity for yellow rust ranged from 0 to 90S at Sinana and 0 to 40S at Kulumsa field conditions. The terminal severity for stem rust varied from 0 to 90S at Kulumsa and it was as high as 60S on the susceptible cultivar Kekeba at Debrezeit. The terminal severity of leaf rusts varied from 0 to 80S at Debrezeit. Of the 409 wheat lines tested 99.3%, 80.2% and 99. % were resistant to moderately resistant at field conditions of Kulumsa to yellow rust, stem rust and leaf rust, respectively. At Sinana 70.8% and 92.5% of wheat lines tested exhibited resistance to yellow rust and stem rust, respectively, with coefficient of infection ranging from 0 to 30. At Debrezeit 43% and 51% of wheat lines were resistant and moderately resistant to stem and leaf rust, respectively. Wheat lines Sr 50+Sr 45 # 35, Sr 45/Cs #20, Sr 45/Cs #21, Sr 45/Cs #25, Sr 45+Sr 2/Cs #28, Sr 45+Sr 2/Cs #29, Sr 45+Sr 2/Cs# 20, Sr 45+Sr 2/Cs# 33, Sr 45+Sr 2/Cs# 32, Thatcher+Lr 34, Westonia Sr 50+ Sr 26, Westonia Sr 24+ Sr 50 and Pavon Sr 24+ SR 26+Sr 31, were consistently resistant to triple rusts under field conditions across locations. However, the only wheat line resistant to triple rust both at field and seedling tests in green house was Pavon Sr 24+ SR 26+Sr 31, and hence it could be exploited in wheat improvement programs.
THE EFFECT OF PARTIAL SUBSTITUTION OF NOUG SEED CAKE WITH CASSAVA (Manihot escutulata C.) LEAF MEAL ON FEED INTAKE, GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS TRAITS OF ROSS 308 BROILER CHICKENS
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2017) MENGISTU MASEBO LAMBEBO
The effect of dietary inclusion of cassava leaf meal (CLM) on feed intake, growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing Ross 308 chickens was investigated at the poultry farm of the School of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University. The leaves were collected from Hawassa Research center and were sundried and ground to make leaf meal. Five treatment diets were formulated to contain 0% (Treatment 1, T1), 2% (Treatment 2, T2), 4% (Treatment 3, T3), 6% (Treatment 4, T4) and 8% (Treatment 5, T5) of CLM, which was incorporated in the diet as partial substitution of Noug seed cake. After two weeks of brooding, 240 unsexed broiler chicks were weighed and randomly allocated to the dietary treatments with four replicates of 12 chickens each totaling 48 chickens per treatment. The experiment lasted for 6 weeks, during which feed intake and body weight were assessed on daily and weekly basis, respectively. At the end of the experiment, two chickens (male and female) chick per replicate of each treatment whose body weight was nearly similar to those of average of treatment were randomly selected, fastened overnight, weighed and slaughtered for the determination of carcass parameters. The results indicated that the feed intake (g/chicken/day) was 80.9, 80.4, 80.9, 77.0 and 74.0 for chickens fed with T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively being significantly higher for those of T1, T2 and T3 than T4 and T5. The crude fiber intake was (p<0.05) higher for those chickens reared in T1 and T2 diets. Chickens reared in T1, T2 and T3 diets had significantly higher body weight and total weight gain values than those of T4 and T5. No significance difference was observed in body weight between chickens reared in T1, T2 and T3. The body weight and weight gain parameters were significantly higher for those chickens reared in T4 than those of T5. There was no significance difference in feed conversion ratio between treatment diets. Chickens reared in T1 had significantly higher (p< 0.0001) slaughter weight and dressed carcass than those of other treatments. The values for dressing percentage, and drumsticks were (p< 0.0001) higher in chickens reared in T1 and T2 diets than those fed of T4 and T5. Chickens fed on T1, T2 and T3 had significantly higher values for thigh and wing as compared with those reared in other treatments. The interaction effects of sex by treatment was significant for breast, drumstick, back, gizzard and skin while it was insignificant for other carcass components. Male chickens had significantly higher carcass component values than females. The results of the current study revealed that the inclusion of cassava leaf meal up to 4% in broiler diet could be an alternative feeding strategy by partially substituting Noug seed cake
ASSESSMENT OF THE UTILIZATION PRACTICES OF BANANA AND MANGO RESIDUES, AND EFFECT OF ENSILING ON SILAGE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF INDIGENOUS SHEEP GRAZING NATURAL PASTURE IN ARBA MINCH ZURIA DISTRICT OF GAMO GOFA ZONE
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2017) ASKALE DUBALE
The study was conducted to assess the experiences of banana and mango residue utilization, and effect of ensiling banana using mango residues as an additive on silage quality and evaluate the effect of feeding banana residues silage on growth performance of sheep. For the diagnostic survey, 120 households (HH) were selected from four banana and mango producing potential kebeles from which 30 respondents were selected to assess utilization of banana and mango residue for sheep feeding. Open ended structured questionnaire, focused group discussions and secondary data were used to collect the required data. For silage quality evaluation the banana and mango residues were collected from the farm at the time of harvest and banana residue was wilted for 8 hours. Five different silages were prepared using different proportion of mango peel and flesh (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10%) and molasses (10, 7.5, 5, 2.5 and 0%) as an additive to banana wilted psudostem and leaf. The ensiling was done with three replicates in buckets and was ensiled for 21 days. The on-farm feeding trial was undertaken to evaluate the effect of feeding banana silage prepared using mango residues and molasses as an additive on the growth performance of indigenous sheep. Eighteen yearling sheep were assigned to three treatments (T1= Grazing, T2=Ensiled Banana using 10% mango residues as additive, T3 = Ensiled Banana residue using 10% molasses as an additive). The sheep were blocked to six and assigned to HHs in Randomized Complete Block Design, each HH contributing three sheep and within a household the three sheep were randomly allocated to the three treatments. Feed and grazing land shortage followed by shortage of input and disease and parasites are the major constraints hindering sheep production. Income followed by saving/asset are the major reasons for keeping sheep. Sampled households prefer sheep than other livestock species because of the expected immediate return, easy to manage and high market demand. Most of the respondents stated that during the wet season natural pasture was the main source of feed for sheep followed by farm side grazing and feeding on rejected banana. During the dry season crop residue followed by road side grazing were the major sources of feed for sheep. All the samples households (100%) across the four kebeles feed banana residues to sheep in a fresh form. The residues (banana and mango) were fed without any improvement. The physical and chemical assessment of the silage showed that making silage from banana using mango residue or molasses as an additive indicates the suitability of silage making from banana and mango residue with good quality. There was no significant difference in feed dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein intake between T2 and T3. The average daily body weight gain was the higher (P<0.05) for sheep fed T2 and T3 diets compared with those based on grazing. In conclusion, banana residue could be ensiled using mango or molasses as an additive with similar performance of sheep. Therefore, due to the availability of mango residue at farmers’ level, mango residue could be used as an additive to make silage from banana residue
EFFECT OF PARTIAL SUBSTITUTION OF NOUG SEED CAKE WITH STINGING NETTLE (Urtica simensis S.) LEAF MEAL ON EGG QUALITY PARAMETERS OF COMMERCIAL LAYER HENS
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2017) GALAYE GANEBO
The effect of various levels of Stinging nettle leaf meal (SNLM) on the egg production and egg quality of commercial birds was investigated using 150 Isa Brown layer hens. Five iso nitrogenous and iso-caloric layer diets were formulated to contain SNLM at 0% (treatment 1 = T1), 3% (treatment 2 = T2), 6% (treatment 3 = T3), 9% (treatment 4 = T4) and 12% (treatment5=T5) by partially substituting Nuge seed cake. The results indicated that the total and daily feed intake did not differ among hens reared in different treatment diets. The individual final body weight (g) of hens reared in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 was 1786,1804,1804, 1819, 1858, respectively, being significantly higher for T5 than those of other treatments. The average egg weight (g) of hens reared in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 was 45.0, 47.2, 48.9, 53.5 and 55.5, respectively, being significantly different for T4 and T5 as compared with other treatments. The average hen-housed egg production (%) for hens fed with T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 diets was 44.3, 49.5, 59.4, 70.9 and 80.5%, respectively, being significantly different from each other. Similarly, the respective individual daily egg mass output (g) in hens reared in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 diets was 20.0, 23.4, 29.1, 37.9, and 44.7, being (p<0.05) different from each other. The average feed conversation ratio (kg feed/kg egg mass) was 5.20, 4.18, 3.55, 2.83 and 2.40 for hens reared in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively and was lower (p<0.05) for those of T4 and T5. The results further indicated that the experimental diet did not affect most of the external egg qualities at 23 weeks of age. However, at the same age, there was a significant difference between treatments in yolk colour being significantly higher for hens reared in T5 than those of T1 and T2. On the contrary, the Haugh unit was significantly lower in hens raised in T5 diet than those fed on other treatment diets at 23 weeks of age. At the age of 28 weeks, significant differences were observed between treatments for all external egg qualities. Accordingly, hens reared in T3, T4 and T5 diets had significantly higher shell thickness values than those of T1 and T2. However, hens reared in T2 showed better egg shape index as compared to those of T5. Hens reared in T3, T4 and T5 had significantly higher shell thickness values than those of T1 and T2. The yolk index at the age of 28 weeks was significantly higher in hens reared in T5 than that of T1 and T3. At the same age, the HU was significantly higher for hens reared in T2 (79.5) than those of T3 (77.1) and T5 (76.0). In conclusion, the substitution of Noug seed cake with increasing levels of SNLM improved the egg production and egg quality parameters of hens. 9% and 12% substitution of Noug seed cake with SNLM has been thus recommended for better results by reducing the cost of the Noug seed cake for commercial layer hens. Keywords: Stinging nettle leaf; Noug seed cake; Isa Brown layer hens; Egg production; mass; Egg qualities
FARMING SYSTEM AND TRADITIONAL GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: THE CASE OF KOFELE DISTRICT, WESTERN ARSI ZONE, ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2017) HUSSEIN ABDUKU WORKU
This study was conducted in Kofele district, Western Arsi Zone of the Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, with the objective of characterizing the farming system and traditional grassland management practices. The district was stratified in to two by altitude (high altitude and medium altitude). Proportionally four rural kebeles (Germama, Gurmicho, Guchi and Bitacha) from high altitude, and two (Tullo and Abbosa) from medium altitude were purposively selected. From high altitude 93 households (HH) and 57 from medium altitude were selected. Semi-structured questioner, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used to collect qualitative and quantitative data, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression model. The district is characterized as mixed crop-livestock farming system. Average land holding per HH was 2.24 hectares with 1.27 hectares allocated for crop cultivation and 0.92 hectares for natural pasture. The dominant crops grown in the study area were potato, barley, wheat and enset in their order of importance by farm HH. Twenty seven percent of the respondents are using small scale irrigation to cultivate crops on 0.06-0.25 hectare of land. The average livestock holding per HH was 6.15 Tropical Livestock Unit. Natural pasture (56.5%), crop residue (29%), enset byproducts (9.5%), agro-industrial byproducts (2.2%) improved forage (1.1%) and other (1.7%) are among feed resources available in the study area. Feed shortage, low productivity and expansion of epidemic diseases such as anthrax, black quarter and lumpy skin disease have been identified as livestock production constraints in the study area. Private enclosure, wet land drainage and fencing were found to be the traditional method of grassland management. Moreover, the traditional grassland management practice has become weak, contributing to the loss of productivity of grasslands. Land holding size, crop land and forest land (private forest plantation for commercial purpose) significantly influence the grazing land size (p<0.01). As conclusion appropriate land allocation, grassland management practices, like controlled grazing, cut and carry, proper straw conservation and empowering of traditional grassland management strategies should be considered.
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, EGG PRODUCTION AND LINEAR BODY MEASURMENT TRAITS OF LOCAL AND EXOTIC CHICKENS REARED UNDER TRADITIONAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM IN BORICHA WOREDA, SIDAMA ZONE
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2017) SERKALEM ASSEFA
This study was conducted to assess the management practice, egg production potential, quality and linear body measurement traits of three exotic and local chickens reared under traditional production system in Boricha woreda of Sidama zone. For the survey part, a total of 200 households were randomly selected from 4 purposively selected Kebles which were subdivided in midland and lowland agroecologies. Linear body measurement and egg quality traits were assessed from a total of 192 local and 3 exotic chicken breeds (Bovans, Koekoeck and Sasso) drawn from 48 households. About 480 eggs were used for the evaluation of external and internal egg qualities. The results indicated that the average numbers of eggs set for incubation per hen were 11.1 eggs with a hatchability of 60.0%. Average age at first egg was 238, 155, 157 and 174 days for local, Sasso, Bovans and Koekoeck chicken breeds, respectively. The number of eggs per hen per year was 49.1, 134, 117and 138 for local, Sasso, Bovans and Koekoeck, respectively. The Sasso breed reared in the lowland produced the highest egg number followed by Bovans being (p<0.05) different from Koekeock and local chickens. Moreover, the Sasso chicken breeds reared in the lowland agroecology had higher (p<0.05) values in most linear body measurement traits than those of other chicken breeds. Similarly, egg weight and yolk index values of Sasso breeds reared in the lowland was higher (p<0.05) than those of other chicken breeds. Koekoeck and Sasso chicken breeds reared in midland had higher (p<0.05) shape index and shell thickness values than those reared in the lowland. All chicken breeds reared in the lowland agroecology were better (p<0.05) in all external egg quality parameters than those reared in the midland. Yolk colour was higher (p<0.05) only for chickens reared in the lowland agroecology. All internal egg quality traits of Koekoeck chickens reared in the midland were superior to those of lowland agroecology. In conclusion, the Sasso chicken breed was found to be more efficient in most performance traits if it is reared in the lowland agroecology. Koekoeck chicken breed reared in the midland agroecology was superior in most internal egg quality parameters. It is thus recommended to use Sasso chicken breeds in the lowland agroecology while Koekoeck chicken in the midland agroecology for better productivity.
ASSESSMENT OF PRODUCTION AND MARKETING SYSTEMS, AND ON-FARM EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTING THE LEAVES OF Balanites aegyptiaca AND MAIZE GRAIN ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMIC RETURN OF INDIGENOUS GOATS IN GAMOGOFA ZONE
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2017) NIGATU DEJENE DENEKE
The study was conducted in Arbaminch Zuria and Mirab Abaya districts of Gamogofa Zone of SNNPRS of Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were to assess goat production and marketing system, identify and prioritize goat production and marketing constraints and opportunities, and evaluate the effect of supplementing with the leaves of Balanites aegyptiaca and maize grain on growth performance & economic return of indigenous goats in the study area. The study involved 2 parts. The survey part of the study assessed goat production and marketing system using cross sectional survey, focus group discussion and key informants interview. A total of 120 representative households (2 districts x 2 Agro ecology x 2 PA x 15 households) were selected for the study following multi-stage stratified sampling, the action research part evaluated growth performance and economic return of indigenous bucks supplemented with maize grain and leaves of Balanites aegyptiaca . Thus, 20 intact 8-10 month age indigenous bucks with an average initial body weight of 16.13±0.3kg (Mean± SE) were drawn from volunteer goat producers. The bucks were blocked into five blocks/farmers of four bucks based on initial BW and randomly assigned to one of the four treatment feeds within a block/farmer allowing five bucks per treatment feeds. Dietary treatments consisted of feeding natural grass hay ad libitum supplemented with 50g wheat bran (T1); feeding natural grass hay ad libitum supplemented with mixtures of 50g wheat bran and 200g cracked maize grain (T2); feeding natural grass hay ad libitum supplemented with mixtures of 50g wheat bran and 200g dried leaves of Balanites aegyptiaca (T3), and feeding natural grass hay ad libitum supplemented with 50g wheat bran, and mixture of 200g of dried leaves of Balanites aegyptiaca and cracked maize grain at 1:1 ratio (T4).The experiment was laid down using randomized complete block design. According to the respondents, income generation was the primary reason for keeping goats with the highest index values of 0.277 followed by saving, use of manure, as social capital and meat consumption with an index values of 0.269, 0.177, 0.163 and 0.114, respectively. Road side browsing ranked as the first source of feed for goats according to the average rank results from interviewed households with the highest index value of 0.246 and followed by Communal and private browsing lands with an index values of 0.229 and 0.227, respectively. Among the available water sources, rivers contribute the highest 40% of the water required for goats. Disease and parasites were the major constrains for the sector and caused higher 13.2%, 13.6%, 14.7% and 13.3% death of unweaned male kids, unweaned female kids, weaned male kids and weaned female kids, respectively in Arbaminch Zuria district from the studied areas 12 months before the start of this study. Male and female goats achieve AFS at 9.4 and 7.9 months and also fertile at ages below 54.6 and 95.5 months respectively. AFK, KI, LS, weaning age of kids and lifetime kid productions were 13.9, 7.8, 1.24, 4.1 months and 14.5 respectively. Brokers are the major marketing constraint and about 95% and 31.7% of the midland and lowland respondents, respectively reported that they sales their goats by eye ball price estimation. The action research showed that supplementing goats with maize grain and Balanites aegyptiaca (T2-T4) improved ADG (48.7, 48.9 and 66.8g/day for T2, T3 and T4, respectively) compared to the control (33.2g/day). However, among the supplemented groups, bucks fed on T4 gained superior ADG than bucks fed on T2 and T3 diets. Moreover, partial budget analysis confirmed that T4 was more profitable compared to other supplementary treatments. Therefore, it is concluded that supplementing growing bucks with T4 could be recommended for smallholder goat fatteners.
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS AND THEIR ADAPTATION MECHANISMS: THE CASE OF ADAMI TULU JIDO KOMBOLCHA DISTRICT, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University college of Agriculture, 2018) ABDISSA HATEW
Climate change is a major challenge for agriculture, food security and rural livelihoods for many of people in the area. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of climate change on the livelihood of smallholder farmers and theirs adaptation mechanisms. The study was conducted in four rural kebeles of Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha of Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Both primary and secondary data were collected and analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative (descriptive statistics and binary logit model) methods of data analysis. Primary data were collected from a randomly selected 200 sample households through interview and focus group discussion. Relevant secondary data were also obtained from National Meteorological Agency (NMA), other governmental offices, and the internet. The results obtained from the analysis of three decades meteorological data and the respondents’ perception on local climate change indicate an overall increase in temperature and high variability in belg and kiremt rainfalls. Local people perceived climate change induced hazards as increasing in terms of the occurrences of frequent drought, extreme heat, livestock disease and crop yield reduction. The findings also reveal that some elements of climate (temperature and rainfall) show annual and seasonal variability with slightly increasing trend. It is found that higher temperature and decreasing precipitation levels caused by climate change depresses crop yields and livestock production. The findings indicate that climate change has led to changing the planting time, declined crop yield and decreasing livestock production. The results of binary logit model analysis identified that age, sex, education level, TLU, number of oxen, farm size, off farm activities, distance to Farmers’ Training Centre and distance to market are the major determinants of households livelihoods as a measure of farmers food security. Changing planting date, implementing soil and water conservation techniques, use of improved crop varieties, use of irrigation and growing drought tolerant crops are the major adaptation mechanism employed by the farmers to adapt to climate change in the study area. In livestock production, farmers are found to decrease livestock numbers by selling the older ones, diversify livestock holdings and practice transhumance. Lack of awareness, shortage of money, poor information, shortage of land, lack or low access to irrigation, poor access to market, no or low access to credit, low access to agricultural inputs and low access to extension service as most important barriers to adaptation.
PERCEPTIONS OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS ON POTENTIAL ROLES OF CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE FOR FOOD SECURITY AND CLIMATE CHNGE ADADPTATION IN LOKA ABAYA DISTRICT, SIDAMA ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University college of Agriculture, 2018) YOHANNES BATISO
The study assessed the Perceptions of smallholder farmers on the potential roles of conservation agriculture (CA) for food security and adaptation to climate change. A combination of multi stage purposive and simple random sampling techniques was employed to get a total of 144 sample respondents’. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data were collected by interviewing 144 smallholder household heads, focus group discussions which had total of 10 focus groups with 2 focus group in each Kebeles having 6 household head members in each group, and 32 key informants, which included 10 DAs, 20 elders and 2 officials from district. The secondary data were collected from National Metrological Agency of Ethiopia for 30 years. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistics like mean, standard deviation, maximum, minimum, percentage, Chi-square and independent T-test to identify variables that vary significantly between groups and Econometrics such as binary logistic regression model and multiple linear regressions by SPSS version 20. To assess the contribution of CA on food security among smallholder households, the study compared estimated production function between adopters and non- adopters of CA by using Cob-Douglas production function. Secondly, the study used descriptive statistics to assess the roles of CA on climate change adaptation and finally, a binary logistic regression model was used to determine factors that affected the adoption of CA among smallholder farmers. The results showed significant difference in the number of years of schooling, availability of CA training, and access to extension services, soil fertility status, and availability of CA incentives among interviewed households. The results revealed that adoption of CA technology improved household’s maize productivity by 45% than those who practiced non-CA. Cobb-Douglas production estimates showed that CA adopters had more than 45% higher maize productivity than that of non-adopters. In addition, there were greater than proportionate unit increases in maize yield with unit increase in land size and labor among CA adopters. According to the reports of respondents, CA enhanced adaptation capacity to the impacts of climate change for adopter than non adopters by increasing soil fertility, reducing production costs (cost of labor and chemical fertilizer) by 94.5%, reducing soil erosion by 80.6%, enhancing soil moisture saving capacity by97.2%, increasing yield and improving crop resilience to the impacts of climate change by 75% in the study area. From the binary logistic regression model results, access to CA training, increase in the number of extension visits, availability of CA incentives, increase in soil fertility increased the adoption of CA technology by 86.98%, 24.8%, 21.1% and 7.0% respectively. The study recommends that there should be improvement in the access to informal elder education, informal training and field demonstration to improve and enhance the acquisition and understanding of CA technology components. Furthermore, adopter households who had better extension service have 45% greater maize yield, 90.3% of them have year round available food stock and 80.6% of them feed themselves three to four times per a day compared to non adopters households and this also helped them to adapt to climate change, to be food secured, and for this reason, there should be increase in good extension services in the promotion and dissemination of CA technology. This can be achieved by increasing number of extension workers operating in the areas and increase number of demonstrations when introducing CA technology to farmers.
THE DYNAMICS OF LAND USE MANAGEMENT ON CARBON SEQUESTRATION, SOIL PROPERTIES AND VEGETATION ATTRIBUTES IN BORANA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2018) KENEA FEYISA JIRATA
The Borana rangelands of southern Ethiopia have been extensively used as grazing lands by pastoralists for millennia.However, there has been a dramatic shift from prime grazingland to cultivation, left unused because of bush encroachment, and highly degraded leading to different land use/land cover types in the region. Therefore, this thesis work was designed to study the dynamics of land use management on carbon sequestration, soil properties and vegetation attributes by considering the roles played by enclosure management, different land use systems, the aboveground biomass of woody species, and long-term ban of prescribed range fire. This study was conducted in Yabello district of Borana, southern Ethiopia during the period from June-August 2013. A paired-site design approach was used in this study, where sampling plots (30 m x 30m each) with nested’ subplots for field data collection on soil and vegetation layers were establishedin a systematic random sampling techniquealomga 500 m long transect line in each adjacent experimental site.Using enclosures versus the adjacent open-grazed as control, our results showed that the SOC and TN contents and stocks increased in enclosures as compared to the adjacent open-grazed rangelands, although the differences were not significant (P > 0.05) and varied along the age sequence and soil depths.Overall, totalmean SOC stocks of 39.6 ± 3.5 Mg ha−1 in the younger (< 20 years old), 40.8 ± 3.4 Mg ha −1 in the medium (20–30 years old ) and and 51.0 ± 4.4 Mg ha −1 in older (> 30 years old) enclosures age categories, whereas in the adjacent open-grazed areas the values ranged from 34.4 ± 2.5 to 47.9 ± 5.1 Mg ha−1in 0-30 cm. The herbaceous biomass was significantly (P<0.05) higher inside enclosures (115.4 gm m-2) than that of the adjacent open-grazed rangeland areas (43.6 gm m -2).The study in this thesis showed that the Borana rangelands had undergone substantial changes in land use/land cover during the last 37 years. Our results also showed that mean SOC stocks (0-30 cm) in woodland was 55.94±3.41 Mg ha-1,while for enclosure, grazing xvii and cultivated lands the values were 50.03±3.03, 45.79±4.00 and 38.10±2.39 Mg ha -1 , respectively. Additionally, woodland had the highest (7.52±0.43 Mg ha-1), while cultivated land had the lowest (5.58±0.35 Mg ha-1) total nitrogen stock. The potential changes of SOC and TN stocks also showed both gain and loss based on the present measurements and historical land use change. The developed species specific and mixed species allometric equation models for majorities of the investigated woody species ithat related the total above-ground, stem and branches biomass components well fit to the measured dendrometric variablesas as indicated by their adjusted coefficient of determinations and highly significant (adj.R² > 0.80; P < 0.001). The study on long-term of ban of fire on carbon stocks in soil and woody biomass, and TN stock across the two landscape site showe that relatively higher SOC and TN contents and stocks as well as herbaceous biomass carbon in burned than unburned areas, whereas more accumulation of woody biomass carbon was recorded in the unburned sites (40 years of fire exclusion).Overall, this study will contribute to the existing knowledge gaps in terms of the potential of SOC and TN stocks related to different rangeland management practices as well as anestimate of the above-ground woody biomass in arid and semi-arid ecosystems of southern Ethiopia. However, it is suggested further study including other variables such as climatic factors, seasonality and inherent soil properties across wider landscapes, which may have confounding effects on the dynamics of carbon sequestration other than land management practices for the sustainable use of the savanna rangelands of southern Ethiopia.
PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION AND OESTRUS SYNCHRONIZATION OF INDIGENOUS GOATS FOR IMPROVED REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY IN MIRAB-ABAYA AND ARBAMINCH-ZURIA DISTRICTS OF GAMO-GOFA ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
(Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2018) DEREJE DEA
The present study was designed with the objectives of describing the goat production systems, morphological features and evaluate oestrus synchronization of indigenous goats in Arba-Minch-Zuria and Mirab-Abaya districts of Gamo-Gofa zone. A total of 120 HHs were interviewed for goat production survey while 615 goats (151 males and 464 females) were used for morphological measurements and 60 does for oestrus synchronization from the two districts. The results confirmed that goats ranked 2nd after cattle and were primarily produced for generating income and saving purposes in the study areas. The major mating system was uncontrolled (80.83%). Goat castration (65.83%) and culling (93.33%) were common goat breeding practices whereas kid weaning was not well practiced. Body size, pedigree and prolificacy were the magnificent selection criteria for breeding does whereas color incorporated for bucks. Communal browsing areas were the main goat feed sources in which January through March months were commonly known for the feed shortage. Male goats have higher off-take rate at early age (94.17%) to the market than females (82.50%). Feed shortage (30.37%) followed by labor limitation (23.33%) and land shortage (15.56%) were the major goat production challenges identified. In morphological measurements, the predominant coat color pattern was plain for male (63.82%) and (70.02%) for females. Brown coat color for males (32.24%) and (34.05%) for females was possessed predominantly. Horned goats were (86.84% for males and 94.55% for females), toggle (14.47% for males and 9.85% for females), bearded (53.29% for males and 22.06% for females. The prominent horn shape was straight (93.13% for males and 93.11% for females). About 61.83% of male and 78.95% of female goats were characterized by possessing obliquely upward horn orientation. Except Body length, males possessed higher values for Body weight, Rump lenght, Head width and Horn length than females (P<0.05). Goats in Arbaminch-Zuriya district possessed significantly (P<0.05) higher values on BW, BL, CG, RW, HeW and SC than in Mirab Abaya district. In males, positive and strong association were depicted between BW and BL (r=0.68), WH (r=0.62), CG (r=0.61) and HoL (r=0.63). In case of females, positive and moderate associations were observed between BW and CG (r=0.38), RW(r=0.37) and HeL (r=0.31). CG was a single importance variable in the prediction of body weight in females where as BL in males (P<0.05). Regarding to the oestrus synchronization, about 85% of the does expressed oestrus within 55.68±19.92 hours after hormone administration where as the overall conception rate was 81.67%. Doe body weight, body condition, parity and age have significantly affected (P<0.05) oestrous response and conception rate where as location has not significantly (P>0.05) affected. Morphological traits’ variations suggest that this goat ecotype has not yet been selected through structured selective breeding. While conducting oestrus synchronization on goat, considering body weight, BCS, parity and age factors was better to reflect higher conception rate.