College of Agriculture

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://etd.hu.edu.et/handle/123456789/40

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.

News

Latest research publications, theses, and academic resources from the College of Agriculture are now available.

Browse

Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.growth

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    GROWTH, YIELD, QUALITY , AND ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF NITROGEN AND VERMICOMPOST INTEGRATION IN THREE TOMATO (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. ) VARIETIES
    (Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2025) BEYENE BEKELE
    Tomato is a major vegetable crop of high nutritional and economic value, yet its productivity in Ethiopia remains low mainly because growers apply nitrogen and VC inefficiently under declining soil fertility. Integration of vermicompost and mineral nitrogen enhanced soil health (higher organic matter and microbial activity), increased agronomic N use efficiency, improved fruit quality attributes and produced greater marketable yield and economic return. This study evaluated the effects of combined mineral nitrogen (N) and vermicompost (VC) fertilization on the growth, yield, fruit quality, and economic performance of three tomato varieties (GALILEA 39, NUN TOP, and ALBATROS) at Shallo Farm during the 2016 E.C. cropping season. Treatments consisted of three nitrogen rates (0, 175, and 350 kg N ha⁻¹) and three vermicompost levels (0, 5, and 7 t ha⁻¹) arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected on phenology, growth, yield, and fruit quality parameters, while economic feasibility was assessed using partial budget analysis. The collected data were analyzed using ANOVA under the GLM procedure in SAS 9.4, and assumptions were verified by checking normality and variance homogeneity through diagnostic plots; percentage variables were normalized using the arcsine square-root transformation. Results revealed that variety, nitrogen, and vermicompost rates, as well as their interactions, significantly influenced most growth, yield, and quality traits. GALILEA 39 recorded the highest fruit set (78.26%) and total yield (14.02 t ha⁻¹) under 350 kg N ha⁻¹ + 5 t VC ha⁻¹. Nitrogen enhanced vegetative growth and fruit size, while vermicompost improved soil fertility, flower retention, and fruit development. Physical fruit quality improved with N and VC increased fruit length and fruit shape index, vermicompost increased fruit width, and the N × VC interaction produced the thickest pericarps, indicating greater firmness and better postharvest life . Chemical quality responded positively to integrated fertilization: moderate to high N rates and both VC levels raised TSS and SAR, whereas TA increased relative to the unfertilized control but plateaued beyond 175 kg N ha⁻¹, producing a net improvement in taste and processing quality. Partial budget analysis showed that the combination of 175 kg N ha⁻¹ and 7 t ha⁻¹ vermicompost generated the highest net field benefit (476,937.36 Birr) and marginal rate of return (2521.48%) for GALILEA 39, while NUN TOP achieved the greatest profitability (MRR = 5621.85%) under the same combination. For ALBATROS, 350 kg N ha⁻¹ with 5 t VC ha⁻¹ was most economical (MRR = 5210.50%). Therefore, under the agro-ecological conditions of Bishan Guracha, applying 175 kg N ha⁻¹ with 7 t ha⁻¹ vermicompost is recommended for GALILEA 39 and NUN TOP, while 350 kg N ha⁻¹ with 5 t ha⁻¹ vermicompost is optimal for ALBATROS. . Future studies should refine nitrogen–vermicompost ratios across soil types and assess long-term effects on soil health, productivity, and sustainability.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    GROWTH, NODULATION AND YIELD RESPONSE OF COWPEA [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] VARIETIES TO BRADYRHIZOBIUM INOCULATION IN DALE AND HAWASSA, SIDAMA REGION, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
    (Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2023) LEMLEM YOHANNES GEZAHEGN
    Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] is an important legume crop grown widely in lowland areas of Ethiopia. However, its yield remains low due to the lack of improved varieties and soil fertility decline. Therefore, the current study was conducted to evaluate the growth, nodulation, and yield response of cowpea varieties to Bradyrhizobium inoculation in Dale and Hawassa, Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia during the 2022 main cropping season. The treatment combination consisting of four cowpea varieties (Bole, TVU, White Wonder Trailing, and Keti), with two levels of Bradyrhizobium inoculation (non-inoculated and inoculated with the strain: MBI-cowpea) was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design in a factorial arrangement with three replications. The size of each experimental plot was 2 m in length x 4. 2 m in width with inter and intrarow spacing of 0.6 and 0.2 m respectively, as well as 1 and 1.5 m between two adjacent plots and replications, respectively. The representative soil samples were randomly taken from the experimental sites from 20 different spots at a depth of 0–20 cm and analyzed the soil texture, soil pH, total N, organic carbon, available P, and cation exchange capacity at Hawassa university soil science laboratory. Phenology, growth, nodulation and yield related parameter data’s were collected and subjected to ANOVA using SAS software version 9.0. The economic analysis was carried out using partial budget procedure. The results revealed that the day to 50% flowering, day to 90% physiological maturity, nodule fresh and dry weight, plant height, number of primary branches, fresh and dry shoot weight, root fresh weight, number of pods plant-1 , number of seeds pod-1 , hundred seed weight, and grain yield were significantly influenced by the main effect of varieties and Bradyrhizobium inoculation. However, days to 50% emergence and harvest index were significantly affected only by varieties. The nodule number, effective nodule, leaf area, leaf area index, root dry weight, root length, above ground biomass, and straw yield were significantly influenced by the interaction effect of varieties and Bradyrhizobium inoculation. Grain yield was positively and strongly correlated with nodule number, nodule dry weight, plant height, leaf area, shoot and root dry weight, number of pods plant-1 , pod length, number of seeds pod-1 , above ground biomass, and straw yield. The results showed that the White Wonder Trailing variety with Bradyrhizobium strain MBI-cowpea produced the highest grain yield (3.5 t ha-1 ), with a net benefit of 67171.3 ETB ha-1 and a marginal rate of return of 1386.7%. Therefore, this combination could be recommended to increase the grain yield of cowpea and economic profit earned in the study areas, and areas having similar agroecologies. However, this experiment was conducted in a single season, a lower number of varieties and two levels of Bradyrhizobium strain, repeating over multiple seasons, using a large number of cowpea varieties, and more Bradyrhizobium strains will be demanding to come up with a plausible recommendation.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    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.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    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.