International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences

A field experiment was conducted in three consecutive seasons (2014, 2015 and 2016) in Mehoni Agricultural Research Centre, Raya valley, to investigate with the objective of maximize crop productivity of rain fed agriculture, to determine the effect of supplementary irrigation on crop yield, to determine crop water requirement and to determine water use efficiency. The experiment was laid out in a random complete block design (RCBD) consisting of seven levels of irrigation treatment (full or 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% etc, one supplementary irrigation (SI) at flowering stage (FS), one SI at fruiting stage (FRS), two SI at flowering and fruiting stage (FRS&FR) and a control treatment (Rain fed agriculture) with three replications. Data were analyzed for variance and LSD at 5% level of significance. The result showed significant response on plant height, panicle length, grain and biomass yield and crop water use efficiency shown significant difference. Longer days to maturity, highest plant height and ear length was recorded when 100% ETc irrigation level applied and earlier day to maturity, smallest plant height and panicle length were recorded with non supplementary irrigation (rain fed). The highest grain yield was obtained from full supplementary irrigation (4620kg/ha) with lower CWUE, whereas the lowest grain yield recorded from the rain fed (3691kg/ha) with higher CWUE. The experiment showed that supplementary irrigation offers a great potential for improving crop production in Raya valley.

Keywords: Crop water use efficiency, Irrigation, Rain fed, Sorghum, Supplemental irrigation

The yield of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) and other crops is often constrained by soil water deficits in semiarid areas of Ethiopia. Study on integrated cropping and moisture-harvesting system was investigated at Raya Azobo (Genete and Tsgea) and Raya Alamata (Tao and Garjale) districts of Tigray, Ethiopia in 2016 and 2017 cropping season both on station and on farmers field in conservation farming field experiments. Included treatments were; Sole Sorghum with and without fertilizer on conventional tillage, Basin with and without fertilizer, Basin + farmyard manure, Basin + fertilizer + farmyard manure, Basin + cowpea intercropping with and without fertilizer and, Sole cow pea on conventional plot. Significantly Higher grain yield of 4.61 t ha-1 (+61.4% over the conventional) with optimum economic gain and 4.01 t ha-1 (+43.7 % over the conventional) were obtained from planting basin with fertilizer and planting basin with farmyard manure respectively in the researcher managed plots at Raya Alamata. Mean grain yield of 3.57 t ha-1 were also obtained from basin conservation tillage supported with fertilizer from the farmers managed plots, while the lowest mean grain yield of 2.98 t ha-1 was obtained from the conventional plots. The respondents of participating and non-participating farmers have also selected planting with fertilizer, farmyard manure or integrated of farmyard and fertilizer 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Keywords: Conservation farming, Sorghum, Planting basin, Mulch

The progress made to improved bread wheat varieties through breeding in Ethiopia has not been assessed so far. Therefore, in this study conducted on genetic gain in grain yield and yield related characters of 49 bread wheat varieties developed by the wheat Research program from 1967 to 2016. The objectives were to assess changes in the grain yield of bread wheat brought about by the breeding program and provides valuable information for further improvements in grain yield. An experiment was undertaken at two locations viz; Holetta and Kulumsa Agricultural research center in Ethiopia in 2016/17 cropping season. The varieties were evaluated in the simple lattice design with 2 replications. Data on yield and yield component were collected and analyzed using SAS version 9.3 Software. Results revealed that the combined analysis of variance over the two locations highly significant (P≤0.01) variations among the genotypes in all studied traits except number of fertile tiller. Based on the regression analysis, the estimated average annual rate of gain in grain yield potential was 23.04 kg ha-1year-1 with an annual relative genetic change of 1.03% year-1. The overall increase in grain yield over local variety Lakech was estimated to be 1289.23 kg ha-1 (57.42%). The result of this study confirmed that bread wheat breeder has made considerable efforts for the last 49 years. Further study needs to be conducted the future bread wheat breeding effort should be focus on varietal development with further assessment of genetic gain in other bread wheat attributes.

Keywords: Bread wheat, Relative genetic gain, Holetta, Yield Improvement

The present investigation was carried out to study the correlation and path coefficient analysis in 93 coffee (Coffea arabica L.) accessions, which were collected from Bench-maji and Sheka zones, southwestern Ethiopia. Data on eight organoleptic quality traits were recorded by well experienced and trained coffee tasters. Character association of the quality attributing traits revealed overall standard of coffee quality exhibited positive and significant correlation with flavor, aromatic quality, aromatic intensity, acidity, astringency, bitterness and body. Hence, selection for these traits can improve overall standard of coffee quality. Besides, path coefficient analysis showed that flavor, body, acidity, aromatic quality and bitterness exhibited positive direct effect on overall standard of coffee quality. Among these characters, flavor possessed both positive and highly significant association and high direct effects. Hence, selection for this character could bring improvement in overall standard of coffee quality.

Keywords: Coffea Arabica, Organoleptic, Correlation, Path coefficient analysis, Flavor

Small-scale farmers can’t afford for commercial fertilizers, instead, they depend on rotating legume crops to provide nitrogen (N) for a subsequent cereal crops. Hence, on farm experiment was conducted to determine the supplementary nitrogen requirement of teff grown after chickpea at Tahtay koraro district. Six N levels (0, 11.5, 23, 34.5, 46, and 69 kg N ha-1) were imposed on the plots under chickpea-teff rotation and one control treatment (0 kg N ha-1) on plots under continuous teff cropping was also used to compare both rotations; laid in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Phosphorus, sulfur, and potassium fertilizers were also applied in basal for all plots at sowing. The soil samples collected from the 0-20 cm depth after chickpea and teff indicated that nitrogen status was medium and low, respectively. Teff grown after chickpea significantly responded to the different N rates and highest mean teff grain yield (13.06 q ha-1) was obtained in response to application of 34.5 kg N ha-1. However, the economic analysis showed that highest return (816%) was obtained in response to 23 kg N ha-1 rate. In conclusion, the contribution of chickpea to soil nitrogen was not enough to satisfy the succeeding teff N demand. However, more than half of the blanket recommended nitrogen fertilizer (64 kg N ha-1) for teff can be reduced without any reduction in grain yield by practicing chickpea-teff rotation system. Hence, supplementation with 23 kg N ha-1 mineral fertilizer is necessary to fulfill the teff N requirement and attain optimum yield. Furthermore, legume-cereal rotation cropping reduces dependence on expensive chemical fertilizer inputs whereby protects the environment, human health and agricultural sustainability.

Keywords: Cereal-legume rotation, Chickpea, Fertilizer, Grain yield, Teff

Nineteen bread wheat genotypes were growing in six environments to quantify the magnitude of genotype by environment interaction and phenotypic stability by imposing the Eberhart and Russell (1966) model. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replicates. The combined analysis of variance showed significant genotype, environment and genotype by environment interaction. The total sum of square explained by the environment was eleven times greater than the genotypic main effect and five times greater than the genotype by environment interaction effect implying the higher variability of the testing environments. The genotype ETBW7867, ETBW7881 and Mekelle-4 was significant at the 1% against the Pooled deviation. The genotypes ETBW6969, ETBW7862, ETBW7867, ETBW-7879, ETBW7881and ETBW7888 were with mean grain yield greater than the grand mean which is 4.07ton/ha. Using the Stability analysis by Eberhart and Russel ETBW7888, ETBW7879, ETBW7082 and ETBW7042 was stable and adaptable genotypes with higher mean grain yield, a regression coefficient near to 1 and minimum deviation from the regression coefficient near to zero. The standard check Meklle-4, ETBW-7867 and ETBW-7881 was unstable genotypes with relatively higher deviation from the regression coefficient.

Keywords: Bread wheat, Stability, Grain yield

In any crop improvement program the presence of genetic divergence and studying the association of phenotypic traits is important for hybridization and indirect selection. A trial was executed using twenty durum wheat genotypes with the objective of studying trait association and the genetic divergence in durum wheat genotypes using different multivariate methods. The experiment was replicated four times and laid out in a complete randomized block design. The durum wheat genotypes were evaluated for days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, spike length, number of seeds per spike, thousand seed weight and grain yield. The inter cluster distance of the twenty durum wheat genotypes range from 0.57536 in cluster one to 212.02335 in cluster four. The maximum inter cluster distance was between cluster two and cluster four which was 212.0233. The clustering analysis classified the twenty durum wheat genotypes in to four distinct clusters and the first cluster accommodates 15 durum genotypes including the two release genotypes. The second cluster consists of three durum wheat genotypes. The third and fourth clusters similarly contained each one durum wheat genotype. All the traits had a wide range of agro-morphological variation except spike length. The seven traits were explained by the four factors capturing 85% of the variability in the data set. The first factor explained 30.89% of the variability and the traits maturity date and heading date was with higher positive coefficient greater than 0.5 and Eigen value 2.16. The second factor explained 22.46% variance in the data set with Eigen value1.57 and plant height ,grain yield and thousand seed weight where related in this factor and indirect selection using plant height and thousand seed weight could be effective in selecting for higher yielder durum wheat genotype.

Keywords: Genetic divergence, Factor analysis, Durum wheat, Cluster analysis

The trial was conducted in 2014 in Sirinka Agricultural Research Center feeding trial barn. Twenty five yearling male intact local sheep were used for the experiment in a 90 day trial to evaluate the effect of pigeon pea dried leaves on feed intake and live weight change. The five treatments were (T1) Teff straw + 220g wheat bran+ 211g noug seed cake(Control); (T2) Teff straw + 110g wheat bran + 158g noug seed cake + 199 pigeon pea; (T3) Teff straw + 110g wheat bran + 105g noug seed cake + 294 pigeon pea; (T4) Teff straw + 110g Wheat bran + 53g noug seed cake + 389 pigeon pea; and (T5) Teff straw + 588 pigeon pea in dry matter basis. Pigeon pea leaves were harvested from trial site of forage research unit of the center. The forage was harvested at about 50% flowering and 1m height, sun dried and stored for the feeding trial. The NDF and CP contents of Nouge seed cake were higher than the pigeon pea leaves and wheat bran feeds (Table 1). However, pigeon pea leaves had the highest ash content compared to the other feeds. The NDF, ADF, and ADL contents of the teff straw were higher than the contents of pigeon pea leaves and concentrate feed, where as CP content of the teff straw was the lowest. The nouge seed cake had the lowest ADL content than the other three feeds. There was significant difference (P<0.05) between pigeon pea supplemented and control group in total feed intakes. The average daily body weight gain for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 was 35.33, 49.33, 52.22, 54.67 and 32.22 g/day, respectively. However, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in daily body weight change parameters among treatments. Pigeon pea leaves hay can be used as an alternative home grown supplement feed (protein source) in sheep feeding. Supplementing of pigeon pea hay up to 389gm per day for growing rams should improve body weight gain without any adverse effect on the performance of sheep.

Keywords: Sheep, Intake, Pigeon pea, Body weight gain

Three diets consisting of 25% protein and 8.62% lipids for the R1 diet, 30% protein and 8.31% lipids for the R2, 35% protein and 8.62% lipids are tested to determine the growth performance and survival, feed efficiency and flesh composition. These compound feeds were made from fishmeal, agricultural by-products and spirulina at 0%, 17%, and 32%. A total of 60 red tilapia fry with a mean initial weight of 0.6 g were distributed in an isolated system consisting of 6 plastic bins of 80 liters with a density of 10 fish per tray. After 8 weeks, the results showed that the final average weights varied between 1.41g and 3.29g depending on the treatments. Absolute average weight gain, relative weight gain, specific growth rate, daily individual growth, feed conversion rate, and protein efficiency ratio were obtained in the 35% R3 protein diet. 32% of spirulina in their diet. The best survival rate was recorded in the R1 diet without spirulina in the diet. The protein content of the flesh is higher in fish fed different regimes R1 (59.77), R2 (60.24), R3 (60.77) than in the initial fish R0 (48.64). For fat content, the initial fish recorded the highest rate (33.83) compared to fish fed R1, R2, R3 respectively 26.54; 23.36; 24.79. Dry matter content increased slightly in experimental regimes R2 (96.55), R3 (96.50), except for diet R1 (94.93), which recorded a lower rate than initial fish (95.37).

Keywords: Growth, Food, Spirulina tilapia, Rate, Diet

Tef is an indigenous and major staple cereal crop in Ethiopia. It adapts to a wide range of agro-ecological conditions. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to select high yielding genotype for future improvement program under irrigation condition. A total of forty- nine tef genotypes including two released varieties as standard check were evaluated in simple lattice design with two replications on research station of Mehoni Agricultural Research Center, Southern Tigray under irrigation condition of 2016 and 2017. From the combined analysis of the two consecutive years, genotypes by year interaction showed highly significant difference for days to heading, plant height and grain yield as well as highly significant differences were observed among tef genotypes for panicle length and grain yield and significant difference for days to heading, days to maturity and shoot biomass. The highest shoot biomass were recorded at the two genotypes DZ-Cr-387XGA-10-3(RIL-217) (14.25 t ha-1), and GA-10-3XKaymurri (RIL-186) (14.250 t ha-1). The highest grain yield was obtained at genotype Kaymurrix3774-13(RIL-72) (3.40 t ha-1), GA-10-3XKaymurri (RIL-248) (3.34 t ha-1), and GA-10 3XKaymurri (RIL-186) (3.32 t ha-1). Therefore, it can be recommended to use Kaymurrix3774-13(RIL-72), GA-10-3XKaymurri (RIL-248) and GA-10 3XKaymurri (RIL-186) genotypes for tef improvement by breeders in the study area under irrigation.

Keywords: Eragrostis tef, Genotype, Screening, Year