International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences

The study was undertaken on 8 genotypes of cowpea using a randomized block design with three replications were evaluated for their morphological and agronomical differences at the southern lowlands of Tigray during 2016 cropping season. Plot size was 3 x 2m with an inter-row spacing of 40 and 1m paths. Plant height, number of branches per plant, leaf to stem ratio and dry matter yield were collected and analyzed using the R software version 3.3.3, and the least significance difference was used for mean comparison. The genotypes found to be varied in morphological and agronomical parameters. Except the number of branches per plant and leaf to stem ratio, the cowpea genotypes were significantly different in morphological and agronomical parameters (p<0.05). For number of branches per plant, maximum was recorded in genotype 9334 (7.73) followed by Temesgen (7.06) at Tumuga site, whereas minimum was recorded in 12713 (6.06) at Kara site. In case of stand vigourisity, maximum was recorded in 12713 and Temesgen (4.33 in each) at Kara and Tumuga site respectively, and the minimum was recorded 9333 (2.00) at Wargba site. Among these 8 types maximum plant height was recorded in genotype Black eyed (88.40 cm) at the Tumuga site whereas minimum plant height was recorded in genotype 9334 (42.66 cm) at Wargba site. Among the cowpea genotypes evaluated in the study, Temesgen and 11110 gave significant dry matter yield that was higher by 39.87% and 40.69%, respectively compared to the lowest dry matter yielding genotype (9333). Generally, cowpea genotypes had a great variation in morphological and agronomical parameters. The highest yielding variety should be demonstrated for future use.

Keywords: Agronomic, Cowpea, Genotype, Flowers, location

Inadequate amount and erratic distribution of the seasonal rainfall brought about recurrent droughts in most coffee growing regions of Ethiopia.As a mitigation strategy, 24 Arabica coffee genotypes have previously been evaluated for drought tolerance based on visual assessment and grouped in to three categories, as sensitive, moderately sensitive and relatively tolerant. This experiment was, therefore, conducted to identify some morphological mechanisms associated with drought tolerance in 12 genotypes (F-59, 75227, Geisha, 7487, 74110xF-59, 741, J-21, 741xF-59, 74158, 74110, 74112 and 8/85) selected from the three categories. It was carried out in randomized complete block design with three replications in a rain shelter at Jimma Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia, using 14 months old plants of each genotype subjected to two watering treatments (well-watered control and soil drying by withholding irrigation) for 21 days. Results of the experiment showed that mean leaf elongation (LER) rate, total leaf area (TLA), specific leaf area (SLA), root volume (RV) and total dry matter (TDM) yield and its partitioning among plant parts were significantly affected by soil drying and varied with cultivar. Some of the cultivars, such as Geisha, 74110 and 8/85 exhibited significantly higher rate of recovery from water deficit stress, probably because of higher root:shoot ratio and RV, maintenance of lower TLA and decreased SLA or increased leaf thickness in response to the soil drying treatment. Therefore, it was concluded that morphological parameters such as TLA, SLA, RV, root:shoot ratio and rate of recovery should be considered, in addition to visual assessment and stress scoring, during screening coffee genotypes for drought tolerance.

Keywords: Leaf and root growth, Recovery rate, Soil drying

Crop and livestock production are the major elements in the Ethiopian agriculture with various consternates. Termites are one of the most destructive insect pests that causes severe damage to many cultivated as well as uncultivated lands in Nejo, west Wollega, Ethiopia. This study focuses only on non-synthetic termite management options; the use of cover crops and cattle manure could be a major element of this strategy. Therefore, seven different green manure, one synthetic insecticides and farmer practices were evaluated against termites under field condition at Nejo sub-site of Holetta agricultural research center during 2015/2017 cropping seasons. The trial was planned to evaluate the effect of green manuring different legume crops and chomo grass for termite management on acidic soil under teff production. The results indicates in both years; Dailocus lablab, Lablab purpureus (8.53qt/ha) Chomo grass, Brachiaria humidicola (7.24qt/ha), and sweet lupine, Lupinus albus L. (7.68qt/ha) showed higher grain yield and highly significant differences were recorded in terms of harvest index in both years and reduced termites’ infestation. Cattle manure showed significantly higher harvest index (ranging from 16.1 to 4.1) followed by Dailocus lablab and sweet lupine. Chomo grass (Brachiaria humidicola) has showed its potential to be one of grass in addition to its repellent against termites and it was the best treatment. The control treatment showed the highest infestation coverage of termites attack (infestation level ranging from 24.7 to 1.0 tunnel/0.25m2) as compared to other treatments. In general, adding cattle manure and green manuring not only adds additional organic matter to the soil but also provides feed for the termites and confuses their attention. In area with complex environmental problems (acidity and termite infested) solve cropping system should consider environmental issues.

Keywords: Non-synthetic, Green manure, Dailocus lablab, Chomo grass, Acidic soil, Harvest index, Cattle manure, Repellent, Organic matter

The effect of storage periods on egg quality traits of guinea fowl eggs was studied. One hundred and fifty (150) eggs were collected on a single day and analyzed within storage periods of 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. The parameters investigated include the external egg quality characteristics (egg weight, egg length, egg broken weight, shell ratio, shell weight, shape index and shell thickness) and the internal quality characteristics (albumen weight, albumen height, albumen ratio, yolk width, yolk ratio and Haugh unit). The results showed no significant (P>0.05) effect of storage period on egg weight, egg broken weight, shell ratio and shell weight. Egg weight, egg broken weight, shell ratio and shell weight values ranged from 32.39±0.63 to 33.82±0.46g, 26.67±0.57 to 28.08±0.54g, 16.65±0.97 to 17.96± 0.51% and 5.49±0.27 to 5.92±0.19g respectively. Egg length, Shape index and Shell thickness was significantly (P>0.05) affected by storage period and values ranging from 5.82±0.04 to 6.34±0.13cm, 1.59±0.02 to 1.75±.0.04 % and 1.29±0.11 to 2.02±0.19 µm respectively. Internal egg qualities were significantly (P<0.05 influenced by length of storage. The decrease in albumen weight (12.51±0.09 to 10±0.08g), Haugh unit (84±2.11 to 76.12±3.04%) and increase in yolk ratio (31.66±062 to 49.04±3.15%) as storage time increased is an indication of deterioration of egg quality especially after 14 days of storage. Thus, storage of guinea fowls’ eggs beyond 14 days makes them unsafe for consumption.

Keywords: Egg quality, Storage period, Guinea fowls, Egg weight, Egg length

A field investigation was conducted in the Soil Science and Land Resources Management Research Farm, an ultisol, of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, to evaluate the effects of different weed control methods on Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) growth and yield together with their impact on the physico-chemical properties of the soil. The study was laid out as a 2×4 factorial experiment in randomized complete block design (RCBD), replicated 3 times. The treatments consisted of two Okra varieties (a hybrid, “Lady’s finger” and local variety, “Otukwuru-Omia”), plus four weed control methods namely: hoeing at 3 weeks interval; application of pre-emergence herbicide (Metolachlor 250 a.i. g/L at 1.5 kg a.i./ha) at 3 weeks interval; hoeing at 4 weeks after sowing (WAS) followed by pre-emergence herbicide (Metolachlor 250 a.i. g/L at 1.5 kg a.i./ha) one week after hoe weeding and a control of unweeded check. Data were subjected to analysis of variance. The results obtained showed that all the weed control methods employed significantly (P<0.05) decreased weed populations at 4 and 8 WAS when compared with the unweeded checks. Hoe weeding at 4 WAS followed by Metolachlor, a week after hoe weeding, recorded the tallest Okra stems, highest number of branches, greater number of leaves, leaf area and pod yield. There were significant differences (P<0.05), in the soil chemical properties resulting from the weed control methods and the Okra varieties after harvest. However, the soil organic carbon and nitrogen were reduced as a result of nutrient loss due to plant nutrient uptake for growth and yield of Okra. The results therefore, suggest that farmers in Awka can effectively reduce the burden of multiple hoe weeding and cut down on labour costs, by use of pre-emergence herbicide application, one week after hoe weeding.

Keywords: Abelmoschus esculentus, weed control methods, soil chemical properties

The study was undertaken to adapt and evaluate the growth and yield potential of different carrot (Daucuscarota L.)) Varieties in Emba Alage district, Northern Ethiopia. The commercially producing and the recently released carrot varieties of Nantes and Haramaya-I respectively were used in the study. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with ten replications. The intra and inter row spacing of 5 cmx25 cm respectively were used as per the national recommendation for these varieties. The study showed that all phenology, growth and yield parameters except root base diameter, root cortex diameter, unmarketable yield and average root weight were significantly affected at 5% level of significance. The highest significantly different total root yield (53.17) and marketable root yield (51.56) t ha-1 was obtained from Haramaya-I carrot variety. This variety also provided no disease incidence and severity symptoms that was higher in Nantes variety. Moreover, the perception score of farmers towards the two carrot varieties was significantly higher for haramaya-I than Nantes. Therefore, it is possible to boost the production and productivity of carrot in the district and beyond using Haramaya-I carrot variety.

Keywords: Carrot, Haramaya, Nantes, Variety, Root

A field investigation was conducted in the Soil Science and Land Resources Management Research Farm of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, to evaluate the effects of different weed control methods on Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) growth and yield together with their impact on the chemical properties of the soil. The study was laid out as a 2×4 factorial experiment in randomized complete block design (RCBD), replicated 3 times. The treatments consisted of two Okra varieties (a hybrid, “Lady’s finger” and local variety, “Otukwuru-Omia”), plus four weed control methods namely: hoeing at 3 weeks interval; application of pre-emergence herbicide (Metolachlor 250 a.i. g/L at 1.5 kg a.i./ha) at 3 weeks interval; hoeing at 4 weeks after sowing (WAS) followed by pre-emergence herbicide (Metolachlor 250 a.i. g/L at 1.5 kg a.i./ha) one week after hoe weeding and a control of unweeded check. Soil analysis was by described standard procedures and data collected were subjected to analysis of variance. The results showed that all the weed control methods employed, significantly (P<0.05) decreased weed densities at 4 and 8 WAS when compared with the unweeded checks. Hoe weeding at 4 WAS followed by Metolachlor, a week after hoe weeding, recorded the tallest Okra stems, highest number of branches, greater number of leaves, leaf area and pod yield. There were significant differences (P<0.05), in the soil chemical properties resulting from the weed control methods and the Okra varieties after harvest. However, the soil organic carbon and nitrogen contents were reduced as a result of nutrient loss due to plant nutrient uptake for growth and yield of Okra. The results therefore, suggest that farmers in Awka can effectively reduce the burden of multiple hoe weeding and cut down on labour costs, by use of pre-emergence herbicide application, one week after hoe weeding.

Keywords: Abelmoschus esculentus, Weed control methods, Soil chemical properties

Broomrape (Orobanche crenata) infestation is the main constraint of faba bean production in the highlands areas of southern Tigray, and it can caused up to 100% yield loss. Thus, using orobanche tolerant variety is an option in areas where Orobanche weed infestation is very high. Therefore, popularization of the improved Hashenge variety was conducted for two years, with the objectives to popularize the orobanche tolerant variety and analyze farmers’ perception towards this variety compare to local cultivar. The improved Hashenge variety and Bio-fertilizer was delivered to a total of 135 interested farmers and planted in clustered base in Ofla district (Adigolo and Hashenge kebelles). Yield data was collected from randomly selected farm lands of participants and non-participants. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 20 software and presented descriptively. The study shows, an average grain yield of 2.0 t/ha and 4.53 t/ha respectively, was harvested from the variety Hashenge in 2016/17 and 2017/18 production seasons. The t-test analysis result shows that there is a significant difference on grain yield and perception score between the improved and local cultivars. Besides, the perception of respondents towards the post-harvest attributes of the variety Hashenge was better as compared to the local cultivars. However, about (40%) were not satisfied by the variety Hashege’s food taste (whot taste) and (60%) for its earliness as compared to the local. Hence, it is better if the agriculture and rural development district office should disseminate the variety Hashenge to areas where infested by Orobanche weed to boost the production of faba bean in the community. It should also advisable to promote in area where orobanche infestation is critical problem. Moreover, it needs special care on the seed system to promote the variety and protect further distribution of the weed in the community and beyond the Orobanche infested areas.

Keywords: Broomrape, Popularization, Orobanche tolerant, Farmers’ perception

Optimum nitrogen fertilization with appropriate variety is the most important production factors for higher grain yield of durum wheat. Study on the interaction effect of N fertilizer levels and Durum wheat varieties was conducted in 2015 and 2016 cropping season on vertisols of Ofla (Adi-golo) and Emba-Alaje (Ayba) districts of Tigray, northern Ethiopia with the objective of determining the optimum nitrogen fertilizer for different durum wheat genotypes. The experiment was laid out in split plot design; on which three recently released durum wheat varieties (Mangudo, Mukuye and Yerer) were assigned as a main plot and four level of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 23, 46, 69, 92, 115 and 138 kg N ha-1) levels arranged in a sub plot factor and replicated three times. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) for grain yield indicate that main effects of treatments (variety, nitrogen, location) and interaction effects (nitrogen fertilizer x variety, nitrogen fertilizer x location, location x variety, and nitrogen fertilizer x variety x location) were significantly (P<0.05) different. Grain yield of the durum wheat varieties linearly increase with increasing nitrogen fertilizer at both locations. More grain (8.5 and 6.97 t ha-1) for Adi-golo and Ayba, respectively was recorded from the interaction effects of 138 kg of N ha-1 for variety Mukuye, however 69 kg of N ha-1 witch reached higher economical return (MRR=8.56).

Keywords: Durum Wheat, Nitrogen fertilizer, Variety