Thesis and Dissertations

FARMERS’ PARTICIPATORY EVALUATION AND PERFORMANCE TESTING OF SELECTED FORAGE VARIETIES IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF EASTERN AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

2022-01-24T08:04:16Z

FARMERS’ PARTICIPATORY EVALUATION AND PERFORMANCE TESTING OF SELECTED FORAGE VARIETIES IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF EASTERN AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA Aychew Zewdu The objectives of this study were to understand current forage options, identifying the major constraints and opportunities, and to evaluate the performance of selected forage options using agronomic performance, yield, and chemical compositions in selected Districts (Menze Mama, Menze Gera, Ziquala, and Abergelle) of eastern Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. The survey part of the study was conducted in four selected districts while the field experiment was done at Menze Mama District. In the survey part, purposive sampling method was employed to select the study districts and kebeles. A total of 218 household respondents were participated in the assessment study. In the field experiment, randomized complete block design was used with one factor (intercropping) arrangements with three grass species (inter-cropped with vetch and sole) having three replications. The selected forage species were: desho (Kulumsa-DZF #592), vetch (Vicia dasycarpa), oats (Lampton), and Phalaris ((Phalaris aquatica (acc6583)). samples were harvested based on the recommended harvesting ages of forages, weighed, dried, and ground sub-samples were taken for chemical analyses of dry matter, ash, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, in vitro organic matter digestibility, and metabolizable energy using Near-infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy. The collected data was subjected to statistical package for social sciences version 20 for the survey part and a general linear model analysis of variance procedure of statistical analysis system for experimental part. The result showed that oats, vetch, Phalaris, desho, elephant grass, Rhodes grass, and cowpea were the most distributed forage options in the study areas. The most common major constraints that reduce forage production in the study districts were lack of forage seed, shortage of land, drought, limited knowledge/awareness, and high cost of planting materials as the percentage of respondents ranked them in decreasing order of their influences. Inversely, there were also some major opportunities to facilitate forage production in the study districts such as presence of fallowing land, high amount of livestock population, accessibility of water and irrigation, and applicability of forage development strategies, supporting/intervention of research center and non-governmental organizations onxi farmers, suitability of the area for sheep production (Menze sheep), and high consumer pref

EFFECT OF SOWING DATE AND ALFALFA (MEDICAGO SATIVA)-BRACHIARIA MULATO-IIGRASS INTERCROPPING ON MORPHOLOGICALCHARACTERSTICS AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF FORAGEGROWN UNDER IRRIGATION CONDITIONS AT WEST GOJJAM ZONE, ETHIOPIA

2022-01-24T08:00:34Z

EFFECT OF SOWING DATE AND ALFALFA (MEDICAGO SATIVA)-BRACHIARIA MULATO-IIGRASS INTERCROPPING ON MORPHOLOGICALCHARACTERSTICS AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF FORAGEGROWN UNDER IRRIGATION CONDITIONS AT WEST GOJJAM ZONE, ETHIOPIA Melkam Workie This experiment was conducted at koga irrigation, Mecha district under an irrigation condition to evaluate the effect of sowing date and intercropping alfalfa-Mulato-II grass on the morphological characteristics, yield, and chemical composition of the forage. The experiment was conducted 3x3 factorial arrangement within randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications and a combination of three levels of sowing date (February 10th, 20th, and 30th) and three-level of intercropping(sole alfalfa, alfalfa-Mulato-II grass, sole Mulato-II grass). The root split Mulato-II grass and seed for alfalfa were sown based on the recommended seed rate. All morphological data such as plant height (PH), tiller number (NT), leaf length (LL), root number of root (NR), root length (RL), leaf to stem ratio (LSR),number of the leaf (NL),dry matter yield (DMY)and for chemical composition analysis, samples were collected within the middle two rows taking ten plants from each plot. About 500g of forage samples were taken for forage chemical analysis (CP, Ash, OM, DM, ADF, NDF, and ADL) were done using standard methods. All the collected morphological, yield and chemical composition data were subject to GLM ANOVA procedures of SAS version 9.0. The result shows that the interaction between sowing date and intercropping of alfalfa with Mulato-II grass had a significant effect (P<0.001) on plant characteristics, biomass yield, and chemical composition of Mulato-II grass. The highest plant morphological characters such as PH, TN, NL, LL, NR, RL, and LSR (0.71m, 91.2, 533.3, 0.20, 95.54, 0.1183, and 1.34) was recorded from February 10th intercropped Mulato-II grass respectively. As the sowing date increase from February 10th to 30th the morphological characteristics of Mulato-II grass decreased. Intercropping of alfalfa with Mulato-II grass significantly (P<0.001) produced a higher DMY than sole Mulato-II grass excluding February30th intercropped Mulato-II grass. The highest DM%, CP%, CPY%, NDF%, ADF%, ADL%, and Ash% content (91.33%, 17.3%, 3.63%, 81.8%, 54.22%, 14.14%, and 15.71%) respectively obtained from February 10th intercropped Mulato-II grass. Their for intercropped Mulato-II grass at the sowing date February 10th are recommended for livestock producers and farm demonstration than the other treatments of the study area. It is important to conduct further studies with different harvesting dates and tested in animal feed trials.

EFFECTS OF SOWING DATES AND HARVESTING AGES ON PLANT MORPHOLOGY, BIOMASS YIELD and CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF INTERCROPPING BRACHIARIA MUTICA WITH MEDICAGO SATIVA L. UNDER RAIN FED CONDITION AT DANGILA DISTRICT, AWI ZONE, ETHIOPIA.

2022-01-24T07:27:26Z

EFFECTS OF SOWING DATES AND HARVESTING AGES ON PLANT MORPHOLOGY, BIOMASS YIELD and CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF INTERCROPPING BRACHIARIA MUTICA WITH MEDICAGO SATIVA L. UNDER RAIN FED CONDITION AT DANGILA DISTRICT, AWI ZONE, ETHIOPIA. ABEBAW BIRESAW Abebaw Biresaw1, Bimrew Asmare2 and Yeshambel Mekuriaw 2 1 Fagita Lekoma District, Department of Agriculture, Awi Zone, Ethiopia 2 Department of Animal Production and Technology, School of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Bahir Dar University, P O Box 5501, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia This field experiment was conducted in Dangila District with the objectives of evaluating the effects of sowing dates and harvesting ages on the morphological characteristics, forage yield and chemical composition of Brachiaria mutica grass with intercropped Medicago sativa in rain fed condition. The experimental plots were prepared thoroughly by plowing the land before sowing. The experiment was laid using randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement consisted of two factors (three sowing dates and three harvesting ages) of totally nine treatments with three replications. The plot of the experiment was 4m2. The harvesting ages were 90, 120 and 150 days of harvests, represented as (HD1, HD2 and HD3) and the sowing dates of Brachiaria mutica at the same days (June 17), ten days before (June 27) and ten days after (July 07), represented as (SD1, SD2 and SD3) with intercropped Medicago sativa seeding. The root splits of Brachiaria mutica and seed for Medicago sativa were planted and sown at recommendation rate. 100 kg/ha of nitrogen phosphate sulfur was applied at time of planting for both forages and 25 kg/ha urea was applied after 30 days of planting, weeding and hoeing for para grass. All plant growth, forage yield and samples for quality data were collected from two middle rows of six plants. Samples were harvested at specified ages, weighed, dried and then ground subsamples taken for analyses of crude protein, ash, organic matter, dry matter, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin were done using proximate and Van Soest procedures. All data were subjected to general linear model analysis of variance procedures of SAS package version 9.0 and Pearson correlation analysis, with significance level of alpha 0.05. Results showed that the interaction effect between harvesting age and sowing date of intercropped Medicago sativa with Brachiaria mutica had a p˂0.001 significant effect on plant characteristics, biomass yield and chemical composition of para grass. Regarding sowing date, intercropped Medicago sativa with Brachiaria mutica grass significant and higher dry matter yield (21.53 to 24 ton per hectare) at 150 day harvest and best crude protein content (18.16 to 19.55%) at 90 days of harvesting obtained from Brachiaria mutica grass which was planted ten days after than the same days and ten days before intercropped Medicago sativa. Hence, the planting date of para grass ten days after intercropped alfalfa was best compatible in terms of total dry matter yield and crude protein content during the establishment phase of para grass. The crude protein, leave to stem ratio and ash percent were markedly decreased as the harvesting date were delayed and negatively correlated to the rest growth and forage quality parameters. Therefore, among tested sowing date of para grass ten days after intercropped alfalfa is recommended for establishment study area and similar agro ecologies harvested at intermediate harvesting stage to produce optimum yield and nutritive value. It is important to conduct further work determination of appropriate agronomic and management practices in order to maximize production and productivity of sowing dates at intercropped para grass with alfalfa in study area and similar agro ecologies during establishment and after establishment periods and with other herbaceous legumes.

Evaluation of the potential of Fertilizer Application and Intercropping on Sweet Lupine (Vitabor) and Brachiaria Hybrid Mulato II Grass on plant performance and silage quality of the forage grown under Irrigation Condition at Koga, North Mecha District, Ethiopia

2022-01-24T07:20:40Z

Evaluation of the potential of Fertilizer Application and Intercropping on Sweet Lupine (Vitabor) and Brachiaria Hybrid Mulato II Grass on plant performance and silage quality of the forage grown under Irrigation Condition at Koga, North Mecha District, Ethiopia Mastewal Ayalneh The study was conducted in N/Mecha district at Koga integrated research; technology transfer and community service center, kudmi site with objectives of studying the effect of sweet lupine (Vitabor) and hybrid Brachiaria Mulato II intercropping with on morphological characteristics, biomass yield, chemical composition, and silage quality of forage grown under irrigation condition. A randomized complete block design with four treatments and three replications was used for this experiment.(Treatment one;NPS fertilizer+ Brachiaria hybrid Mulato II grass intercropping with Sweet Lupin legume . Treatment two;Brachiaria hybrid Mulato II grass with Sweet Lupin legume without NPS fertilize. Treatment three;Brachiaria hybrid Mulato II grasswith NPS fertilizer.Treatment four;Brachiaria hybrid Mulato II grass sole ).Morphological characteristics such as plant height (PH), number of tillers per plant (NTPP),numbers of leaf per plant (NLPP), leaf length per plant (LLPP), number of roots per plant (NRPP), root length per plant (RLPP), leaf to stem ratio (LSR)and dry matter yield (DMY)) and chemical compositions of the Mulato II grass were recorded using the standard methods. The morphological characteristics of sweet lupine such as PH, number of the branch (NB), leaflet number (LN), number of nodes (NN), and nodule diameter (ND) were measured and counted using the standard methods. from each treatment were harvested, wilted, chopped, ensiled in a plastic bag, and silage was prepared after 21 days of anaerobic fermentation and displayed for sensory evaluation,chemical analysis and pH measurement. The sample was taken for analyses of chemical compositions of the forage such as dry matter content (DM); ash content, neutral detergent fiber content (NDF), acid detergent fiber content (ADF), acid detergent lignin content