http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/11536 2026-09-14T17:56:11Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/17193 Agronomic Evaluation and Participatory Variety Selection of Desho Grass in Irrigated Midland Areas of Waghimra, Ethiopia Dagnachew, Alemu Research was conducted on an agronomic evaluation and participatory selection of Desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) with four treatments, Areka-DZF#590, Kulumsa-DZF#592, Kindo Kosha-DZF#589, and Kindo Kosha-DZF#591in October 2023/2024. The experiment was laid down with a randomized complete block design(RCBD). The distance between the row and plant was 50cm and 10cm respectively. The space between the plot and block were 1m and 1.5m respectively on a plot size of 4m x 3m (12 m 2 ). 100 kg NPS fertilizer was used rate of ha at the time of planting. All collected data was analyzed using the general linear model procedure of R Studio version 4.4.1. Mean separation was done using the Duncan multiple range test(DNMR) at a 5% significant level. Graphs were done using gg plot 2 of R-studio. Farmer’s preferences were done using simple ranking. The morphological traits, yield, chemical composition, and farmer preference of four accessions: Areka-DZF#590, KulumsaDZF#592, Kindo Kosha-DZF#589, and Kindo Kosha-DZF#591 were studied. There were statistically significant differences between treatments (p < 0.05) in agronomic characteristics such as dry matter yield per hectare (DMYTH), number of tillers per plant (NTPP), and plant height (PH). In addition to promising results in terms of fresh biomass yield (54.00 t/ha), dry matter yield (17.75 t/ha), and leaf-to-stem ratio (LSR) (0.69), Kindo Kosha-DZF#589 was frequently rated as the most palatable, easy to grow, and early. Chemical composition analysis revealed differences in crude protein (CP) and fiber contents, with Kindo Kosha-DZF#589 showing the highest CP (11.97%). Pearson’s correlation showed strong associations between PH, NTPP, and yield components (r > 0.9, p < 0.001). Participatory rankings aligned with quantitative data, emphasizing the utility of involving farmers in selecting accessions that meet agronomic and practical criteria. Based on its adaptability and promising agronomic traits, Kindo Kosha-DZF#589 is recommended for midland areas of Waghimra, offering improved yield and nutritional quality. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/17192 Effect of Plant Spacing and Harvesting Age on Plant Morphological Parameters, Dry Matter Yield, and Chemical Composition of Brachiaria Mutica Grass Intercropped With Vetch (Vicia Villosa) At Koga Irrigation, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Workie, Abera This field experiment was conducted at the Koga irrigation site with the objectives of evaluating the effect of plant spacing and harvesting age on the morphological parameters, dry matter yield, and chemical composition performance of Brachiaria mutica grass intercropped with vetch (Vicia villosa) under irrigation conditions, North Mecha Amhara region, Ethiopia. The experiment was laid out using a randomised complete block design in a factorial arrangement consisting of two factors (plant spacings with three levels and harvesting ages with three levels) arranged into a total of nine treatments with three replications. There were three blocks, each containing nine plots, a total of twenty-seven plots. The plot size was 6 m 2 (3 m x 2 m). The harvesting ages were 60, 90, and 120 days and the between plant spacing of Brachiaria mutica set into 20, 30, and 40 cm and the between row spacing 10cm,15cm and 20cm .The experiment site was well prepared and established the Brachiaria mutica grass with root splitting.The Vetch (Vicia villosa) was seeded after the age of three weeks of Bracharia mutica grass sown or planted. annual forages fast growth than grass hence,to prevent shading or over domination. number of rows 5, 7 and 10 respecively and 6 plants per row in each spacing factor A set of data were collected from ten plants which were randomly selected within the middle raws. Plant height (PH), number of tillers per plant (NLPP), Leaf stem ratio (LSR) and leaf length per plant (LLP of Bracharia mutica grass were measured) and its dry matter yield was calculated. Similarly, PH, leaf area (LA), and LSR of vetch morphological parameters and its DMY data were recorded. The collected data were managed using MS excel 2010 and subjected to general linear model analysis of variance procedures of SAS package version 9.0 and Pearson correlation analysis, with a significance level of alpha 0.05. The current result indicated that plant spacing and harvesting age had a significant effect on morphological parameters, dry matter yield, and the chemical composition of Bracharia mutica intercropped with legume species of vetch. All plant morphological parameters (PH, NTPP, NLPP, LLP) and DMY except LSR were significantly higher p<0.001 at 120 days of harvesting age and wider plant spacing 40cm, except LLPP when Bracharia mutica grass intercropped with vetch. Plant spacing were not affected the DMY and LSR of vetch but the DMY was higher at the late harvesting age when vetch was grown with intercropping of Bracharia mutica. Besides these morphological parameters performances, the chemical composition of the miture was affected p<0.001 due to harvesting age. Intercropping of Bracharia mutica with vetch for optimum production of the forage with wider plant spacing (40cm) and 120-day harvesting age resulted in high performance of PH, NTPP, NLPP, and LL, while the ash, LSR and CP were reduced. Therefore, wider plant spacing (40 cm) and intermediate harvesting age (90 days) improved the quality of Bracharia mutica intercropped with legume vetch used as animal feed resources. 2023-06-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/12960 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 2022-01-24T00:00:00Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/12959 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. 2022-01-24T00:00:00Z