Thesis

Effects of Weeding time and frequancy on growth and yield of head Cabbage (Brassica Oleracea L.) in Burie district, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Effects of Weeding time and frequancy on growth and yield of head Cabbage (Brassica Oleracea L.) in Burie district, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Melkamsew Berihun Head Cabbage is an important vegetable crop for food security as well as to generate income for subsistence farmers. Weeds cause yield losses of head cabbage, which is estimated to be about 25%. A field experiment was therefore conducted to determine the appropriate weeding time and frequency on head cabbage at Burie district, West Gojjam, Amhara Region under irrigation during the 2022/23 irrigation season.. Treatments consisted of weeding time at 15 day, 22 day,29 day,36 day, 15 & 22 days,15 & 29 days,15 & 36 days,22 & 29 days,22 & 36 days,29 & 36 days, 15, 22 & 29 days, 15, 22 & 36 days, 15, 29 & 36 days and22, 29 & 36 days after planting and a treatment without weeding. Treatments were laid out in RCBD design with three replications. The phenological, growth, yield related and weed parameters were collected and analyzed using SAS software (version 9.1). The analysis of variance showed that weeding frequency and time of weeding significantly influenced most of the tested parameters of head cabbage. Two times weeding at 22 and 36 days performed well in most of the tested parameters of heed cabbage, such as number of leaves per plant, head diameter, 75% head maturity, marketable yield, and total yield, compared to other tested treatments. Higher cabbage yield (11.3 t ha ) was produced on tretament that weeded two times at 22 and 36 days . Three times weeding at 22, 29, and 36 days scored low dry weed biomass and weed density. Marginal rate of return is high on (9109.9%) treatments that weeded two times of weeding at 22 and 36 days compared with other treatments. Therefore, it is concluded that head cabbage weeded two times at 22 and 36 day is critical period of time weed managment. Since this conclusion is based on a single experiment, it needs further research over location and season to give strong recommendation.

Responses of hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) Varieties to Blended Npsb Fertilizer at Koga Irrigation Scheme, Northwestern, Ethiopia

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Responses of hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) Varieties to Blended Npsb Fertilizer at Koga Irrigation Scheme, Northwestern, Ethiopia Banchamlak Desalgn Hot pepper is one of the most important spice and vegetable crops cultivated by smallholder farmers in Amhara region, particularly in the North Mecha district. However, the yield of the crop is low due to several production constraints, with the limited availability of improved varieties and soil nutrient deficiencies being among the major challenges. Hence, this experiment was carried out during the 2023 irrigation season in North Mecha, at Koga irrigation scheme. The aim was to identify highyielding varieties along with determining the optimum amount of blended NPSB fertilizer. The treatments consisted of four levels of blended NPSB fertilizer (0, 192, 242, and 292 kg ha ) and four hot pepper varieties (Vigro, Amando, Serenade, and Marekofana) arranged in 4x4 factorial combination in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data on growth, yield, and quality parameters of the crops were collected and analyzed by using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) version 9.4. The results clearly showed that hot pepper growth, yield, and quality were significantly influenced by varieties and NPSB fertilizer applied. Key parameters such as plant height, number of branches, leaf area index, green pod weight, number of pods per plant, marketable, unmarketable, and total green pod yields were influenced by the main and interaction effect of varieties and NPSB fertilizer. While days to the first harvest and all quality parameters were influenced solely by the main effects of both factors. Notably, significantly the highest marketable green pod yields (17.99 and 17.88 t ha -1 ) were obtained from Vigro and Amando varieties treated with 242 kg ha -1 NPSB respectively. However, the lowest marketable yield (4.32 t ha -1 )) was recorded from Marekofana with control. Based on the partial budget analysis, variety Vigro coupled with 242 kg ha -1 NPSB gave the highest net benefit of 657,946.5 birr ha and a marginal rate of return of 8,958.76%. The second acceptable marginal rate of return (5222.5%) was observed from open pollinated Marekofana variety with 242 kg ha -1 NPSB. As a result, based on the result of this experiment, the treatment combination of Vigro with 242 kg ha -1 NPSB is recommended for resource-full and commercial farms while Marekofana with 242 kg ha -1 NPSB can be advised for resource-poor farmers in North Mecha District and other areas with similar agro-ecological conditions.

Effect of Varieties and Seed Tuber Size on Growth and Yield of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) Varieties in Sekela District West Gojjam, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Effect of Varieties and Seed Tuber Size on Growth and Yield of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) Varieties in Sekela District West Gojjam, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Melkamu Birhanu Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important cash and food crop in Ethiopia. However, the yield of the crop is constrained by a number of factors. Among the constraints, the use of inappropriate seed tuber size and limited availability of improved varieties are the main ones. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different tuber sizes on the growth and yield of potato varieties and to determine optimum seed tuber size for economical feasible production of potatoes during the rainy season at Sekela District in 2024. The experiment consisted of four potato varieties (Tesfa, Worku, Gera and Local) and three seed tuber sizes: small (25-38g), medium (39-75g) and large (>75g). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications in factorial arrangement. The collected data on phenology, growth, yield and quality related parameters were analysed using SAS (Version 9.4) software. The results showed that varieties and seed tuber size significantly influenced days to 50% emergence, days to 50% flowering, stem number per plant, average tuber number per plant, unmarketable tuber yield, and dry matter content, tuber weight per plant. The interaction effect of seed tuber size and variety significantly influenced days to 90% maturity, large sized tuber yield, marketable tuber yield and total tuber yields. The highest marketable tuber yield of 37.26 t ha -1 was recorded from the large tuber sizes of Tesfa variety, while the lowest marketable tuber yield of 10.79 t ha -1 was obtained from a local variety with smaller seed tuber size but local variety matured earlier as compared to improved variety which is related to early emergence and flowering. Based on the partial budget analysis of the present study Tesfa with Large tuber size gave the highest net benefit of 1252630Birr ha with an acceptable level of MRR value of 173.66%; Tesfa with medium seed tuber size a good net benefit of 1,220,647Birr ha -1 and high acceptable level of MRR of 159.32%. However, since the study was conducted in one season and location, further study over seasons and locations is recommended in order to generate a more reliable and sustainable result. -1

Effect of Pre-Cooling Times on the Vase Life of Rose (Rosa Hybrida L.) Varieties at Tanaflora, Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Effect of Pre-Cooling Times on the Vase Life of Rose (Rosa Hybrida L.) Varieties at Tanaflora, Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia Nigus Ewunetu Floriculture is one the emerging horticultural crops industry in Ethiopia; however there are different pre-harvest and post-harvest production constraints that affect the development of the industry .Pre-cooling time is one of the factors that determine the post-harvest quality and the shelf life of cut flowers. A laboratory experiment was conducted at Tana Flora PLC in 2022 to assess the influence of pre-cooling times on the vase life of different rose varieties. The experiment consisted of five (5) pre-cooling treatments (zero hour, two hours, four hours, six hours and eight hours) and four (4) rose varieties (Orchestra, Bellerose, Furiosa and Athena) arranged in factorial combination with CRD in three replications. Six (6) flowers of each treatment were pre-cooled using different pre-cooling times at 8°C temperature inside precooling room. The main and interaction effects of Pre-cooling times and varieties were very highly significant (P < 0.0001) on water loss, water balance, days to full blooming and dry matter contents. In addition, the main effects of both factors were very highly significant (P<0.0001) on vase life, bud diameter and relative fresh weight change, while their interaction effect were showed significant (P<0.05) differences. Bellerose variety pre-cooled for six hours and four hours performed a better blooming day (9days), vase life (17days), head diameter (7cm), water balance (-4.0ml/stem/day), relative fresh weight change (82.22%) and dry matter contents (22.22%). Cut rose flower variety Bellerose pre-cooled for four hours and six hours were recorded the longest vase life (17days), followed by Athena and Furiosa (15.67days) and Orchestra (15.16 days). On the other hand, Orchestra pre-cooled for zero hour also recorded the shortest vase life (11.33days) during the study. Thus, it is advised to pre-cool the flowers for four up to six hours to maintain the freshness and vase life during post harvest handling. The findings of the study provide an alternative practices to extend the vase life of cut roses and its quality for the satisfaction of flower users and consumers.