Abstract: The field experiment was carried out at Bako Agricultural Research Center, during 2017 with the objectives of evaluating the effect of maize-soybean intercropping and blended NPS on yields and yield traits of the component crops. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with three replication in factorial combination of three soybean planting densities (25% (125, 000), 50% (250,000) and 75% (375,000)) and four fertilizer rate (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1). Maize (BH 546), and Soybean (Di...
Abstract: Maize (zea mays L) is one of the most important cereal crops grown in Ethiopia. Field experiment was undertaken on clay loam soil at Teppi national spice research center, Ethiopia during 2013/2014 cropping season with the objectives of investigating the effect of supplementary irrigation on yield and yield component of maize for achieving maximum crop yield in rain fed agriculture during belge season. The experiment was laid out in RCBD (Randomized Complete Block Design) with three...
Abstract: Faba bean (Vicia faba L.), also called ‘broad bean or horse bean’ is an annual crop, which mainly grows in the highlands of Ethiopia for human consumption. The objective of this study was to improve the quantity and quality of forages produced from intercropping of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) with forage oats (Avena sativa L.) on forage biomass, straw, grain yields, and straw quality. Farmers have an experience of not weeding faba bean plots to get more weed biomass. The field tr...
Abstract: Production of animal feed as a sole crop is almost impossible in most part of Ethiopia, particularly in the study area due to land shortage. Realizing the potential of intercropping to address this problem, a field experiment was conducted during 2016 crop season at Dilla, Southern Ethiopia; to identify the compatible forage legume for intercropping with maize, to determine appropriate plant population that cope up with maize intercropping and to evaluate the effect of intercroppin...
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted in 2019 main cropping season at Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center research station, Southeastern Ethiopia with the objectives of assessing the compatibility of faba bean and wheat intercropping, to select suitable varieties of faba bean under different spatial pattern in intercropping and to assess the economic profitability of intercropping faba bean with bread wheat(variety Hulluka) in the area. The treatments were three faba bean varieties (As...
Abstract: The livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the Tigray region have been impacted by severe climate-related risks, including highly unpredictable rainfall and severe droughts. This study focuses on the densely populated semi-arid areas of Tigray (northern Ethiopia), where increasing land productivity is the only way to produce food sustainably. It is predicted that climate change will make some current issues worse and bring up new risks that go beyond what is now known. The Tigray re...
Abstract: At Fincha’aa sugarcane plantation, the whole part of the cane is used for planting. However, this has affected cane establishment, yield and profit for cane production. Therefore, this study was designed to identify cane portions which enhance sugarcane establishment for improved cane productivity. A field experiment was conducted during 2022/2023 to determine the effect of different cane portions/cuttings on percent sprouting, subsequent growth and cane yield of sugarcane variet...
Abstract: Maize is becoming an important cereal crop in Ethiopia due to its use as sources of food security and income. However, the productivity of the crop inhibited by insufficient application of NPSB fertilizer rates and gaps intra row spacing. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at Metta District to determine the effects of application of different rates of blended NPSB fertilizer and intra- row spacing on growth, yield components and yield of maize and to evaluate the cost bene...
Abstract: Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor(L.)Moench] is the most important staple crop in Ethiopia and cultivated in a wide range of elevation and rainfall conditions .In the dry lowland areas of Ethiopia. Sorghum production and productivity is constrained by various abiotic and biotic factors including parasitic weed Striga. Several studies revealed that, the effect of Striga on sorghum can vary from 40% to 100% yield loss. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the best combinatio...
Abstract: Thrips-transmitted Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) (Family Tospoviridae, Genus Orthotospovirus) is a major constraint to onion (Allium cepa L.) production in Kenya. Determining seasonal patterns of the vector and alternate hosts of the virus could help onion farmers plan Integrated Pest Management strategies; while allowing them to move away from calendar-based applications of insecticides. The objective of this study was to determine the distribution, seasonal variations and alterna...
Abstract: Organization of the genic pool of Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.: crosses between the wild and cultivated forms of cowpea. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) gene pool organization is studied on the basis of intra-specifi c crossing between cultivated (cv-gr. Unguiculata, cv-gr. Bifl ora) and wild forms of the species (var. spontanea, subsp. alba, subsp. stenophylla, subsp. pawekiae, subsp. baoulensis). The rate of crosses success, the rate of the obtained pods fruitfulness and th...
Abstract: Rice blast disease resulting from infected rice seed can be avoided by using treated seeds. Seed treatment using chemical fungicide has many limitations such as development of resistance to pathogens, damage to the natural environment and the health of farmers and consumers. Such limitations have raised the need for alternative non-chemical seed treatment methods such as antagonist microbial agents and hot water. Laboratory and the screen house experiments were carried out with the...
Abstract: Avocado is a pollinator-dependent crop rich in fiber, monounsaturated oils, vitamins, and minerals, which is seeing an increase in global demand. While some studies have shown that insect pollination improves avocado fruit set, the effects of pollinators on fruit quality and the nutritional profile remain unclear. Furthermore, it remains untested whether a potential pollination deficit can be compensated by the supplementation of farms with extra pollinators. We quantified the cont...
Abstract: Studies were carried out to establish the role and significance of rice stem borers as pests of rice crop in irrigated low land rice ecosystems in Tanzania; and to evaluate the effectiveness of some management options against the pest. A survey by means of structured questionnaire was init ially used to assess the farmer’s perception on rice stem borers and their management practices in three wards of Kilombero district in Morogoro Region, namely, Mkula, Sanje and Signali. This w...
Abstract: Cowpea is one of the 14 species of grain legumes. It rewards insects by producing nectar and it advertises to the pollinators by producing floral volatiles. The volatiles act as cues that guide insect pollinators in terms of pollen and nectar. Floral volatile quality also influences the efficiency of pollination. Genetic manipulations involving selection of varieties with high quality floral volatiles and nectar can therefore increase pollination efficiency and hence cowpea yields....