Indexing

Abstract: Field experiment was conducted in the consecutive two cropping seasons (2011-2012 and 2012-2013) to investigate Haricot Bean based farming system by inclusion of Stevia. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with five replications. The results showed that the yields of haricot bean were not significantly decreased with the increase of stevia population. Sole planting of stevia was superior to other intercropped treatments and produced 20035.3 kgha^-1, 41859 kgha^-1 and 30947 kgha^-1 above ground biomass yield (total of three harvesting cycle), 12439.47 kgha^-1, 26296.2kgha^-1 and 19367.8 kgha^-1 leaf fresh weight (total of the three harvesting cycle) and 3450.71kgha^-1, 7570.3kgha^-1 and 5510.5kgha^-1 leaf dry weight (total of the three harvesting cycle) in the consecutive two cropping season and the pooled mean respectively. The LER and MAI indicating the practice of intercropping of haricot bean with stevia was more advantageous than the conventional monoculture crop. Even if significant yield difference was not observed for haricot bean among the treatment, haricot bean intercrop with 80% stevia mix proportion with LER of 1.43 and MAI of 88278 followed by 60% stevia mix proportion with LER of 1.34 and MAI of 62027 proved to be best than planted at sole indicating the practice of haricot bean–stevia intercropping was more advantageous and profitable than the conventional monoculture crop.

Keywords: Haricot Bean, Intercropping, Land Equivalent Ratio, Monetary Advantage, Stevia rebaudiana, Supplementary.
Title: Intercropping of Haricot Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with stevia (Stevia rebaudina L.) as Supplementary Income Generation at Wondo Genet Agricultural Research Center, South Ethiopia
Author: Belstie Lulie,  Tesfa Bogale
International Journal of Recent Research in Life Sciences (IJRRLS)
Paper Publications

Abstract:  Field experiment was conducted in 2011 up to 2013 cropping season to investigate maize based farming system by inclusion of spearmint. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications.The result showed that sole planting of spearmint gave significantly higher essential oil yield, leaf fresh weight, above ground biomass than planting as intercropped with maize. However, intercropping didn’t show significant variation on plant height, shelling percentage and grain yield of the main crop. Land equivalent ratio (LER) indicated yield advantages for all intercrop combinations, especially at 42cm inter row spacing of spearmint intercropped with maize followed by 36cm inter row spacing of spearmint intercropped with maize. Similarly, Maize intercrop with spearmint at 42cm inter row spacing of spearmint gave higher monetary advantage index (41747) followed by 36cm inter row spacing of spearmint intercropped with maize (37496) than planted at sole. This indicate that intercropping maize at 42cm inter row spacing of spearmint followed by 36cm inter row spacing of spearmint is biologically efficient, economically feasible and more profitable than planting alone.
Keywords:  Intercropping, Land Equivalent Ratio, Mentha spicata, Monetary Advantage, Supplementary, Zea mays
Title:  Intercropping of Maize(Zea mays L.) with Spear mint(Mentha spicata L.) as Supplementary Income Generation at Wondo Genet Agricultural Research Center, South Ethiopia
Author:  Belstie Lulie, Haymanot Getu, Tesfa Bogale

International Journal of Recent Research in Life Sciences (IJRRLS)
Paper Publications

Abstract: An experiment was conducted with the objective to identify the level of deficit irrigation which allows achieving optimal yield and investigate the effect of deficit irrigation practice on spearmint (Mentha Spicata L.) yield and yield components. The experiment was conducted at Koka research station of Wondo Genet Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia latitude 8^O26’, longitude 39^O2’ and altitude 1602masl for two years (2011/2012 and 2012/2013 dry season). Nine treatments three level of irrigation water amount percentage based on evapo-transpiration of the crop (ETc) (100%ETc, 75%ETc and 50%ETc) and three types of furrow irrigation water application method (alternate furrow, fixed furrow and conventional furrow) were used in randomized completely block design (RCBD) with three replications. The pooled mean of two year data showed different level of deficit irrigation had a significant effect (p<0.05) on fresh biomass yield per hectare and fresh leaf yield per hectare. Moreover, there is a significant (p<0.01) variation among treatments due to deficit irrigation on dry biomass yield per hectare, dry leaf yield per hectare, essential oil yield per hectare and water use efficiency. However, different deficit irrigation level had no significant influence on wet harvesting index. The highest fresh biomass, dry biomass, fresh leaf, dry leaf and essential oil yield per harvesting cycle of 12093kg/ha, 3746kg/ha, 8133kg/ha, 2441.1kg/ha and 37.0kg/ha respectively was obtained due to 100%ETc with conventional furrow application method. Moreover, the highest water use efficiency of 16.3x10^-3kg/m³ was achieved due to deficit irrigation to 50%ETc with alternate furrow irrigation water application method. The study showed that the best treatment is deficit irrigation to 50%ETc with conventional furrow application method which had no significant variation with treatments that showed higher yields of spearmint including water use efficiency.

Keywords: Alternate furrow, conventional furrow, deficit irrigation, fixed furrow, spearmint.
Title: Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) Response to Deficit Irrigation
Author: Elias Meskelu, Mulugeta Mohammed, Fitsum Yimenu, Yonas Derese
International Journal of Recent Research in Life Sciences (IJRRLS)
Paper Publications

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive seasons (2011/12 and 2012/13) at Koka Research Station of Wondo Genet Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia8°26’ N latitude, 39°2’ E longitude and 1602masl altitude with the objective to identify maize growth stages sensitive to soil moisture stress, determine critical time for irrigation application for limited water resources and productivity of water. Fifteen treatments was used depriving irrigation on combination of four growth stages of maize (Zea maize L.) Variety Melkass-II. Randomized completely block design (RCBD) with three replication was used. Results indicated that both years plant height, 1000 seed weight, above ground biomass, grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) were significantly (p<0.001) affected by depriving irrigation water at different maize growth stage during both years. In addition to this during the first year cob length and harvesting index were significantly (p<0.01) affected, whereas cob diameter was affected significantly (p<0.05). During the second year cob diameter and cob length were affected significantly (p<0.001) and harvesting index (HI) was significantly (p<0.05) affected. The study had shown that during both the first and second year maximum grain yield (9253kg/ha and 11748kg/ha) was obtained due to stressing maize only at initial stage enhance grain yield which indicated that stressing moisture only at initial stage enhance grain yield. Moisture stress at mid-season should be avoided especially when combined with moisture stress at development stage. Moreover, moisture stress at initial and late seasons enhance water use efficiency without significantly reducing the yield from the higher yielding treatments.

Keywords: Depriving irrigation, growth stages, maize, moisture stress.
Title: Response of Maize (Zea mays L.) for Moisture Stress Condition at Different Growth Stages
Author:Elias Meskelu, Mulugeta Mohammed, Tilahun Hordofa
International Journal of Recent Research in Life Sciences (IJRRLS)
Paper Publications

Abstract:A survey was conducted to collect information on potentials and constraints of shade tree species for Arabica coffee production in south Ethiopia in two woredas of sidama and Gedio zones. The main purpose of this study was to identify potentials and constraints of coffee shade trees widely grown/used by small scale coffee farmers in south Ethiopia; andto identify fast growing and ideal shade tree species for coffee production in the area.To address this tasks field and desk research was accompained by interviews and discussion with focus groups. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 240 small scale coffee farmers. Farmers’ perspectives were mostly comparable to the documented scientific facts with some noticeable differences. Among shade tree species best compatible with coffee such as Millettia ferruginea, Cordia africana, Erythrina abyssinica and ficus sure were highly favored in that order. Some of the respondents strongly stated the serious problems associated with growing coffee with shade tree plants that included nutrient, water and sun light competition with coffee and creation favorable micro-environment for the occurrence of same coffee disease. The majority of the respondents hassle other benefits of coffee shade trees such as firewood (90%), Timber and construction value (74.2%), and honey production (43.8%) followed by other benefit like improvement of soil fertility  and reduction of soil erosion (6.2%).Most of the respondents were cited that there is no problem related to shade trees. Additionally, most of the interviewees stated that there were great potential shade trees in the study area. The respondents had excellent knowledge on the potential and constraints of coffee shade trees. However, training on uses of different coffee shade trees, their manage mental practices, legume plants and their association with beneficial soil microorganisms, involvement of microorganisms in organic matter transformation, and overall other interactions of coffee with shade trees should be provide to farmers to enrich their local knowledge and build ample self assurance about their critical observation and responses. In general, the shade trees Millettiaferruginea, Cordia africana andErythrinaabyssinicaare recommended for the study area.

Keywords:Arabica coffee; constraint; potential; shaded coffee; shade trees
Title:SURVEY ON POTENTIALS AND CONSTRAINTS OF SHADE TREE SPECIES FOR ARABICA COFFEE PRODUCTION IN SOUTH ETHIOPIA
Author:Ashenafi Nigussie, Endale Taye, Guta Bukero
International Journal of Recent Research in Life Sciences (IJRRLS)
Paper Publications