Research Article
Response of Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) Genotypes to Soil Acidity, at Hula District, Sidama Region, Ethiopia
Ephrem Adamu Chekol
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 1-14.
DOI: 10.36348/merjafs.2024.v04i01.001
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was domesticated at about 8000 B.C. It is one of the most important cereal crops in Ethiopia, accounting for over 60% of the food of the peoples living in the highlands of Ethiopia. Soil acidity is expanding in its scope, about 43 % out of the total cultivated land in Ethiopia, is dominated with acidic soil, as a sensitive highland crop, barley productivity is decreasing due to soil acidity and in areas where the problem is severe the crop is going out of production. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted with the objective of performance comparison and screening of soil acidity-tolerant barley genotypes. The treatments consisted of two lime levels (with and without lime) and ten barley genotypes making up a total of 20 treatments laid out in a completely randomized design with six replications. Crop phenology, growth parameters, yield and yield components were evaluated. Primary root length, lateral root length, lateral root number, and root dry weight were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the application of lime. Stand count at harvest, above-ground biomass, plant height, total seed number per pot, and seed number per plant were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the application of lime. Accession 215454a, has shown a greater value of relative root length measurement with 73.76 centimeter. The study revealed the impact of soil acidity could be so severe it can result to the extent of having no yield as compared to lime-treated soils. This necessitates the use of lime in areas that are prone to acidic soils. Overall, the accession that showed relative tolerance from early stage screening can be candidate for further breeding program to develop barley variety that is tolerant to acidic soils.
Research Article
Evaluation of Deficit Irrigation on Potato Yield and Water use Efficiency in Gedeo Zone, South Region
Tamirneh Kifle, Worku Nigussie, Aregash Deboch
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 15-19.
DOI: 10.36348/merjafs.2024.v04i01.002
Increased water scarcity necessitates the implementation of water-conserving irrigation management practices tosustain crop production, especially in water-limited areas. A two-year field study was conducted during 2020 and 2021 to evaluate the effect of deficit irrigation on potato yield and water use efficiency. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with four irrigation levels (100% ETc (crop evapotranspiration), 85% ETc, 70% ETc, and 55%ETc). The results showed that, deficit irrigation level have a significant difference in number of tuber per plant, marketable, total yield and water use efficiency. Potato yield significantly reduced with deficit irrigation level. Next to full irrigation the maximum yield was obtained under 85% ETc and 70%ETc with better crop and irrigation water use efficiency. Maximum crop and irrigation water use efficiency was obtained under 55% ETc. The partial budget analysis showed that the maximum acceptable MRR was obtained from 70%ETc and the highest net benefit was obtained under full irrigation. Therefore, in area where sufficient amount of water is available full irrigation is recommended to obtain maximum yield, but in water scarce area applying 85%ETcand 70%ETc is recommended with 17.5% and 23.2% yield reduction respectively with acceptable economical benefit.
Research Article
Distribution and Intensity of Coffee Berry Diseases (Colletotrichum Kahawae Waller and Bridge) in Gurage Zone
Dereje Amare
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 20-25.
DOI: 10.36348/merjafs.2024.v04i01.003
In worldwide more than 125 million people and in Ethiopia around 15-16 million peoples were derive their income from Coffee. Coffee berry disease (CBD), coffee wilt disease (CLD) and coffee leaf rust (CLR) are most important coffee diseases in Ethiopia. Previous research works have little information on CBD distribution, status and associated factors in Gurage zone southern parts of Ethiopia. This study was designed to carry out the CBD disease intensity. The assessment was done in Enemorina Ener, Ezha and Cheha districts of Gurage zone during July to August 2017. The study result indicated that CBD was prevalent in all inspected farmers’ field with a disease incidence range of 100% and 86.66%. Percent Severity Index was recorded from 38.89 to 59.44% in all assessed areas. Pearson correlation analysis showed that disease incidence (DI) and percent severity index (PSI) have positive and strong relationship with altitude (r=0.46) and (r=0.73), respectively. It is good when the study was repeated in one more production year and with including other coffee producing districts of Gurage zone. The present study gives clues to generate CBD disease management strategies as short term and develop resistant cultivars for the study area as long term strategy to increase county foreign currency.
Research Article
Performance Evaluation of a Drip Irrigation System inside the Automated Greenhouse in Huye Ecological Condition
Emmanuel Hakiruwizera, Claude Jean Hatungimana, Diogene Mutangana, Jean Claude Manishimwe, Appoline Igirimbabazi
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 26-33.
DOI: 10.36348/merjafs.2024.v04i01.004
This research, titled Performance Evaluation of a Drip Irrigation System inside the Automated Greenhouse in Huye ecological Condition, was carried out in the Research Center of Integrated Polytechnic Regional College (IPRC)-Huye Campus, which is located in the Ngoma Sector of Huye District of Rwanda, in 2023. The study has mentioned the specific objectives of determining the average emitter discharge of the irrigation system, evaluating Christiansen Coefficient Uniformity (CU), and evaluating the distribution uniformity (DU) of the system. The research design was a randomized complete block design with four replications. The experiment was conducted on 24 laterals and 288 drippers installed in the greenhouse. Each lateral had an equal distance of 36.5m and carried 94 total drippers. Data analysis of variance (ANOVA) and LSD for means were used as statistical tools in MINITAB software version 17. The confidence interval was 95%. The obtained results indicated an average discharge (q) of 3.98 L/h in the drip irrigation system, coefficient uniformity (CU) of 99.96%, and distribution uniformity (DU) of 57.72%. The research concludes that the performance of irrigation systems is excellent for water application. However, the way water is distributed in all systems is poor. In addition, the drip irrigation system may reach an adequate level of performance when it works in a shifty manner.
Research Article
Evaluation and Validation of Simple and Quick Methods of Lime Rate Determination under Acid Soil-Affected Areas of West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia
Tolossa Ameyu, Diriba Megersa, Gizaw Tesfaye
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 34-41.
DOI: 10.36348/merjafs.2024.v04i01.005
Liming acid soils is one of the available intervention options to amend soil acidity and increase crop production and productivity. The selection of a lime requirement determination easy and cheap method that is suitable to the soil conditions in a particular area is a pressing issue. Three lime requirement (LR) estimation methods i.e. (Exchangeable acidity, laboratory pH, and portable pH/Artikilee 3000) methods with one control treatment were tested in acid soils of the dhumuga learning watershed. A field study was conducted to verify the lime requirement (LR) by using portable pH methods and investigate the wheat response to lime. The treatments were laid out in an RCBD design with two farmers’ replications. The result showed that there a was significant (p<0.05) yield response to the liming. The highest grain yield of 5512.3kg ha 1 was obtained from lime treated with the pH method statistically at par with Exchangeable acidity and article 3000 methods. LR rates estimated by the Exchangeable acidity method were lower than those estimated by laboratory pH and portable pH/ Artikilee 3000. However, both methods (laboratory pH and portable pH/ Artikilee 3000) overestimated the lime requirements of the study soil. The exchangeable acidity method was lower than the LR estimated with the article 3000 method by an average of 38 %, which indicates article 3000 methods overestimated the LR for the present study area, while exchangeable acidity methods were found to be reliable estimation LR. Lime rates determined with the three lime testing methods (pH method, Portable pH or Artikilee 3000 and exchangeable acidity) gave yield advantages of 31.94, 24.93 and 20.45%, respectively over the non-limed treatment. From the results of this study, it was concluded that the exchangeable acidity method gives a more reliable estimation of the lime requirements of acid soils of the study area.
Research Article
Evaluation of Different Agricultural Limes for Bread Wheat and Fababean Production in Acid Soil of West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia
Tolossa Ameyu
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 42-48.
DOI: 10.36348/merjafs.2024.v04i01.006
The application of lime is believed to enhance soil health status through improving soil pH, base saturation and reduces Al and Mn toxicities. Liming effects depend on the source, composition, purity and fineness of the lime. The performance of three liming materials and one control treatment was evaluated in a field trial, further evaluation and validation was done at three districts on different farmers’ sites during 2023 main cropping season. The liming materials included calcitic lime, hydrated lime, and quick lime. The treatments laid out in randomized complete block design. The results of the study showed that all tested lime materials (calcitic lime, hydrated lime, and quick lime) improved yield and agronomic performance of wheat, barley and fababean in comparably. This implies that hydrated limes can serve as an alternative agricultural lime to ameliorate soil acidity. Hence, these liming materials can be used as agricultural lime material and the result is confirmed through validation across locations on different testing crops (wheat, barley and Faba bean). So, it is recommended that liming materials which can be easily accessed for the farmers is recommended because of there is no significant difference among liming material tested.
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