Pre-extension demonstration of field pea varieties in selected districts of Bale highlands, Oromiya national regional state, Ethiopia

Pre extension demonstration of improved field pea varieties was conducted in Goba, Sinana and Agarfa districts of Bale zone. The main objective of the study was to demonstrate and evaluate recently released (Weyib) variety along with standard check. The demonstration was under taken on single plot of 10mx10m area for each variety with the spacing of 30cm between rows and recommended seed rate of 75kg/ha and fertilizer rate of 100kg/ha NPS. Mini-field day involving different stakeholders was organized at each respective site. Yield data per plot was recorded and analysed using descriptive statistics, while farmers’ preference to the demonstrated varieties was identified using focused group discussion and summarized using pair wise ranking methods. The demonstration result revealed that Weyib variety performed better than the standard check (Tulu shanan variety) with an average yield of 34.47qt/ha, while that of the standard check was27.26qt/ha. Weyib variety had 17.27% yield advantage over the standard check. Thus, Weyib variety was recommended for further scaling up. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.8(3): 267-271, December 2021

Determination of Kolgrace bio-fertilizer rate for optimum greengram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) production in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

Greengram productivity has been improved by application of farmyard manures in the last two decades; however, these manures are not readily available as at when needed. In some cases, they are available but in limited supply. Kolgrace bio-fertilizer, a novel commercial product of the Association of Organic Agricultural Practitioners could serve as a superior alternative to farmyard manures. Hence, a field experiment was carried out at the Teaching & Research Farm of the Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria during the 2015 cropping season to evaluate the effects of five rates (0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, and 2.00 t ha–1) of Kolgrace bio-fertilizer on the performance of greengram. The aim was to determine the optimum rate of application of this biofertilizer for greengram production. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with four replications. Data were collected on growth and yield traits, and were subjected to analysis of variance. Results showed that Kolgrace rates significantly (p < 0.01) influenced all the traits measured with exception of fresh pod yield (FPY). Plant height (112 cm), number of leaves (87), stem girth (1.43 mm) and number of flowers (10) at 8 weeks after planting (WAP) were significantly highest with the application of 0.5 t ha–1 whereas, 0.25 t ha–1 gave best results for number of pods (42) and pod yield (3.85 t ha –1). The application of 0.5 t ha–1 is, therefore, recommended if the interest of the farmer is sprout, fodder or green manure, and 0.25 t ha–1 if the interest is for seed production.

Response of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Varieties to Blended Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulfur Fertilizer Rate at Kokate, Southern Region

Low production and productivity of potato in Ethiopia is associated with poor soil fertility and limitation of high yielding crop variety. Matching high yielding cultivar with optimum fertilization of balanced nutrients is of paramount important to boost tuber yield of potato. Hence, a field experiment was conducted during 2019/20 cropping season at Kokate testing site of Areka Agricultural Research Center in southern Ethiopia in order to evaluate the response of potato varieties to NPS fertilizer rates. Treatments used in the study were two improved varieties of potato (Gudane and Belete) one local cultivar with six rates of blended NPS (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 kg/ha NPS) combined in factorial and laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. As this investigation indicated that at all rates of NPS fertilizer, improved varieties out yielded the local cultivar Asmara with relative superiority of variety Belete for marketable tuber yield. Economic analysis revealed that the highest net benefit of 276326 Birr/ha with marginal rate of return (MRR) 3762% was obtained from variety Belete at NPS fertilizer rate of 200 kg/ha followed by variety Gudane at the same fertilizer rate with net benefit of 270350 Birr/ha and MRR of 3372%. Based on this finding, varieties Belete and Gudane could be used for production at NPS fertilizer rate of 200 kg/ha near study area and similar agro-ecologies.

Effect of Plant density and Fertilizer Application Rates on Growth, Fruit Yield and Quality of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Greenhouse Condition

Plant density and fertilization are key practices for improving the fruit quality and yield of vegetables grown in greenhouses. The experiment was performed to investigate the effects of density and fertilization on the fruit yield and quality, economic efficiency of Solanum lycopersicum L. at Duc Trong district of Lam Dong province. The density (50,000; 33,000; 25.000 plants ha-1) and the fertilizer rates (240N – 100P2O5 – 275K2O; 300N – 125P2O5 – 344K2O; 360N – 150P2O5 – 413K2O kg and 420N – 175P2O5 – 482K2O kg ha-1) were studied in a completely randomised split plot design with three blocks. The fertilizer rate (420N – 175P2O5 – 482K2O kg ha-1) was produced the highest height (562.39 cm), fruit setting rate (69.87%), number of fruit per plant (95.65 fruits), average fruit weight (106.37 g), fruit yield (441.11 tons ha-1) and marketable fruit yield (204.31 tons ha-1). The density (25,000 plants ha-1) gave the highest fruit setting rate (75.35%), number of fruit per plant (94.84 fruits), average fruit weight (113.24 g), individual fruit yield (10.02 kg per plant) and fruit yield (501.17 tons ha-1). The combination of density (25,000 plants ha-1) and fertilizer rate (420N – 175P2O5 – 482K2O kg ha-1) have the highest fruit yield (613.5 tons ha-1), marketable fruit yield (223.91 tons ha-1) and rate of return (2.44). In addition, this combination was the best density and fertilizer level management strategy for greenhouse-grown Lahay 334 tomato cultivar in Lam Dong province, Vietnam.

Response of Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] Varieties to Different Blended NPSZnB Fertilizer Rates in Haro Limmu District, Western Ethiopia : A Pilot Study

Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] plays a crucial role in achieving food and nutritional security in Ethiopia being predominant staple food. Lack of high yielding varieties suitable to the area and inadequate site-specific blended fertilizers are the major constraints to higher tef productivity. Hence, a field experiment was conducted during 2020 main cropping season to identify high yielding variety and determine economically feasible blended NPSZnB fertilizer rate at Farmers Training Center in Ucha Kebele, Haro Limmu district. Experiment included five different NPSZnB fertilizer rates (0, 50,100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1) and three Tef varieties (Negus, Tesfa and local). Treatments were factorially combined and laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results revealed that thousand seed weight of Tef was significantly influenced by main effect of varieties, blended NPSZnB fertilizer rates and their interactions. Panicle length, dry biomass yield, lodging index, grain yield, straw yield and harvest index of Tef were significantly (P<0.001) affected by main effect of blended NPSZnB fertilizer rates and the interactions of the two factors, while the panicle length, dry biomass yield, lodging index and grain yield, straw yield and harvest index of Tef were significantly (P<0.01; 0.05) affected by main effect of varieties respectively. Highest (118.20 cm) plant height, dry biomass yield (9. 64 t ha-1), straw yield (7.02 t ha-1), grain yield (2.62 t ha-1), thousand seed weight (0.42 t ha-1) and harvest index (27.1%) were recorded from Tesfa variety with 150 kg NPSZnB ha-1 blended fertilizer rate. Similarly, the highest (7.42 t ha-1), straw yield, dry biomass yield (9.76 t ha-1), grain yield (2.34 t ha-1), thousand seed weight (0.4 g) and panicle length (44.20 cm) were recorded from Tesfa variety with application of 200 kg NPSZnB ha-1 blended fertilizer rate and the highest total number of tillers (10.1) and effective number of tillers (9.7) were recorded with 150 kg NPSZnB ha-1 blended fertilizer rate. Grain yield of Tef showed increment by 91.22% with the application of 150 kg NPSZnB ha-1 with Tesfa variety over the control. Highest net profit of ETB 83229.4 with marginal rate of return of 1553.71% was recorded from Tesfa variety with application of 150 kg NPSZnB ha-1 blended fertilizer rate. Therefore, farmers of the study area should use Tesfa variety based on the grain yield and net profitability benefits achieved with 150 kg NPSZnB ha-1 fertilizer rate to enhance Tef production and productivity.

Fertilizer Rate for Optimum Growth and Yield of Egusi Melon (ColocynthiscitrullusL.)/ Hot Pepper (Capsicum chinense, Jackquin cv. rodo) Intercrop

The use of chemical fertilizers as a supplemental source of nutrients has been on the increase but they are not applied in balanced proportion by most farmers [1]. Also, fertilizer requirements of the mixed intercropping systems have been a matter of conjecture; some studies had suggested that fertilizer requirements of the dominant component be applied [2], others recommend that the sum of the sole crop requirements, be applied [3]. Teriah [4], however, stated that both practices have proved either inadequate or wasteful. In this experiment the effects of different rates of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer application on growth and yield of hot pepper and Egusi melon in an intercropping system was examined to determine optimum rate for production. The experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, in the south western part of Nigeria. It took place from March to October 2017 during the growing season. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 5 treatments (fertilizer rates) and 3 replicates. Treatments were; 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 kg/ha of NPK 15-15-15 applications. Plot size was 3m by 3m with a 1.5m gang way round each plot to reduce inter-plot effect. Data were collected on growth parameters at 6 weeks after treatment (WAT) and continued at two-week intervals until 10 WAT. Four plants each of pepper and Egusi melon from the inner rows were randomly selected and tagged for the purpose of data collection. Data on yield were also collected at ripening. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out on each observation and the Least Significant Difference (LSD) was used for means separation (P≤0.05). The effects of fertilizer rates showed significant difference on pepper plant height, number of leaves, number of branches and leaf area. However, there was no significant difference in the effect of fertilizer rate on days to 50% flowering of pepper. Number of vines and vine length of Egusi melon were significantly different in their responses to fertilizer rates but the leaf area and days to 50% flowering of melon were similar at the various treatment levels. Meanwhile, total fruit yield of pepper, number of Egusi melon pods per hectare and the dry matter yield of Egusi melon showed significant difference. It was concluded from the study that the growth and yield of pepper and Egusi melon in intercrop increased with increase in fertilizer rate up to 400Kg/ha of NPK (15:15:15). However, higher fertilizer application rates should be explored in future studies for a better yield increase. These studies should be carried out with various compositions of inorganic and organic fertilizer application rates to ensure sustainable fertilizer application and to also preserve the natural fertility of the soil.

Effect of Plant Population and NPS Fertilizer Rates on Yield and Yield Components of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) in Bako, Western Ethiopia

Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) is a pulse crop with multiple uses and it was introduced recently in the study area. However, its productivity is limited by inadequate plant population and NPS fertilizer rate in the study area. Hence, this study was carried out to determine optimum plant population and NPS fertilizer rates for mung bean borda varaity in Bako, Western Ethiopia. The experiment comprised of factorial combinations of four different plant populations (500000, 571429, 666667, and 800000 plants ha-1) and five NPS fertilizer rates (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1) and it was laid out using Randomised Complete Block Design with three replications. The results indicated that main effect of plant population and NPS fertilizer rates had significant effect on phenology, growth, yield, and yield components of mung bean, except stand count, above-ground biomass, straw and seed yield, which were affected by the main factors and their interactions. Highest nodule dry weight per plant (0.14g), number of pods per plant (4.74g), seeds per pod (10.26g), 100-seed weight (3.61g), and harvest index (31.16%) were observed under minimum plant population (500,000 plants ha-1). Moreover, the highest days for 50% flowering (49.08 days), 90% physiological maturity (64.5 days), effective nodules per plant (2.28),nodule fresh weight (0.33gm), nodule dry weight (0.141g plant-1),plant height (11.10cm), number of leaves per plant (8.80), number of branches per plant (3.11), tap root length (8.99cm), number of pods per plant (4.79), seeds per pod (10.78g), 100-seed weight (3.73) and harvest index (32.98%) were observed under 200 kg ha-1 NPS fertilizer. The highest stand count per hectare (780,667 plants ha−1), above-ground biomass (4,947kg ha-1), seed yield ha-1 (1,371kg ha-1) and straw yield (3,575 kg ha-1) were recorded at higher plant population (800,000 plants ha-1) with 200kg NPS ha-1 fertilizer rate (kg ha-1). However, higher plant population (800,000 plants ha-1) at the rate of 100 kg NPS ha-1fertilizer produced 1,325 kg ha-1seed yield which was the highest net benefit (50,080 ETB) and marginal rate of returns (5,610.8%). Therefore, application of 100 kg NPS ha-1 fertilizer rate with plant population of 800,000 plants ha-1 can be recommended for mung bean production in the study area and similar agro-ecologes. However, the current study was carried out only in one location for one cropping season, hence further studies over many seasons and across several locations are needed to have a conclusive recommendation for wide range of agro ecologies for mung bean production.