Browsing by Author "Negash, Legesse (Professer)"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Benefits of Some Selected Native Shade Trees for Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) Production: Evaluation of Farmers’ Perception in Goma Wereda, Jimma Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2017-09-05) Nura, Abdo; Negash, Legesse (Professer)
    Coffea arabica L. is organically produced by farmers in Southwestern Ethiopia under the shade of various native trees. The main purposes of this study were: (1) to assess the benefits of some selected native trees for coffee production; and, (2) to evaluate farmers’ perception towards this economically important tree crop species. The study was conducted in Goma Wereda, Jimma Zone Oromia Regional State. Semi-structured interviews were administered to 234 coffee farmers. From these sample interviewees, a total of 54 farmers were selected based on their long experience in coffee production for further in-depth interview, and also 7 of them were taken from 54 key informants for preference ranking and direct matrix ranking. A total of 26 species, categorized in 20 genera and belonging to 12 families, were studied. The highest number of species studied (7) was recorded for Fabaceae. Albizia schimperiana Olive and Croton macrostachyus Del. were the highest in distribution in the coffee farms studied. Of the 26 tree species studied, only 11 were found to be farmers’ favorite shade trees. These favorite native trees were identified to be A. schimperiana (100%), Acacia abyssinica Hochst.ex Benth (95.9%), Millettia ferruginea (Hochst) Bak (94.4%), Cordia africana Lam (93.2), Albizia gummifera (J.F.Gmel.) CA.Sm. (92.7), Albizia grandibracteata Taub. (91.0%), Entada abyssinica Steud.ex A.Rich. (83.8%), C .macrostachyus (44.9%), Ficus ovata Vahl (2.6%). In addition to 24 native trees two exotic trees Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr.Var.nubica Chiov. (8.1%) and Grevillea robusta R.Br were also studied. The two exotic trees were included for comparative purposes only. Farmers favored the studied trees based on the following major criteria: (1) tree size; (2) tree canopy area; (3) crown shape (with umbrella-shaped crown being preferable); and, (4) easily decomposable leaf litters. Farmers’ positive perception about the studied shade trees included: soil fertility enhancement, soil moisture improvement, modulation of light intensity, increments in coffee trees longevity and coffee yields, as well as enhancement of coffee qualities. By preference ranking and direct matrix iv ranking A. schimperiana Oliv, A. abyssinica Hochst.ex Benth and M. ferruginea (Hochst) Bak stood first, second and third, respectively. Farmers pointed out to various challenges confronting their coffee small-holder plantations, including: occurrences of frost, intense radiation, soil erosion, competition from weeds, invasion by grasses, as well as berry overbearing. Farmers emphasized that berry overbearing causes die-back, entails more frequent attacks by coffee berry diseases, compared to coffee trees grown under native shade trees. Among the most disliked trees were: Sapium ellipticum, (Krauss) Pax, Celtis africana Burm.f and Trichilia dregeana Sond. These three native trees were disliked by the farmers because of their excessive water requirements and dense canopies. The majority of farmers reported that A. schimperiana and C. africana were highly threatened due to A. schimperiana’s barks being eaten by Colobus guereza Ruppell as well as attacks of the trees’ stems by ants and worms. Threats on C. africana include economic benefits as a timber tree, as well as use for fuel wood and for other local utilities.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Germination Responses, Early Growth Performances, Uses and Community Perceptions of Rhamnus Prinoides L’herit (Rhamnaceae) at T.Maychew Wereda, Central Zone, Tigray Regional State, Ethiopia.
    (Addis Ababa University, 2017-09-02) Gebreaftse, Efrem; Negash, Legesse (Professer)
    Gesho is scientifically R. prinoides that belongs to genus Rhamnus, family Rhamnacae and order Rhamnales that grows at altitude ranges from 1400-3200 masl. The objective of the study was to assess berry germination responses of Rhamnus prinoides L’Herit (Rhamnaceae). The study also addressed farmers’ perceptions about this economically useful plant. This is achieved by designing and administering appropriate set of questionnaires to randomly selected respondents. The growth media used were mixtures of red soil, animal dung and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1, respectively under shade conditions. The study found that treated groups of seeds started germinating 20 days after planting these in the germination media, but the control group started after 22 days. Treated seeds yielded a final germination of 84%, while the control seeds resulted in 60%. Seedling survival of the treated R. prinoides seeds was 84.5%, while the control group was 66.6%. The mean root collar diameter provided 1.2 mm and 1.1 mm for plants derived from the treated seeds and the control seeds respectively. Mean value of height measured three times is 1.55cm, 3.05 cm 5.05 cm, and 1.5 cm 2.97 cm 4.85 cm for plants derived from the treated and the control seeds, respectively. At the same time, mean number of leaves (2.2, 3.3, 6.1 and 2, 3, 5.2) respectively at treated group with significant value. Dry weights (0.045 g and 0.032 g) for plants derived from the treated and control seeds, respectively, were significantly (p < 0.05) different from one another. Questionnaires presented to selected members of communities indicated that gesho plant is evergreen (with characteristically deep-green leaves), ecologically friendly and economically useful. They affirmed that the species can resist the effect of termites and can be harvested annually, if environmental conditions are favorable. However, the farmers lamented that this useful plant was highly affected by exotic plants such as eucalypt trees, which have become all too common around homesteads and smallholder backyard farms. Members of the communities (100%) said that R. prinoides has multipurpose uses, including its use for traditional beverages (tella, tej, areki), for medicine, as well as for economic benefits. According to 87.5% of the respondents, gesho plants differ in their periods of flowering and fruiting. Significant number of respondents (75%) said that, gesho plants can grow to flowering within 2-3 years, provided that environmental conditions are favorable. These respondents added that flowering often occurs in June and July of anyone year. Quite a number of respondents (25%) said, the plant can flower continuously, thus producing berries that pass through different developmental stages that range from immature green and red to mature, black (purple) stage, at which berries are eaten up by birds. This needs a great deal of care and patience is required for collecting ripe berries, since the latter are favorite foods for birds. Most respondents (65%) said, they collect ripened fruits and they follow correct steps but (35%) collect immature red from harvested leaves lead to an efficient germination. A significant percentage (77.5%) of the respondents explained that seedling establishment around homesteads is a challenge since it requires a constant supply of water. However, quite a number of the same respondents (22.5%) emphasized the possibility of establishing gesho plants around homesteads. The study also found out that it is not possible to make gesho leaf harvests more than twice a year (70% of the respondents), while 30% of them claimed that more than two-times harvest per year is possible if water and other inputs are available.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Growth and Yield Performanceof Bread Wheat (Triticumaestivium L.) Grown In Vertisol and Nitosol in Gozamin Wereda, North Western Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2017-08-02) Tibebu, Zebider; Negash, Legesse (Professer)
    Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important food grain sources of the livelihood farmers of the Gozamin Wereda in North-Western Ethiopia. However, the productivity of the crop is markedly low due to low soil fertility and associated low soil nutrient availability, especially nitrogen and phosphorous. Reduced plant nitrogen use efficiency, erratic seasonal rainfalls, as well as inadequate fertilizer management practices have also contributed to the low productivity of wheat in the region. The present study designed pot experiment in which 100 plastic sleeves (depth 14 cm; diameter 10 cm ) were filled with each of the field collected nitosol and vertisol. The experiments were conducted at Yemeka (Gozamin) in north western Ethiopia during October 28/2016 to March 5/2017 .The pots lay as a completely randomized design. Sow bread wheat seed, watering was performed every one day interval and growth performances of the plant were followed by measuring plant height, number of leaves, tiller, spike length, seed, grain yield (g) per plant, as well as biomass determination on randomly sampled plants. The results demonstrates that number of leaves, tillers, kernels, mass of grain yield, were highly significant (P<0.05) affected in vertisol and nitosol. For example mean height of plant in vertisol 32cm and in nitosol 25.4cm, mean number of leaves in vertisol 17 and in nitosol 11, effective tillers in vertisol 4 and in nitosol 1.5, kernel per plant in vertisol 152 and in nitosol 66.5.Based on this result vegetative growth and yield performances of bread wheat were higher in vertisol than nitosol. These results were analyzed and evaluated in light of providing the local farmers with requisite options and confidence for choice of soil type. Farmer sows bread wheat and use adequate fertilizer on vertisol to get more yield than nitosol. Based on the results, we conclude that sowing bread wheat in vertisol can provide more yield, compared to nitosol.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Studies on the Economic Benefits and Extent of Drought Adaptation of Apple (Malus Domestica Borkh.) Genotypes Introduced To Ethiopia
    (2019-01-04) Melke, Abayneh; Negash, Legesse (Professer)
    The present study was aimed at evaluating the economic benefits and adaptability of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) genotypes domesticated, propagated, and cultivated in five different locations of Ethiopia’s highlands. In addition to in depth studies on the economic benefits of this useful fruit crop, the present thesis also focused on identifying early maturing, drought tolerant, as well as diseases and pest tolerant genotypes with desirable fruit yield and quality characteristics preferred by both the farmers and consumers. To this end, major apple genotypes introduced to Ethiopia during the last century were evaluated at five distinct geographical locations and under controlled glasshouse conditions. Eco-geographic characterization in five selected locations (namely: Holetta, Debrebirhan, Degem, Hidabuabote and Agena) on eight apple genotypes (Anna, Dorsette golden, Princesa, Granny smith, Crispin, Gala, Golden delicious and Red delicious) identified specificity in the time of flowering, fruit setting and maturity, as well as adaptability of genotypes to the environments with respect to their chilling requirements for flowering and fruit setting. Results from field study conducted at these locations revealed that cultivar evaluation and selection will depend on growers’ preferred attributes such as maturity status of the genotypes (early, medium or late), fruit yield per tree, fruit weight, size and color, the type of rootstock used and branching habit of the scion. The present thesis found that genotypes Anna, Dorsette golden and Princesa consistently showed early maturity and high fruit yields at all the tested sites. Field studies conducted at Debrebirhan addressed physiological response of the eight genotypes to drought stress, by considering different physiological traits, including plant water relations (RWC), leaf water potential (ψw), net photosynthesis (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (E), as well as water use efficiency (WUE). Total chlorophyll (Chl) content; growth performaces such as root dry mass (RDM), total biomass (BM), total leaf area (TLA), specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf area ratio (LAR) were determined and compared among the studied genotypes. Highly strong positive relationships were obtain between biomass and water use efficiency (r2 = 0.92); and between biomass and root dry mass (r2 =0.70). Drought susceptibility index identified that Anna, Dorsette golden and Granny smith were drought tolerant genotypes. Throughout the study period, these genotypes maintained higher RWC, ψw, WUE, Pn, RDM and low rate of Gs and E, compared to Golden delicious, Red delicious and Royal gala. V Conversely, genotypes Golden delicious, Red delicious and Royal gala showed higher rates of Gs and E, hence their classification as drought susceptible genotypes. The aforementioned genotypes were also evaluated for drought tolerance in a glasshouse to further characterize their adaptability for drought prone areas. In addition to repeating measurements on the physiological parameters considered for the field studies, biochemical determinations on chlorophylls ‘a’ and ‘b’, proline, soluble sugar, lipid peroxidation expressed as malondialdehyde (MDA) content, drought induced soluble proteins (dehydrins) and antioxidant enzyme (AOX) activities, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were measured in leaves of apple genotypes maintained in a glasshouse and subjected to induced soil water potential (Ψmd) of ~ −2.75 MPa). Induced drought stress resulted in reduced RWC, leaf water potential (LWP), Gs, E and Pn in all the genotypes studied. Under drought stress, apple genotypes Anna, Dorsette golden and Granny smith maintained higher RWC, higher LWP and lower SLA, compared to Golden delicious, Red delicious and Royal gala. Clearly, the glasshouse studies confirmed the field studies that the former group of genotypes (Anna, Dorsette golden and Granny smith) are considered as drought tolerant, compared to Golden delicious, Red delicious and Royal gala. The overall results from the glasshouse and field experiments showed that plant water relations (RWC, LWP) and gas exchange measurements (Gs, E and Pn) appeared as a greater index of genotype’s tolerance or susceptibility to drought stress, followed by the elevated activities of antioxidant enzymes.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Study on the Status of Beekeeping In Qolla–Temben Wereda, Tigray Regional State
    (2017-09-01) Teklu, Nigsti; Negash, Legesse (Professer)
    The present study was undertaken in Qolla-Temben Wereda, Central Tigray Zone, Tigray Regional State. The study addressed diverse issues related to beekeeping, including beekeepers perception about bee biology, honeybee flora, as well as honey harvesting and marketing. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, face to face discussions with the farmers and/or development agents; by making household and/or field observations, as well as through market surveys. The collected data were analyzed and summarized under the following five categories, namely: (1) socioeconomic characteristics of the studied households; (2) Beekeeping activities of the studied communities; (3) farmers perception about bee biology and honeybee flora; (4) honey harvesting; and (5) honey marketing. The present study found out that, of the total beekeepers interviewed 86 were married while 10 and 3 were single and divorced, respectively. It was discovered that 75 of the respondents prefer modern beehives to traditional beehives. On the other hand, 20 of the respondents showed preference to traditional beehives, compared to 3 of the farmers who preferred transitional beehives. The present study showed that the prime time for honey harvesting in Qolla Temben Wereda was October to November, with October as a peak harvesting month for obtaining the largest quantity and quality of honey. The study also found out that, of the total beekeepers 59.2% have reservations on the favorability of the prevailing honey markets. On the other hand, 40.8% beekeepers rate the prevailing market favorability for their honey as positive. They said that the financial and labor inputs of farmers on beekeeping do bring the intended benefits. But this benefit depends up on the season of the year, when it may double, triple or even more. The present study identified lack of knowledge and skilled manpower (56.1% of the respondents), as well as lack of proper equipment (23.5%), and prevalence of pests and predators (20.4%) as major constraints for honey production by small-holder farmers. We conclude that beekeeping brings substantial changes in the farmer’s socioeconomic conditions by serving as alternative means of income generation.