Measuring the Extent of Restoration using Coffea Arabica L. as a Bioassay Plant
| dc.contributor.advisor | Prof. Legesse Negash | |
| dc.contributor.author | Chekol, Habtamu | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-12-15T11:00:01Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2023-11-09T04:21:43Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-12-15T11:00:01Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2023-11-09T04:21:43Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2013-07 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study was undertaken as part of the ongo ing biological restoration efforts at the "Center for Indigenous Trees Propagation and Biodi versity Development in Ethiopia" (50·55 Km west of Addis Ababa, 09°01' 188" N; 038~1'566" E). The main objective of the study was to measure extent of restoration over a degraded landscape usi ng CoJJea arabica L. as a bioassay plant. In order to measure this, the phrase " Restoration Bioassay" was coined for coffee plants which were established beneath Acacia abysl'inica, Croton macrostachYlil' and Ellclea divinorum. The trees were regenerated after 5-6 years' of intensive restorat ion acti vi ties. All the vegetat ive and reproductive responses were quantified on randomly se lected 3 to 5 year·o ld coffee plants. Al so, soil samples from the si tes being restored, and those From the non- restoring adjacent areas were collected and analyzed for macro- and micro-n utrients, as well as for texture, moisture, density and elect rical conduct ivi ty. Through thi s study, it was found that mean number of nodes, leaves, as well as internode lengths were significantly (P<0.05) greater for coffee plants establ ished and maintained for 3-4 years beneath the A. abyssinica shades, compared to those beneath the C. mocros/(lchYlIs and E. divillorllm shades. Although no significant difference was found in height growth. mean leaf area of coffee plants that benefited by the shade of A. abyssinica was different, compared to those grown beneath the shades of C. macrostachYlis or E. divinorlll1l. Further, key phys iological and/or economic indices such as number of green berries, fresh weight of berries, s ize of beans, mature red berry harvest per plant, berry to bean ral io, weight of bean per berry. as well as weight per 1000 iii beans were all sign ifican tly (P<O.05) higher in coffee plants grown under A. abyssi"ica than those grown under either C. macroslachyus or E. dilli"orulfl. Significant (P<O.OOI) differences in the number of flower buds and flowers were observed between the control and treatment groups in coffee plants where GAJ levels of 100, 250 and 350 mg 1'1 were sprayed on the l eavl~ s. Soil analyses results yielded signi ficant (P<0.05) diffe rences in soil phosphorous, total ni trogen, organic carbon, potassium and electrical conductivi ty between the sites being restored through use of native trees and shrubs and those that have not been restored. Compared to the non-restoring adjacent sites, the leve ls of avai lable phosphorous, total nitrogen and organic carbon were found to be 54, 39 and 56 % higher, respectively, in the sites that were in the process of restoration. This study showed that restoring native trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses over a degraded landscape restores keystone natural resources wi th fa r-reachi ng pos it ive consequences on economic growth, food security, biodiversi ty, and livelihood restoration. We, therefore, recommend that landscape restoration using native trees and shrubs must be scaled-up using mechanisms detailed in this thes is. Further, since Ethiopia's nature and natural resources have been dilapidated for generat ions, and since the nation's poverty has been the direct consequences of these actions, biological restoration must be considered Ethiopia's priority agendum both by lawmakers and the Government that enforces the laws. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/29324 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Addis Ababa University | en_US |
| dc.subject | Coffee reproductive traits; Degraded landscapes; Ethiopia; Indigenous trees; Restoration Bioassay | en_US |
| dc.title | Measuring the Extent of Restoration using Coffea Arabica L. as a Bioassay Plant | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |