Asian Journal of Agriculture and Allied Sciences
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Effects of vermicompost and inorganic fertilizers on the soil properties, yield components, and bread wheat yield in Sinana District, Bale Highlands, Ethiopia
No full textA field experiment was made to evaluate the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield of wheat and soil chemical properties. The study was conducted for two consecutive cropping seasons (2023-2024) on farmers’ fields in the Sinana district of Oromia National Regional State. Therefore, this study has attempted to evaluate the effect of the integrated use of vermicompost and inorganic fertilizer on bread wheat production and soil fertility improvement in the study area. Fertilizer source organic Sources of nutrients both included (vermicompost) and inorganic fertilizer (urea and NPS) were used in the integrated form. These treatments consist of: T1 = Control (no input) T2 = Recommend NP, T3 =25% RVC + 75% N + Rec P, T4 =100% RVC + rec P, T5 =50% RVC + 50% N + rec P and T6 =75% RVC + 25% N + Rec P. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with three replications. Soil sampling and agronomic data on wheat grain yield and yield components were collected. Accordingly, the highest mean grain yield (5403.67kgha-1) was recorded from the plot of T2 (Recommended rate from inorganic) flowed by (5186.00 kgha-1) was recorded from T3 (25% RVC + 75% N + Rec P) while the lowest grain yield (2637.67 kgha-1) was recorded from control plot. The partial budget analysis was performed for alternative uses of integrated organic and inorganic fertilizer applications for bread wheat production. The results showed that the application of integrated vermicompost with recommended rates of inorganic NP significantly increased the yield and yield components. It can be concluded that the application of integrated vermicompost and recommended rate of inorganic NP fertilizers (25 % Equivalent N from + 75 % N + Rec P is desirable) based on environmental sustainability for future productivity. This experiment has to be repeated over seasons and locations to make conclusive recommendations for the study area
Genotype by Environment Interaction and Grain Yield Stability of Food Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Genotypes in East Shewa
Get PDFThis study, conducted at the Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center (ATARC) in Lume and Dugda Districts during the 2021 and 2022 cropping seasons, aimed to identify stable, high-yielding food barley genotypes suitable for the East Shewa Zone and similar agro-ecologies. Fourteen genotypes were evaluated across six environments using the AMMI and GGE-Biplot models. Data on yield and related factors were collected and analyzed, showing significant effects of genotype, environment, and their interaction on food barley performance. The AMMI model showed that the environment contributed 54.55%, GXE 16.15%, and genotype 9.08% to total variation. The higher influence of the environment suggests its crucial role in determining food barley yields. The first two IPCAs, IPCA-I (44.6%) and IPCA-II (27.7%), were the most accurate models predicting genotype stability within GEI. Genotypes G-5 and G-6 were the most stable and high-yielding across test sites, making them potential release candidates. These findings have significant implications for improving food security in drought-prone regions by providing stable barley varieties for diverse agro-ecologies
Evaluation of Improved Durum Wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum) Varieties in North Shewa Oromia
Get PDFEvaluating durum wheat varieties in various conditions is crucial in determining their stability performance and adaptability. In this study, 10 durum wheat varieties were evaluated in four sites to examine genotype-environment (G E) interactions and their effect on yield stability across varied environments. A field experiment was conducted at the four stations of Fitche Agricultural research center for two consecutive years. The experiment was layout in Randomized Completed Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Nine agronomic and yield-related trait data were evaluated and analyzed. The pooled over- locations analysis result indicated that significant differences among tested varieties for most traits including grain yield were observed. The maximum grain yield was recorded from Gerardo variety with mean of 2156.2kgha-1 where as the minimum was recorded from Tesfaye variety. The results of the GGE biplot revealed that the variety "Gerardo" is stable across the testing locations since it is situated inside the concentric circle. In order to enhance the production of durum wheat in Northern Oromia other similar ecologies, the Gerardo variety was found to be the most stable and productive variety
Response of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) Yield for Plant Density and Blended Fertilizer Rates under Irrigated Condition in Lowland Areas of South Omo Zone, Ethiopia
Get PDFSorghum is among the very important cereal crops in Ethiopia. However, the yield of this crop is very low due to lack of appropriate crop management and soil fertility decline. To solve these problems a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different intra-row spacings and blended fertilizer rates on yield and yield components of sorghum in Dasenech and Nyangatom districts of South Omo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. The experiment comprised of 12 treatment combinations; i.e., three intra-row spacing (15, 25, and 35 cm) and four rates (i.e., 0, 50, 100, and 125 kg ha-1) of blended Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Boron (NPSB) fertilizer. Arranged as 3X4 factorial based on randomized complete block design in three replicates. The analysis of variance indicated that the interaction between intra-row spacing and blended fertilizer rate had a highly significant effect (P < 0.01) on grain yield. According to the result the highest grain yield (5.28t ha-1) and net benefit (90,890 Eth-birr ha-1) with 2475 % Marginal Rate of Return (MRR) was obtained from 25cm (intra-row spacing) treated with 100 kg ha-1 of NPSB fertilizer rates at Nyangatom location. Whereas, at Dasenech location, the highest grain yield (3.96 t ha-1) and net benefit (67872 Eth-birr ha-1) with MRR of 11600 % were obtained from similar spacing but treated with 50 kg ha-1 of NPSB fertilizer rates. Based on the yield response and economic analysis, 100 kg ha-1 of NPSB blended fertilizer with 25 cm of intra-row spacing for Dasenech, and 50 kg ha-1 of NPSB blended fertilizer rates with 25 cm of intra-row spacing for Nyangatom locations can be adopted under irrigated conditions
Biology, Molecular Genetics, and Host Interactions of Soybean Mosaic Virus
No full textSoybean mosaic virus (SMV), a member of the Potyviridae family, is one of the most economically significant viruses affecting soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) crops globally. This review comprehensively examines the virological and genetic characteristics of SMV, its transmission mechanisms, host specificity, genomic structure, and the functional roles of its proteins, as well as the immune response of the host plant. The roles of viral proteins such as HC-Pro and CP, along with the DAG, KLSC, and PTK motifs, are critically analyzed for their contribution to aphid- and seed-mediated transmission. Genetic diversity and inter-strain differences in SMV isolates from the USA, China, Korea, and other regions, including evidence of recombination and mutation-driven evolution, are presented. Host resistance genes such as Rsv1, Rsv3, and Rsv4 mediate hypersensitive and extreme resistance, with molecular determinants including P3, HC-Pro, and CI proteins. This paper also analyzes the plant's defensive mechanisms, including salicylic acid, jasmonate, and ethylene signalling pathways, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes. These findings provide crucial insights for breeding SMV-resistant soybean cultivars and developing integrated control strategies. The study insights form a foundation for the development of SMV-resistant soybean cultivars, the implementation of marker-assisted selection (MAS) strategies, and the design of integrated disease management programs tailored to the molecular biology of the virus and its interaction with the soybean host
Assessment of Genetic Variability and Performance of Field Pea (Pisum sativum) Advanced Genotypes Across Environments
Get PDFField peas (Pisum sativum L.) belong to the Leguminosae family. The crop provides valuable and accessible protein, complementing cereals and providing valuable food and feed to many poor people. The foundation of plant breeding lies in genetic variability, which is generated by the genetic differences among individuals within a population. This variability is essential for developing new crop varieties and improving traits. Therefore, this experiment was conducted at Bekoji and Debre Markos research sites. It consisted of 35 advanced field pea genotypes evaluated under rain fed conditions during the 2023 cropping season utilizing α-lattice design with two replications. The study aims to identify patterns of genetic variation through morpho-agronomic assessments, offering valuable insights for future breeding programs. The analyses of variance for all traits studied indicated significant differences (P < 0.001) between testing locations. The traits of grain yield and plant height showed significant differences at (P < 0.01). Most traits, except for days to flowering, including grain yield, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, days to maturity, and ascochyta blight, did not show significant differences due to genotype × environment interaction. The study examined variability, heritability, genetic advance, and genetic advance as a percentage of the mean for all the characters under investigation. Selection based on highly heritable traits often leads to more successful outcomes. By using heritability along with other variability measures, we can predict gains under specific selection intensities, enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of crop improvement. The number of pods per plant and seeds per pod also demonstrated moderate genetic advances, making them important selection criteria. In contrast, plant height exhibited low heritability (H2b) values and a low genetic advance. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was generally higher than the genetic coefficient of variation for most of the traits, indicating substantial environmental influences on genetic expression. The findings also indicate that a narrow base population will not generate wide genetic variation for crop improvement. This lack of diversity can limit the potential for developing new varieties and enhancing desirable traits in plants, emphasizing the importance of a broader genetic base in breeding programs
Stem Rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp tritici) Management in Wheat through Fungicide Spray Frequencies in Central Ethiopia
Get PDFAmong various wheat diseases, stem rust caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. Tritici is the most striking, contributing to large yield losses in Ethiopia. The effect of fungicide spray frequency on yield components of bread wheat was studied under natural infection conditions at Mareko and Dalocha during 2021 growing season. Two different fungicides, namely, Nativo SC 300 (trifloxystrobin 100 g/l + tebuconazole 200 g/l) at 0.75 l/ha and Tilt® 250EC (propiconazole) at 0.5 l/ha, were compared in field at three spraying frequencies. Experiment was in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Unsprayed controls were also included for comparison. The disease resulted in relative grain loss up to 53.5% at Dalocha and 41.9% at Mareko in control plots. However, terminal rust severity, average coefficient of infection and AUDPC values were significantly (p<0.05) reduced due to frequent fungicide application. Compared with those the untreated plots, thousand kernel weight and grain yield increased (p ≤ 0.05) in fungicide-treated plots. Moreover, Nativo SC 300 provided the greatest increase in yield and was found effective in decreasing stem rust across both locations. Significant negative correlations were observed between TRS, ACI and AUDPC and between grain yield, kernel per spike and TKW, with correlation coefficients ranging from r=-0.85** to r=-0.33**. Cost-benefit analysis revealed, the combined use of Nativo SC 300 three times at ten-day intervals provides the greatest net benefit and is the best management strategy
Preservative Potential of Cussonia barteri Seed Essential Oil against Fungal Spoilage in Yams (Dioscorea rotundata)
Get PDFThis study investigated the preservative potential of essential oil extracted from Cussonia barteri seeds. The physicochemical properties of the oil, including pH, specific gravity, color, and aroma, were characterized and its antifungal activity against three fungal species (Aspergillus spp, Penicillium spp, and Mucor spp) associated with yam spoilage was evaluated, using In vitro assays. The results showed that the essential oil had a pH of 5.2, specific gravity of 0.85, and a mild, subtle aroma. The oil exhibited antifungal activity against the three fungal species, with the highest activity observed at a concentration of 500mg/ml. The minimum fungicidal concentration of the essential oil was also determined. The study concludes that the essential oil from Cussonia barteri seeds has the potential to serve as a natural preservative, thereby extending the shelf life of yams and reducing post-harvest losses. Further research is recommended to evaluate the oil's stability, toxicity, and regulatory compliance before commercial use. This study contributes to the development of natural preservative systems for sustainable food preservation methods
Influence of Extracts from Euphorbia helioscopia L. and Oxalis corniculata L. on the Germination and Seedling Development of Triticum aestivum L.
No full textAllelopathy refers to a biological phenomenon in which one plant releases biochemicals that influence the germination and growth of neighbouring plants. This study evaluated the allelopathic potential of two common weeds, Euphorbia helioscopia L. and Oxalis corniculata L., on the germination and early growth of Triticum aestivum L. The experiment was conducted under a completely randomised design (CRD) with three replications per treatment. Aqueous extracts were prepared from fresh shoots and roots at concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 15% (w/v), while dry plant material was mixed with sterile sand for mulching treatments. A distilled water control was included. Germination and growth parameters were recorded after 72 hours of incubation at 25 °C. Results indicated that aqueous extracts from both weeds significantly (p < 0.05) reduced wheat germination percentage, plumule and radicle length, and root number compared with the control. However, low concentrations (5%) and mixed shoot extracts exhibited mild stimulatory effects, increasing radicle length to 6.2 cm and plumule length to 9.0 cm, compared with 5.3 cm and 6.6 cm in the control, respectively. Mulching treatments consistently inhibited germination and seedling growth, except the mixed treatment, which slightly enhanced leaf area (2.1 cm² vs. 1.5 cm² in the control). These findings suggest that E. helioscopia and O. corniculata produce bioactive compounds that can suppress wheat germination and growth. Their strong allelopathic potential warrants further investigation for possible applications in natural weed and pest management
On Farm Participatory Evaluation and Demonstration of Improved Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) Varieties Under Irrigation Condition in South-Eastern Ethiopia
Get PDFIn Ethiopia, tomatoes are one of the most economically important vegetable crops. However, a number of factors, including a lack of improved and adapted tomato varieties, limit their productivity and production. A field study was conducted during the 2020 -2021 cropping season at Arsi areas, Tiyo, and Zuway Dugda districts and aimed to evaluate the performance of released tomato varieties, on-farm demonstrations, and varietal selection based on farmers’ preferences. Six released tomato varieties, Chali, Melkashola, Melkasalsa, Eshete, ARP-D2, and Fetan were planted on basic plots at farms and replicated at the research station. Data were collected on growth, yield and yield related traits from the mother trials and farmers perception on the demo varietal trials. The analysis of variance revealed that the tested varieties had significant differences (P≤0.05) in yield and yield-related traits. As a result, Gelilema variety had significant marketable yield (55.91 t ha-1) and total yield (65.24 t ha-1), followed by Melkashola variety with marketable yield (47.42 t ha-1) and total yield (59.12 t ha-1). Total fruit yield correlated positively and significantly with marketable yield (0.89), average fruit weight (0.87), number of fruit per cluster (0.65), number of cluster per plant (0.97), and was negatively associated with plant height (-0.05). Farmers' preferred traits, such as higher fruit yield, better disease tolerance, fruit size, shape, transportability, and higher market demand, were used to rank the most preferred varieties at both distinct areas. At Golja kebele, Gelilema was the most preferred and best-performing variety, followed by Melkashola. At Zuway Dugda, Melkashola and Melkasalsa were selected as the first and second choices, respectively. As a result, in order to address the demand of the farming community public agricultural extension and other stakeholders should promote the selected improved tomato varieties from smallholder farmers to large-scale production in the area of study and comparable agro-ecologies