East African Journal of Sciences最新文献

{"title":"Canning Quality Evaluation of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Varieties Grown in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia","authors":"S. D. Cliff, M. Post, I. Davidson","doi":"10.4314/EAJSCI.V6I1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EAJSCI.V6I1","url":null,"abstract":"Selection of high canning quality common bean has a paramount importance in canning industryand canning quality is mostly evaluated by using combination of different parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the canning quality of common bean varieties together with physico-chemical properties, proximate composition, minerals, phytochemicals and bioavailability of micronutrients. Canning quality was evaluated by using three different canning mediums such as brine, brine with 10 mg kg-1CaCl2 and tomato sauce. In all three canning mediums, the common bean varieties showed significant differences in their canning quality traits. Percentage washed drained weight ranged between 55.05-62.66, 53.44-60.78, 51.34-56.77 for beans canned in brine, brine with 10 mg kg-1 CaCl2 and tomato sauce, respectively. The results revealed the optimum hydration coefficient value of 1.8 for all common bean varieties. Visual appearances, splits, degree of clumping, starchiness, flavor and taste and seed size were also determined through a visual rating procedure as canning quality traits. Awash Melka and Awash-1 bean varieties revealed a good canning quality and Argene bean variety also showed a promising canning quality. However, Chercher and Omer bean varieties were not good enough for canning purpose. Therefore, the information generated in this study could be used by government, agricultural research centers, bean exporters or other stakeholders to enhance production and export of high canning quality common bean varieties.","PeriodicalId":33393,"journal":{"name":"East African Journal of Sciences","volume":"6 1","pages":"65-78"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4314/EAJSCI.V6I1","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70513643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Coffee Leaf Rust Epidemics (Hemileia vastatrix) in Montane Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) Forests in Southwestern Ethiopia","authors":"C. Jefuka, C. Fininsa, G. Adugna, Holger Hindorf","doi":"10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I2.71530","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I2.71530","url":null,"abstract":"Coffee ( Coffea arabica L.) is native to southwestern Ethiopia growing as understory of the rainforests that harbor huge floral and faunal diversities. Besides drastic reduction in the forest cover and low average yield, the crop is attacked by several diseases among which coffee berry disease, coffee wilt disease and coffee leaf rust caused by Colletotrichum kahawae , Gibberella xylarioides and Hemileia vastatrix , respectively, are the major fungal diseases contributing to reduced yield in the country. The epidemics of coffee leaf rust (CLR) was monitored between July 2007 and April 2008 in Bonga, Berhane-Kontir and Yayu montane coffee forest populations of southwest Ethiopia to determine the incidence and severity of CLR and its seasonal variation in the forest coffee populations and their reaction to leaf rust in the natural habitat. Thirty coffee trees were selected from each forest (three sites within a forest) coffee population to record incidence (percent rusted leaves), severity (percent leaf area damaged) and sporulated lesion density (number of lesion per leaf, SLD) from selected six branches per tree. An average of 10-12 leaves per branch was considered to determine each disease parameter. The data were analyzed using nested design (tree under location) using SAS statistical package. The occurrence of CLR significantly varied with locations and seasons. Overall mean incidence of 31.1, 21.4 and 7.9 and SLD of 2.7, 1.8 and 0.86 occurred in Yayu, Berhane-Kontir and Bonga montane coffee forest populations, respectively. Leaf rust was low (13.9%) in July 2007 and high (29.6%) in January 2008. Significant variation observed among each coffee tree within a location and season significantly interacted with both location and coffee trees within a location. The mean rust incidence varied from 0.36 to 18.5% in Bonga, 1.8 to 49% in Berhane-Kontir, and 11.8 to 62.6% in Yayu forest coffee populations. The corresponding severity ranged from 0.08 - 1.2%, 0.24 - 1.7% and 0.91 - 3.3% whereas the SLD varied from 0.08 - 1.9, 0.33 - 3.65 and 1.5 - 5.9% in that order. The observed heterogeneity of forest coffee populations to leaf rust in the field under native agro-ecology provides an opportunity to develop resistant varieties among the enormous forest coffee genetic resources and at the same time calls for strategic multi-site in situ conservation to rescue and maintain the present genetic variation and enhance co-evolutionary processes. The selected forest coffee trees that showed promising results should be further investigated for their possible value for future utilization. The location-season and coffee tree-season interaction effects necessitate characterization of Hemileia vastatrix races prevalent at each location and insist strategic variety development for contrasting environments. Keywords: Coffee Leaf Rust; Ethiopian Coffee; Epidemics; Hemileia Vastatrix ; Incidence; Seasonal Variation; Severity","PeriodicalId":33393,"journal":{"name":"East African Journal of Sciences","volume":"4 1","pages":"86-95"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I2.71530","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70513573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Replacement of Concentrate Mix With Vetch ( Vicia dasycarpa ) Hay on Feed Intake, Digestibility, Milk Yield and Composition of Lactating Crossbred Dairy Cows Fed Urea- Molasses Treated Wheat Straw","authors":"Getu Kitaw, S. Melaku, E. Seifu","doi":"10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I1.71519","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I1.71519","url":null,"abstract":"The experiment was conducted with the objective to assess the effect of replacing vetch for concentrate mix on feed intake and digestibility as well as milk production and composition in lactating crossbred (Boran x Friesian) cows kept on a basal feed of urea- molasses treated wheat straw (UMTWS). Eight crossbred cows of similar milk yield (8-10 kg d-1), body weight (BW) and stage of lactation (early lactation), but differing in parities were arranged in 4 x 4 double Latin square design. The treatments included offering urea molasses treated wheat straw basal diet ad libitum and supplementation with concentrate mix (T1), and replacement of the concentrate mix with vetch (Vicia dasycarpa) hay at the level of 25% (T2), 50% (T3) and 75% (T4). The concentrate mix consisted of 74% wheat bran, 25% noug seed (Guizotia abyssinica) cake and 1% common salt. The CP content of UMTWS was 86.7 g/ kg dry matter (DM), whereas that of vetch hay and the concentrate mix were 199 and 225 g/ kg DM, respectively. The contrary was true for neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content which was 767 g/ kg DM in UMTWS, and 545 and 479 g/ kg DM in vetch hay and the concentrate mix respectively. In sacco degradability studies showed that the concentrate mix and vetch were similar in rumen degradability parameters, except that rate of degradation was relatively faster for vetch hay. Total DM intake was higher (P 0.05) among treatments, except for cows in T3 that had higher (P 0.05) for cows in the different treatments. It is concluded that vetch hay could substitute 50% of the concentrate mix without compromising feed intake and digestibility of nutrients as well as milk yield and composition of lactating Boran x Friesian cows.","PeriodicalId":33393,"journal":{"name":"East African Journal of Sciences","volume":"4 1","pages":"11-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I1.71519","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70513289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Storage Technologies to Enhance Longevity in Paddy ( Oryza sativa L.) Seed of Parental Lines IR58025A and IR58025B of Hybrid PRH-10","authors":"Anuja Gupta","doi":"10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I2.71532","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I2.71532","url":null,"abstract":"Storage conditions, storage containers and seed treatments prior to storage are important factors responsible for retaining seed longevity. But ideal storage environment are seldom available for the precious seed, especially under tropical conditions. Maintenance of seed germination in vulnerable parental lines IR 58025A (6A) and IR 58025B (6B) of paddy ( Oryza sativa L.) during storage was investigated using integration of different treatments as storage containers (jute bags/ polylined jute bags), storage conditions (ambient/LTLH i.e. low temperature, low humidity or controlled) and seed dressings (captan/thiram) at Karnal seed godowns in North India during 2000-2007. Ten kg of seed was stored per treatment. Seed was taken from the fields of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Regional Station, Karnal (India). The initial moisture content of paddy seeds was kept 13% which is a standard. The results revealed that there was significant difference in the storability of paddy seeds under different storage conditions. Under LTLH storage conditions (temperature:15 °C and relative humidity:30%) paddy seeds maintained germination above the minimum seed certification standards (80%) up to 60 months after seed treatment as against 24 months when stored under ambient conditions. The germination of seeds stored under LTLH conditions (86.1%) and in polylined jute bags (75.3%) was significantly higher than seeds stored under ambient condition (61.9%) and in jute bags (72.8%) after 60 months of seed treatment. Treatment with thiram/captan also showed improved seed germination by 7% as against untreated control. Seed vigour also followed a trend similar to seed germination. The incidence of seed mycoflora was 54.8% and 45.2% in seeds of 6A and 6B, respectively. This was significantly higher in seeds stored under LTLH conditions (62.1%) and in jute bags (39.1%) compared to seeds stored under ambient condition (64.7%) and in polylined jute bags (47%). In all 16 fungi were found associated with paddy seeds. However, the fungal incidence in treated seeds was 29.2% as against 70.8% in untreated control. Seed moisture content did not vary much amongst different treatments though it was higher in seeds stored under ambient storage conditions (11.7%) as against seeds stored under LTLH- low temperature, low humidity conditions (9.2%). Keywords: Paddy-Rice; Seed Germination; Seed Mycoflora; Seed Storage; Storage Condition","PeriodicalId":33393,"journal":{"name":"East African Journal of Sciences","volume":"4 1","pages":"106-113"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I2.71532","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70513175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forage Dry Matter Yield and Nutritive Value of the Natural Pasture of Umbulo Wacho Watershed, Southern Ethiopia","authors":"T. Negesse, Senbeto Funte, A. Tolera","doi":"10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I1.71518","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I1.71518","url":null,"abstract":"The biomass production and nutritive value of the natural pasture of Umbulo Wacho watershed in Southern Ethiopia were studied. The upper and medium altitudinal zones had an open area and areas closed for 2, 3 and 4 years and the lower altitude had an open area and an area closed for 2 years. In each of the open and closed areas, three sites were selected (9 in open, 21 in closed) at each of which exclusion cages (30) were fixed. The re-growths of forage samples were cut at 30 days interval from May up to November from the exclusion cages. The overall dry matter (DM, %), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), ash, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) contents of the forages were 30.8, 83.9, 12.7, 66.7, 32.6, 4.5, 16.2, 0.6 and 0.3%, of the DM, respectively; in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) was 72.1% and DM yield (DMY) was 71.34 g/1.21 m/30 d (0.59 tones/ha/30 d). The natural pasture (117.1 ha) produced 829.07 tones of DM/year (0.59 * 117.1*12) which can only meet 8.20% of the total DM requirement (10,107.11 tones/year) of the tropical livestock unit (4431) found in the watershed. Closing an area for long duration decreased (P < 0.01) CP, P, DMY and IVDMD, but increased ADF and ash. Advance from the rainy season towards the dry period reduced (P < 0.01) DM, DMY, CP, ADF, ash and P. With increasing altitude, DM increased (P < 0.01) but DMY, NDF and P decreased. The IVDMD was positively correlated with DMY and negatively correlated with NDF and ash (P < 0.05). The interactions among closed or open areas, sampling time and altitude were significant (P < 0.05) for most of the nutrient content and yield parameters. The forages could be cut twice (middle and end of the rainy season) when the nutrient contents are optimal. For integrated and sustainable use of forages in the watershed, further study in improvement of quality and utilization is suggested. Keywords: Forage; Dry Matter; Watershed; Natural Pasture","PeriodicalId":33393,"journal":{"name":"East African Journal of Sciences","volume":"4 1","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I1.71518","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70513274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genotypic Variability, Heritability, Genetic Advance and Associations among Characters in Ethiopian Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) Accessions","authors":"Arega Gashaw, H. Mohammed, Harjit Singh","doi":"10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I1.71521","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I1.71521","url":null,"abstract":"A field experiment was conducted at Geregera (11° 45’ N latitude and 38° 45’ E longitude) in north Wollo, Ethiopia during the 2003 cropping season with the objectives of estimating genotypic variability, heritability, genetic advance and associations among yield and yield-related characters of durum wheat. Forty four randomly taken Ethiopian durum wheat accessions were evaluated using randomized complete block design in three replications. Analysis of variance showed significant differences (p < 0.05) among the durum wheat accessions for all the characters considered. Genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV %) were medium for spike length (12.5%) and kernel yield plant -1 (12.3%). Broad sense heritability were high for spike length (89.2%), plant height (87.1%) and thousand kernels weight (80.2%), indicating that these characters were predominantly controlled by genetic factors. Maximum heritability in broad sense coupled with high genetic advance were exhibited for spike length, plant height and thousand kernels weight, implying that phenotypic selection could identify superior genotypes for these traits. Genotypic correlation analysis revealed that grain yield had strong positive associations (p < 0.01) with kernel yield plant-1 (r g = 0.89), plant height (r g = 0.84), thousand kernels weight (r g = 0.82), biomass yield (r g = 0.80) and number of kernels spike-1(r g = 0.78), where biomass yield and harvest index exerted maximum positive direct effects on grain yield. On the other hand, days to heading had a significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) with grain yield (r g = -0.75) which exerted maximum negative direct effect on grain yield. Therefore, earliness coupled with high biomass yield could be considered as an indirect selection criterion for durum wheat grain yield improvement in moisture stressed areas. Keywords: Genetic; Genetic Advance; Harvest Index; Heritability; Variability","PeriodicalId":33393,"journal":{"name":"East African Journal of Sciences","volume":"65 1","pages":"27-33"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I1.71521","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70513352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Uptake and Phytoaccumulation of Chromium at Seedling Stage in Some Selected Tree Species","authors":"A. Mehari, S. Hameed, R. Negussie","doi":"10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I1.71524","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I1.71524","url":null,"abstract":"The objective of the study was to identify shoot and root uptake of chromium (Cr) for screening tree species and recommend the best Cr accumulator. Both trivalent and hexavalent Cr species at four concentration levels 0 (control), 10, 100 and 1000 ppm were used as treatments. The growing medium was prepared by mixing 3:3:1:1, forest soil, local soil, manure, and sand, respectively. The parts of Ricinus communis showed a very good Cr storage capacity followed by Millittia ferruginea and Eucalyptus camaldulensis . The parts accumulate nearly the same amount of Cr in all the species. With regard to the uptake of Cr, Ricinus communis was the most efficient in its accumulation capacity as it was found in this study to contain with the highest level of Cr per gram of dry matter. Keywords: Chromium; Eucalyptus camaldulensis ; Millittia ferruginea ; Ricinus communis","PeriodicalId":33393,"journal":{"name":"East African Journal of Sciences","volume":"4 1","pages":"48-51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I1.71524","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70513443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Registration of Wama Finger Millet ( Eleusine corocana L.) Variety","authors":"D. Chemeda, L. Dagnachew, M. Girma, T. Abaya","doi":"10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I1.71526","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I1.71526","url":null,"abstract":"Finger millet is one of the major cereal crops in western Ethiopia including Bako areas where the present study conducted. Wama is a common name of a finger millet ( Eleusine corocana L.) variety with pedigree name of KNE # 392. It was selected out of finger millet breeding lines introduced from Kenya and released in 2007 by the Bako Agricultural Research Center for western Ethiopia. Wama was tested at on-stations of Bako, Billo-Boshe and Gute and their respective on-farms. It exceeded the standard check, Boneya by 10% in grain yield. Results of yield stability study revealed that Wama was a stable variety. It has brown seed color, larger seed size and larger harvest index than Boneya . Wama is also moderately resistant to diseases such as head blast, smut and leaf spot. The breeder seed of Wama is maintained by the Bako Agricultural Research Center. Keywords: Finger Millet; Variety Registration; Wama","PeriodicalId":33393,"journal":{"name":"East African Journal of Sciences","volume":"1216 1","pages":"54-55"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I1.71526","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70513499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advances in Improving Ukiriguru Composite B Maize ( Zea mays L.) Variety through S1 Recurrent Selection","authors":"T. Leta, J. Habte","doi":"10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I2.71529","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I2.71529","url":null,"abstract":"S 1 recurrent selection was carried out to improve grain yield, plant height, ear placement, resistance to lodging and other desirable agronomic traits in Ukiriguru composite B (UCB) maize variety. This paper presents the genetic gain and progress made in improving these traits through two cycles of selection. Three hundred and sixty, and 254 S 1 families were evaluated in three environments and 36 and 25 families were selected following 10% selection intensity during the first (C 1 ) and the second (C 2 ) cycles, respectively. The selected families were recombined in isolated half-sib recombination blocks using remnant seeds. The progress made through selection was determined by evaluating the parent population (UCB C0), the first (UCB S 1 C 1 ) and the second (UCB S 1 C 2 ) selection cycles in six environments in a randomized complete block design in four replications. Commercial open-pollinated and hybrid varieties were included as checks. UCB S 1 C 2 produced mean grain yield of 8.7 t ha -1 and had a significant (P < 0.01) genetic gain of 30% (2.0 t ha -1 ) with mean gain of 15.0% (1.0 t ha -1 ) cycle -1 . The selection also resulted in short plant height and low ear placement with significant (P < 0.01) genetic gain of 9.6% (30.8 cm) and 19.6% (39.6 cm), respectively, and superiority in tolerance to diseases and resistance to lodging. Still selection had significant (P < 0.01) grain yield benefit of 35.0% (3.1 t ha -1 ) and 29.3% (2.6 t ha -1 ) relative to Gibe Composite 1 and Kuleni, respectively, and showed comparable yield potential with commercial hybrids, BH660 and BH670. It was concluded that two cycles of S 1 recurrent selection have brought significant genetic improvement in grain yield and major agronomic traits in UCB. Hence UCB S 1 C 2 was fully released and recommended for commercial production in the mid-altitude (1600-1800 masl) agro-ecologies of Jimma and Illu Ababora Zones, and similar areas in the south-western areas of Ethiopia. After release, it was named as ‘Morka’ meaning ‘competent’, to express its yield potential which is comparable to the yield potential of popular hybrid varieties in the zones. Keywords: Genetic Gain; Morka ; Recurrent Selection; Response to Selection; Ukiriguru Composite B","PeriodicalId":33393,"journal":{"name":"East African Journal of Sciences","volume":"4 1","pages":"78-85"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I2.71529","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70513566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relationships between Plant Biomass and Species Richness under Different Farming Systems and Grazing Land Management in Montane Grasslands of Kokosa District, Southern Ethiopia","authors":"M. Bekele, N. Lisanework, E. Abule","doi":"10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I2.71531","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I2.71531","url":null,"abstract":"The study was conducted in a montane grassland of Kokosa District, West Arsi Zone of Oromia Region, southern Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to investigate the relationships between aboveground plant biomass and species richness in three farming systems and four grazing management systems. A total of 180 quadrats (each 1 m x 1 m) were sampled in the three farming systems (dominant livestock- enset , enset -livestock and enset -livestock-cereal) and four grazing management systems (communal, enclosure, stream bank and benchmark). All the farming system and grazing management have different management practices. Plant species composition and aboveground plant biomass at different sites were quantified. Altogether 50 plant species (34 grasses, 4 legumes, 3 sedges and 9 forbs) were recorded in the montane grassland of Kokosa District. Even though the majority of the plant species share the different farming systems and grazing management practices, the highest number of species (39) was recorded in the enset -livestock farming system, whereas the lowest (33) species were recorded in the enset- livestock-cereal farming system when all the grazing management and farming systems were combined. Significantly, the highest species richness (4.9 species m -2 ) was recorded in the enclosure grazing management site whereas the lowest (3.4 species m -2 ) was recorded in the benchmark grazing site when all grazing sites and farming systems were combined. The relationship between species richness and biomass was detected in the montane grassland. There was significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) in species richness for a combination analysis of farming system by grazing management system of the montane grassland. The highest biomass was recorded in the benchmark grazing management sites while the lowest was recorded in the communal grazing sites. On the contrary, maximum species richness was found in the enclosure grazing management sites which had intermediate biomass yield and the lowest species richness was recorded in the benchmark grazing areas with the maximum biomass records. Thus, species richness was observed first to ascend along with biomass increment up to 1932 kg ha -1 and then declined at constant increase of biomass. An increase in biomass in the benchmark grazing sites was not accompanied by an increase in species richness suggesting the dominance of few species in these sites. The rationale behind this might be due to the competitive exclusion of the less competent species from the community at peak biomass production. Keywords: Biomass; Farming System; Grazing Management; Montane Grassland; Species Richness","PeriodicalId":33393,"journal":{"name":"East African Journal of Sciences","volume":"4 1","pages":"96-105"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4314/EAJSCI.V4I2.71531","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70513610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}