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Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Recently, wheat research has been established in Ethiopia for irrigated areas with the goal of developing high-yielding, higher-quality wheat cultivars. Nonetheless, two of the most crucial production variables are the N rate and the seeding rate, both of which need for the determination of ideal rates. Hence, a field experiment was conducted to determine the optimum N rate and seeding rate for bread wheat production under irrigated conditions in West Shewa highland areas during 2020–21 on different soil types. A factorial combination of seeding rates (125, 150, and 175 kg/ha) and N rates (0, 23, 46, 89, and 111 kg/ha N) with consideration of 19 kg of N content in 100 kg NPS fertilizer that was applied uniformly for all experimental plots except for those without fertilizer (zero rate plot) at sowing. The experiment was laid out in an RCB design with three replications. Most of the interactions were non-significant for grain yield and other parameters, while the main effects of seeding rates and N rates showed a significant effect on grain yield and other parameters measured. The highest test weight, agronomic efficiency, and partial factor productivity were recorded for the black soil type. Agronomic efficiency showed an unpredictable trend, while partial factor productivity showed a decreasing trend with an increasing seeding rate and N rate. Depending on the agronomic and economic analysis results, it can be concluded that a seeding rate of 175 kg/ha and an N rate of 111 kg/ha were found to be optimal for the production of the wheat variety ‘Kakaba’ under irrigation in the highlands of west Shewa.
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to estimate correlation coefficients and direct and indirect effects by path analysis for pod yield per plant and its components by using 64 Peanut genotypes. In the current study, peanut genotypes were assessed for quantitative and qualitative traits during the main cropping season of 2021/22 in the North, Western Ethiopia Metekel zone at Pawe Agricultural Research Centre. The experiment was carried out to assess 64 Peanut genotypes in an 8x8 simple lattice design to generate information on the association of yield and yield-related traits and to ascertain the direct and indirect effects of yield-related traits on kernel yield. Data were recorded for 14 traits and subjected to analysis of variance ANOVA using SAS software version 9.4. Correlation analysis revealed a highly significant (P < 0.001) positive correlation between kernel yield per hectare and harvest index, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, hundred seed weight, and shelling percentage at the phenotypic and genotypic levels, respectively which revealed the true relationship between the traits Path analysis was divided into direct and indirect effects for various characters for the kernel yield per hectare. At the phenotypic level, days to maturity, oil content, and shelling percentage had the largest positive direct effects on kernel yield, whereas pod yield and shelling percentage had the highest positive direct effects at the genotypic level. The result indicated that there is a good opportunity to improve kernel yield using the tested genotypes in Peanut breeding programs Therefore, emphasis should be given to pod yield followed by days to maturity, and shelling percentage to increase kernel yield production.
ABSTRACT
Artificial insemination is the manual placement of semen in the reproductive tract of the female by a method other than natural mating which is one of a group of technologies commonly known as “assisted reproduction technologies” whereby offspring are generated by facilitating the meeting of gametes (spermatozoa and oocytes). Artificial insemination is by far the most common method of breeding of intensively kept dairy cattle. In relation to the status, there is a big gap in biotechnology use in general between developed and developing countries, with Artificial insemination being the biotechnology most widely applied in developing countries as compared to other biotechnologies. In developed countries, advances in Artificial insemination have already had a major impact on livestock improvement programmers. Similarly, most developing countries express the wish to increase the utilization of Artificial insemination even though in many cases clear plans for incorporating this technology into animal genetic resource management are lacking. Artificial insemination speeds up genetic progress, reduces the risk of disease transmission and expands the number of animals that can be bred from a superior parent. In Ethiopia, even though this service has been in operation for over 30 years with different levels of intensification, its efficiency has remained at a very low level due to infrastructural, managerial and financial constraints and also due to poor heat detection, improper timing of insemination and embryonic death.
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
The goal of the study was to find and choose a more adaptable, higher-yielding forage type. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was used to arrange the seven elephant grass varieties (16791, 16798, 16840, 16800, 16819, 15743, and local variety). The forage sample's biomass yield and all other agronomic characteristics were calculated, and statistical analysis was used to analysis the data. According to the findings, there was statistically significant (p0.01) difference in dry matter yield amongst elephant grass kinds. Elephant grass cultivars at highland and midland agro ecologies did not differ significantly (p>0.05) in terms of tillers per plant or leaf-to-stem ratio. Elephant grass cultivars 16791, 15743, and 16819 produced the maximum herbage dry matter yield. Under the study locations, these kinds are well suited and suitable as animal feeds. Therefore, it was suggested that livestock farmers use these three types of elephant grass as a source of feed to increase animal output in the study areas and other places with comparable agro ecology.
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted in two selected districts of Kembata Tembaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia with an aim of assessing the production system, performance and selected egg quality of village chicken reared under traditional management system. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select representative sample and one hundred eight six respondents (186) were interviewed with structured questionnaire. The data were organized and analyzed by using SPSS and SAS. The mean of Eggs per clutch per hen, Age at first lay, and number of clutches per hen/year were 15.82±0.54, 7.08±0.25, 5.26±0.25 and Age of sexual Maturity (Male=7.67±0.306 and female= 8.13±0.301), respectively. The predominate breed is hybrid (59.6%) with village chicken production system. 50.55% of the respondents keep chicken in Perch at one corner in common house, 45.70% were practicing of isolation of sick birds from healthy to prevent disease transmission. The mean of eggs incubated, hatched and hatchability of percentages were (14.5±0.55, 12.5±0.57 and 80.5), respectively. The study revealed that 40.32, 26.2 and 17.32% of respondent’s rear chicken for sale, home consumption and non-defined purpose, respectively. The highest percentage of the respondent’s utilized eggs for selling purpose 30.1% (Mid-land) and 31.7% (High land). Regarding egg storage condition in high land and mid land agro ecology about 21.5% and 18.3% of the respondents store their eggs in inside cold container respectively. The major constraints of chicken production in the study areas were prevalence of disease, high chick mortality, predator attack, shortage of feed and grains and lack of parent stock, respectively. The most economically important disease that attacks chicken was Newcastle disease which is locally known as “Kenbesha” in the study areas.
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
The aim of this work was to characterize brush-tailed porcupine or African atherure (Atherurus africanus) meat trade in the markets of Abidjan District. The study was conducted between February 2021 and January 2022. The data were collected with 46 seller in three markets of Abidjan. These were “Marché Gouro de Yopougon” market (MGY), “marché Gouro d'Adjamé” market (MGA) and “Marché Abobo Gare” market (GA). Visits and interviews were carried out at morning each week. Results showed that all sellers in 3 markets were female and Ivorian (100%). These sellers came from four cultural groups. Akan Group represented more than half of sellers (54%). They were 26%, 44% and 50% higher than Gouro, Krou and Mandé group respectively (P ˂ 0.01). Merchants aged from 18 to 61 years. Sellers aged from 25 to 40 were 54.35%. This rate was 24 and 39% higher than 18-25 and >40 age respectively (P ˂0.01). Unmarried vendors were about 3 times higher than married ones (72% vs 28%; P = 0.01). A rate of 52% of atherure meat traders had never been to school. They were 30% higher than those who completed primary school in Côte d'Ivoire (P ˂ 0.01). They were also 39% more numerous than those who had completed high school and university. Atherure’s trade had generated a turnover of 189 million for 9000 carcasses sold. This meat was the most sold after the grasscutter. None animals were farmed. They were poached. Most of animals (28.4%) came from the forest area of Lôh-Djiboua region.
ABSTRACT
Nitrogen is practically inert and largely unreactive, existing mostly in molecular form (N2) in the atmosphere and unsuitable for uptake by living matter. But it is one of the most commonly used practices to increase crop yields throughout the world because of the abundant availability of N fertilizers and their great effectiveness to increase yields compared with other organic fertilizers, such as manure and compost. It is essential to achieve production levels, which enable global food security, without compromising environmental security. Excessive application of N fertilizers in the last several decades, however, has resulted in undesirable consequences of soil and environmental degradations, such as soil acidification, N leaching to the groundwater, and greenhouse gas (N2O) emissions. Crop yields have declined in places where soil acidification is high due to the unavailability of major nutrients and basic cations and the toxic effect of acidic cations. Other disadvantages of excessive N fertilization include increased cost of fertilization, reduced N-use efficiency, and negative impact on human and livestock health. Diffuse pollution, caused by N fertilization in agriculture, has become a global problem that is difficult to solve. Nearly half of N fertilizer input is not used by crops and is lost into the environment via the emission of gases or by polluting water bodies. The N pollution level expected by 2050 is projected to be 150% higher than in 2010, with the agricultural sector accounting for 60% of this increase. So, to reduce these problems globally, understanding of nitrogen cycle and nutrient use efficiency is important.