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Effects of Plant Spacing and Time of Harvesting on Yield and Tuber Size Distribution of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L) Variety Southeast Ethiopia
Demis Fikre Limeneh,
Fekadu Gebretensay Mengistu,
Gizaw Wegayehu Tilahun,
Dasta Tsagaye Galalcha,
Awoke Ali Zeleke,
Nimona Fufa Hundie
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, February 2021
Pages:
1-7
Received:
19 December 2020
Accepted:
6 January 2021
Published:
9 February 2021
Abstract: Potato is one of the most important crops in the farming system of Bekoji and Kofele in the cool highlands of Arsi where potato is usually grown biennially during the main and ‘bulg’ seasons. ‘Belete’ has been the dominant potato variety in these areas for the last ten years now and farmers prefer to grow this variety for its high productivity and resistance to late blight disease. Nevertheless, farmers have complaints on its big sized tubers, considered as unmarketable, which costs them more seed to cover a given area of land and less suitable for cooking. Besides, farmers often use random population density and time of harvesting, which also contribute to this problem. The present study was therefore intended to manage the tubers’ size distribution of this variety without negatively affecting the yield of the crop through modifying plant spacing and time of harvesting from previously recommended practices. Twelve combinations of four plant spacing and three time of harvesting were studied on variety “Belete’ at Bekoji and Kofele in the main seasons of 2018 and 2019. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design with 4x3 factorial arrangement in three replications. The analysis of variance revealed that the interaction effect of spacing and time of harvesting significantly (p<0.001) affected the marketable tuber yields. The narrow spacing (60cmx20cm) or high population treatment (83,333 plants/ha) with 120 days after planting resulted in the highest marketable and total tuber yield compared to the rest. While the least yields were recorded from the wider spacing of 75cmx30cm (44,444plants/ha) and early harvesting (90 days). The spacing 60cmx20cm did 17.2% increment in marketable yield over the previously recommended spacing of potato (75cmx30cm, 44,444plants/ha). From this study, therefore, it can be recommended for Belete that the narrow spacing of 60cmx20cm and harvesting at 120 days after planting could be the optimum spacing and time of harvesting to produce marketable tubers.
Abstract: Potato is one of the most important crops in the farming system of Bekoji and Kofele in the cool highlands of Arsi where potato is usually grown biennially during the main and ‘bulg’ seasons. ‘Belete’ has been the dominant potato variety in these areas for the last ten years now and farmers prefer to grow this variety for its high productivity and ...
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Synthesis, Characterization and Antibacterial Activity Evaluation of 4-amino Antipyrine Derivatives and Their Transition Metal Complexes
Salah Hamza Sherif,
Dagne Addisu Kure,
Endalkachew Asefa Moges,
Bekele Argaw
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, February 2021
Pages:
8-12
Received:
26 December 2020
Accepted:
11 January 2021
Published:
23 February 2021
Abstract: Due to their importance as catalysts in many reactions and their biological activities, an interest in the synthesis and characterization of transition metal complexes containing Schiff bases is increasing. Schiff base ligands have achieved considerable attention by the scientist over the decades as potential drug agent, Azomethine linkage (-CH=N-) of Schiff base play a significant role in medical chemistry. Derivatives of Schiff bases of 4-aminoantipyrine viz, 4-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy benzylid ene amino)-1,2-dihydro-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-one (4) and 4-((5-methylfuran-2-yl) methylene amino)-1,2-dihydro-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-one (5) and their Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II) complexes were successfully synthesized, the Schiff bases ligand (4) and (5) were synthesized by condensation reaction. The structures of all the synthesized ligands were confirmed by using IR, UV-Visible, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. The Cu (II), Ni (II) and Co (II) complexes were confirmed by using IR and VU-Visible. The complexes are electrolytic in nature as indicated by molar conductance measurements. The data have shown that all complexes possess octahedral geometry. In-vitro antibacterial activity of all the synthesized ligands and their metal complexes were carried out by using disc diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial strain. Compound Co (4) has exhibited better antibacterial activity than the standard drug against S. aureus (25 mm zone of inhibition compared to the standard antibiotic Oxacillin (23 mm zone of inhibition).
Abstract: Due to their importance as catalysts in many reactions and their biological activities, an interest in the synthesis and characterization of transition metal complexes containing Schiff bases is increasing. Schiff base ligands have achieved considerable attention by the scientist over the decades as potential drug agent, Azomethine linkage (-CH=N-)...
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Chemical Composition of Lick Soils and Functions of Soil Ingested by Common Warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) in Dabena Valley Forest, Western Ethiopia
Alemayehu Edossa,
Afework Bekele,
Habte Jebessa Debella
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, February 2021
Pages:
13-20
Received:
18 December 2020
Accepted:
6 January 2021
Published:
22 March 2021
Abstract: To identify chemical composition of lick soil and function of soil ingested by common warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus), the study was conducted in Gassi Controlled Area (GCHA); southwestern and in Haro Aba Diko Controlled Hunting Area (HADCHA) northeastern Dabena Valley Forest from May 2016 to June 2018. Top soil samples licked by common warthog were taken from 2.5 cm diameter, 20 cm deep soil cores, from five evenly spaced locations around the periphery of the central 60x60 m grid in each feeding plot. Soil samples were dried under shade for one week and then kept at 28°C until analyzed. Samples were homogenized and sieved through 2 mm mesh. The mean proportion of organic carbon in Menjiko (t= 5.21, df=1, P<0.01) and in Gimbicho (t= –4.08, df=1, P 0.05). Mean potassium concentration in salt lick common warthog ranged from 0.11±0.014 meq/100g (Desa) to 0.246±0.01meq/100g (Robe) during the wet season in Dabena Valley Forest (DVF). Warthogs supplemented their forage intake by licking different mineral elements from the ground. Mineral lick also benefits the animals in regulating the state body equilibrium and defending pathogens invading the animal’s body.
Abstract: To identify chemical composition of lick soil and function of soil ingested by common warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus), the study was conducted in Gassi Controlled Area (GCHA); southwestern and in Haro Aba Diko Controlled Hunting Area (HADCHA) northeastern Dabena Valley Forest from May 2016 to June 2018. Top soil samples licked by common warthog w...
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Effects of Blended NPSB Fertilizer on Yield and Yield Related Traits of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Varieties in Oda Bultum District, Eastern Ethiopia
Gezahegn Assefa,
Yibekal Alemayehu,
Wassu Mohammed
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, February 2021
Pages:
21-32
Received:
22 November 2020
Accepted:
11 December 2020
Published:
22 March 2021
Abstract: Potato is an important food and cash crop in eastern Ethiopia including Oda Bultum District. However, there is no information on the role of blended NPSB fertilizer required to produce tuber yield and tuber quality traits. A field experiment was conducted in Oda Bultum District, under rainfed during 2018 cropping season, with the objectives of assessing the effects of blended NPSB fertilizer rates on yield-related traits and tuber yield of potato varieties and to estimate the cost-benefit of the application of blended NPSB fertilizer in potato production. The treatments consisted of two potato varieties (Bubu and Gudanie) and six rates of NPSB (0, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 kg NPSB ha-1) fertilizer. The experiment was laid out as a Randomized Complete Block Design in a 6 x 2 factorial arrangement and replicated three times. Analysis of variance revealed that the two main factors; blended NPSB and variety had a significant effect on all traits except that fertilizer and variety had a non-significant effect on days to 50% emergence. Interaction of blended NPSB fertilizer and variety had a significant effect on total tuber number/hill, average tuber weight, total and marketable tuber yields (t ha-1). Gudanie variety emerged, flowered and matured earlier than Bubu. Early flowering of the crop was observed in a plot which did not receive fertilizer while the application of NPSB fertilizer delayed flowering and maturity of plants that received highest rates NPSB fertilizer (200, 250 and 300 kg ha-1). The highest total tuber number hill-1 (16.00) was obtained from Gudanie variety at the application of 200 kg ha-1 NPSB fertilizer. The highest proportion of small size tubers were obtained from plots than received no fertilizer while the largest proportion of large size tubers were obtained from plots that received 200, 250 and 300 kg ha-1 NPSB fertilizer. The highest total and marketable tuber yields of 30.55 and 27.22 t ha-1, respectively were obtained from Gudanie variety with the application of 200 kg ha-1 NPSB fertilizer. Gudanie had a significantly higher specific gravity (1.085g/cm3), tuber dry matter (21.98%) and starch content (15.82%) while plants produced tubers with highest specific gravity, tuber dry matter and starch content due to the application of 200 kg ha-1 NPSB fertilizer. Moreover, the highest net benefit of 116,330.24 Birr ha-1 with 4066% marginal rate of return were obtained from growing of Gudanie variety with the application of 200 kg ha-1 NPSB plus 100 kg ha-1 urea fertilizer that could be recommended for production of potato in the study area.
Abstract: Potato is an important food and cash crop in eastern Ethiopia including Oda Bultum District. However, there is no information on the role of blended NPSB fertilizer required to produce tuber yield and tuber quality traits. A field experiment was conducted in Oda Bultum District, under rainfed during 2018 cropping season, with the objectives of asse...
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