Ethiopian Journal of Applied Sciences and Technology

Effect of storage temperature and duration on Pouteria adolfi-friederici (Engl.) Baehni seed longevity and influence of soil mixture on seedlings growth performance

2024-07-02T06:54:27+00:00

Pouteria adolfi-friederici (Engl.) Baehni (Kerero) is an indigenous tree that is overexploited for high-quality timber production. However, there is little/no documented information on its seed longevity and seedling quality for successful field establishment. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate seed longevity and evaluate the effect of soil mixtures on seedlings’ growth performance. Seeds were collected from 20 selected mother trees in Gera District. Seeds were stored in cold room at +5 and 21/220c and tested their germination ability at 5, 180 and 360 days after storage. The growth performance of seedlings in Greenhouse was further evaluated with three different soil mixtures (2 part forest soil & 1 part sand, i.e., 2:1 Ratio (SM1); 1 part forest soil & 2 part sand, i.e., 1:2 Ratio (SM2) and 2 parts forest soil alone (SM3)). From 1 kg (360 seeds) pure seeds of 95% purity, 257 seedlings were estimated to be raised at the Laboratory. Seeds stored at 21/220c for 5 days had 75% germination potential. The highest seedlings survival rate (100%) was counted in soil mixtures with 2:1 ratios (2 parts forest soil: 1 part sand). The highest mean value of height and root length was measured in 2 parts forest soil alone. The largest root collar diameter (RCD) and root dry weight were recorded in 2:1 Ratio. Number of leaves and root fresh weight had the highest record in 1:2 ratios (1 part forest soil and 2 parts sand). But, no significant variation (p<0.05) was observed among the three soil mixtures. Unlike root-to-shoot ratio, height and RCD had a significant correlation (p<0.01) with other morphological variables. The quality index confirmed that 2:1 ratios were the best soil mixture for raising P. adolfi-friederici seedlings at greenhouse. The best seed source provenance and vegetative propagation selection should be further considered for successful field establishment and plantation development.

Effect of planting density on growth, light interception and tuber yields of potato varieties (Solanum tuberosum l.) at Guji highland of southeastern Ethiopia

2024-07-02T07:02:24+00:00

Planting density is important agronomic management tool for potatoes as it determines light interception, growth, yield and yield components of the crop. However, the information at spasfic location is limited. Thus, the experiment was conducted to determine the optimum plating density for potato varieties and its impact on growth, light interception, yield and yield components. A field experiment was conducted at Bore in the southeastern Ethiopia during the 2021 cropping season. The experiment consists of four levels of planting densities (66667, 44444, 33333 and 26667 plant ha^-1) and four potato varieties: three improved (Jalanie, Gudenie, Belete and one local (Gujicha) that were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in factorial arrangements with three replications. The result indicated that the main effects of variety and planting density significantly (p < 0.001) influenced days to 50% flowering, 90% maturity date, plant height, number of stems per hill, leaf area index (LAI) at 45, 60 and 75, Cumulative Interception Photosynthetic Active Radiation (CIPAR) and total dry matter production. However, tuber yield, tuber weight, average tuber number per hill, marketable yield and total tuber yield were significantly affected by the interaction effects. The overall result indicated that CIPAR increased with increasing planting density, though a maximum marketable tuber yield of 44.92 t ha^-1 was recorded at 444444 plant ha^-1 from Gudenie variety. However, the CIPAR was not fit with the maximum marketable and total yield of tuber; this indicates other plant and environmental factors might also significant for plants to express their yielding potential.

Vitamin D deficiency and its health implications: a review of the Canadian context

2024-07-02T07:27:01+00:00

The major cause of vitamin D deficiency is the lack of proper and ample exposure to sunlight. Only certain foods naturally contain vitamin D, and foods fortified with vitamin D are often insufficient to satisfy vitamin D requirements. Advertently or inadvertently, people avoid taking adequate sunlight, which is essential to attain the required level. Given the colossal ramifications of vitamin D deficiency, people must optimize their daily intakes to protect themselves from diseases resulting from vitamin D shortage. Vitamin D is critically significant for the absorption of dietary calcium and phosphate in circulation; it enables bone mineralisation by providing pertinent minerals to bone-forming and maintaining sites. The need for vitamin D must be prevented from occurring to enjoy a healthy life. It is also important that social institutions play a crucial role in custodianship by providing education, nutritional guidelines, and adequately monitoring the appropriateness of the preparation of vitamin D supplements. In this article, we attempt to address various health benefits that vitamin D brings and the dramatic health consequences on children and adults alike when there is vitamin D deficiency.

Availability, utilization as feed and chemical composition of vegetable by-products in urban and peri-urban areas of West Arsi zone and Sidama regional state

2024-07-02T07:09:27+00:00

This study was undertaken to assess the availability, utilization, as feed, and chemical composition of vegetable by-products in selected urban and peri-urban areas of West Arsi zone and Sidama Regional State. A Multi-stage purposive sampling technique was used to select study areas and a total of 306 respondents (102 each from Shashemene, Hawassa and Yirgalem) were randomly selected and interviewed. Samples of the most prevalent and commonly utilized five vegetable by-products (VBPs) were analyzed for chemical composition and subjected to in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). The data collected were analyzed using two way analysis of variance and Chi-square for quantitative and qualitative parameters, respectively. The results indicate that potato, cabbage, sweet potato, tomato and carrot by-products were the most dominant VBPs available and utilized as livestock feed in the study area. Vegetable by-products were fed to cattle, small ruminants and chicken solely after being processed. However, perishability, safety issues, lack of storage facilities and conservation awareness were the major limitations of VBPs utilization, as feed. On the contrary, low market price, high demand and feed quality, palatability and reduction of environmental pollution were the main opportunities for VBPs utilization, as feed. The crude protein content of VBPs was within the range of 4.49-18.29%. The mean neutral detergent fiber content of the VBPs collected from different locations was less than 45%. The acid detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin contents were within the range of 10.08-35.08 and 1.23-9.76%, respectively. The IVDMD of VBPs was within the range of 78.73-89.45%, regardless of location. In conclusion, vegetable by-products are widely available and utilized as an alternative feed resource within urban and peri-urban farming communities of the study area. Feeding experiments which evaluate the performance of animals fed with these vegetable by-products are recommended.

Agronomic performance and chemical composition of different varieties of Amaranthus caudatus

2024-07-02T07:18:17+00:00

The cost of feed with sufficient nutrient content in monogastric animal industries is significantly high. It is therefore crucial to search for alternative and cost-effective feed resources that have optimal nutrient content and could be used as a supplement. In this endeavor, a field experiment was conducted to assess the agronomic performance and nutrient content of three local (white, dark, and red) and two improved (AC-NL and Madiira II) varieties of Amaranthus caudatus under field experiment in Dedo district, Jimma Zone, Oromia Regional State. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design, with each treatment replicated three times. Data were collected on phenological traits, seed and leaf yield, nutritive value, and mineral compositions. The findings showed that Madiira-II showed better agronomic performance in terms of number of leaves and branches per plant, plant height, and leaf yield compared to the other varieties. The local white variety had a higher mean seed yield per hectare than the others, while AC-NL and Madiira-II varieties had superior leaf biomass yield. Local white amaranths had significantly (p< 0.05) higher leaf and grain crude protein contents than the other varieties. AC-NL and Madiira-II varieties had lower crude fiber content. The local red variety had relatively higher calcium content, while the local dark variety had higher copper and iron content compared to the other varieties. In conclusion, even though all varieties of A. caudatus yielded sufficient nutrient content, the agronomic performance, mean seed yield per hectare, leaf biomass, crude protein, fiber, and mineral contents showed heterogeneity among the different varieties.