beemnet mengesha kassahun

The investigation was conducted on wet and dry seasons of Ethiopia during the year 2012/2013 at Wondo Genet Agricultural Research Center Nursery site. Four levels of cutting size and three levels of cutting positions were arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on seedling height, branch number/seedling, root number/seedling, root weigh/seedling, root length/seedling and survival count were collected and analyzed except for root length/seedling in dry season. Cutting size exerted a significant influence (P<0.05) on all of the parameters considered in this study except on root length/seedling in dry season experiment. Cutting position also exerted a significant influence (P<0.05) on all of the parameters except on branch number/seedling, root length/seedling and root weight/seedling during dry season experiment. Interaction effect of cutting size and cutting positions didn’t excreted a significant influence (P>0.05) on majority of the agronomic characters. But its effect was significant (P<0.05) on seedling height and root length/seedling during wet season experiment and on seedling height and branch number/seedling during dry season experimentation. Different perpetuation abilities of sage were observed in dry and wet season experiment. Top cuttings having a cutting length starting from 9 cm to 12cm can be recommended for sage propagation in wet season. However, bottom cutting position from 12cm to 15cm cutting size can be recommended for propagating sage in dry season using stem cuttings.

For determining the oil content, seed and fruit characteristics of Ethiopian Jatropha provenances, the study was conducted in five regions of Ethiopia namely Southern Nation Nationalities Peoples Regional state, Amhara region, Tigria region, Oromia region and Benishangul Gumuz Regions, where Jatropha is found abundantly. A total of 23 Zones, 36 Weredas and 40 sampling sites were considered from five regions of the country for the study. Data on seed to shell ratio, thousand seed weight, seed coat weight, endosperm weight, endosperm to seed ratio and oil content were collected and summarized. The values of seed to shell ration was ranged from 2.7 to 2.85. The 1000 seed weight was varied from 546.47 g to 714.4 g. The seeds were found to have a relatively similar endosperm to seed shell ration ranging between 1.83 and 1.87. Endosperm weight of the seeds ranges from 5.58 g to 6.27 g. Averaged over the study regions, the oil content of Ethiopian Jatropha populations ranged from 29.88% to 34.34%. Seeds with higher endosperm weight were positively and strongly associated with oil content. Hence, considering endosperm weight during selection and improvement program plays a significant role in maximizing oil content of. Jatropha provenances having oil content ranging between 30-35% are considered good for oil production. The values obtained from Ethiopian Jatropha populations growing in different regions are within the ranges of the different reports. This indicates the possibility of using the existing Jatropha populations for the production of Jatropha oil.

For determining the fatty acid characteristics and biodiesel quality of Ethiopian Jatropha provenances, the study was conducted in five regions namely Southern Nation Nationalities Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS), Amhara region, Tigria region, Oromia region and Benishangul Gumuz Regions, where physic nut is found abundantly. For each region, representative sampling sites were selected following thorough discussion with head of Mines and Energy at zonal level. During representative sample site selection, one knowledgeable and responsible expert was assigned from the zonal mines and energy office for making the site selection more perfect and easier and thereby to collect representative data from each region. Following this arrestment, a total of 23 Zones, 36 Weredas and 40 sampling sites were considered from five regions of the country for the study. It was observed that the identified constituents of the Jatropha oils are linoleic acid, stearic acid, palmetic acid and oleic acid. From the identified fatty acids, oleic acid was the major constituent followed by stearic acid. The constituents of the fatty acids ranged from 42.8-51.4% for oleic acid, 10.9-19.3% for stearic acid, 10.62-15.91% for palmetic acid and 21.73-25.43% for linoleic acid. The biodiesel quality characteristics of Ethiopian Jatropha seeds were found within the limits of American standard (D874) and European standard (EN 14214 standard). Hence, it can be concluded that the seeds of the existing Ethiopian Jatropha population can be used for the production and processing of environmentally friendly biodiesel.

Taro (ColocasiaesculentaL. Schott) is a perennial root crop that belongs to Araceace family. It is widely cultivated as a staple food in Africa, Asia and pacific Islands. Despite its importance, there is limited information on many aspects of the crop. In order to obtain data that can support improved and sustainable taro production, a field trial was conducted to study the effects of corm size and plant population density on the growth and corm yield of taro (variety Boloso-1) was investigated during 2007cropping season. The experiment consisted of five-corm size (50, 51-100, 101-150, 151-200 and 201-250g) and five levels of planting densities (15037, 29629, 45454, 60606 and 74074 plants/ha) arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. The results indicated that corm size had a highly significant (p<0.001) influence  on  plant height, leaf number, shoot number , leaf area index, corm and cormels number/plant, corm and cormels yield/ha of taro. All the parameters were increased with increased in corm size. Plant population density exertsignificant influence (p<0.001) on all the studied parameter except on plant height and number of leaf/plant.The interaction effect of corm size and population density was none significant on all the studied parameters. The highest average corm yield/ha (44.07 t/ha) was achieved at a population of 60,606 plants/ hausing seed corms having 51-100g. These could be recommended for farmers in production area similar with the study site.

This experiment was conducted with the objective of evaluating the performance sage (Salvia officinalis L.) in different agroecology of Ethiopia for morpho-agronomic and chemical traits at Wondo genet, Hawassa, Qoqa and Holleta for two years from 2011/2012 to 2012/2013 cropping seasons. Data on plant height, branch number/plant, fresh leaf weight/plant, fresh stem weight/plant, above ground biomass/plant, fresh leaf weight/ha, essential oil (EO) content and EO yield/ha were collected from four locations arranged in randomized complete block design with four replications. Growing location demonstrated a significant influence (P<0.05) on the performance of all the parameters considered. With increasing year, the performance of Sage was significantly affected (P<0.05) only on three of the nine traits. The interaction between location and yea was significant for seven of the nine traits. The overall average value of plant height, branch number/plant, leaf number/plant, fresh leaf weight/plant, fresh stem weight/plant, above ground biomass/plant, fresh leaf weight/ha EO content and EO yield/ha of sage across the tested location and years ranged from 47.7-66.9 cm, 70.13-262.07, 619.7-4046.2, 159.13-506.31 g, 63.77-279.93 g, 221.6-743.8 g, 2772-14064 kg, 1.11-1.70% and 30.67-240.03 kg, respectively. The maximum for all the characters were recorded at Hawassa and Wondo Genet except for branch number which was found tall at Holleta. Most of the characters are statistically the same over the testing years; however, plant height, branch number and leaf number/plant demonstrated a respective percent increase value of 21.3%, 50.19% and 71.98% during the first testing year.

Taro (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott) is a perennial root crop that belongs to Araceace family.  It is widely cultivated as a staple food in Africa, Asia and pacific Islands. Despite its importance, there is limited information on many aspects of the crop. In order to obtain data that can support improved and sustainable taro production, a field trial was conducted to study the effects of corm size and plant population density on the growth and corm yield of taro (variety Boloso-1) was investigated during 2007 cropping season. The experiment consisted of five-corm size (50, 51-100, 101-150, 151-200 and 201-250 g) and five levels of planting densities (15037, 29629, 45454, 60606 and 74074 plants/ha) arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. The results indicated that corm size had a highly significant (p<0.001) influence  on  plant height, leaf number, shoot number , leaf area index, corm and cormels number/plant, corm and cormels yield/ ha of taro. All the parameters were increased with increased in corm size. Plant population density exert significant influence (p<0.001) on all the studied parameter except on plant height and number of leaf/plant. The interaction effect of corm size and population density was none significant on all the studied parameters. The highest average corm yield/ha (44.07 t/ha) was achieved at a population of 60,606 plants/ ha using seed corms having 51-100 g. These could be recommended for farmers in production area similar with the study site.

Castor (Ricinuscommunis L.) is an industrial oilseed that belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. Castor is believed to be originated in East Africa probably Ethiopia. Although Ethiopia is known as a primary diversity for castor the knowledge on nature and extent of variation of the indigenous germplasm is limited. The present test was conducted to study the nature and extent of variability among Ethiopian castor accessions. The test was conducted at Melkassa and Arsi Negelle, in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopiaduring the main season of 2013/14. A total of 105 accessions were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data of 12 characters were collected and analyzed statistically. Combined analysis of variance over locations reveled the existence of significant variation among accession in all the traits considered in this study. The interaction between accessions and environment was significant for eight of the 12 traits studied. The accessions showed a wide range of variation on days to first flowering (52-148), days to second flowering (65-161), days to first maturity (118-217), days to second maturity (142-237), inflorescence length (13-74 cm), node length (2-32 cm),  number of nodes/plant (5-26), number of inflorescence/plant (1-26), plant height (89-356), number of branches/plant (1-9), number of capsules/plant (10-350), hundred seed weight (21-99 g),number of seeds/plant (30-990). Overall highest value of heritability, genetic coefficient of variability and genetic advance as percent of the mean was recorded for number of nodes/plant, number of capsules/plant and 100 seed weight.

Evaluation activity was conducted using three spearmint genotypes (WG-SPM-Engl, SPM-Fran and SPM-EAS) and one standard check (WGSM-03) at Wondo Genet, Awassa, Debre Zeit and Allagae during 2012 and 2013 for two years. The treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replications. Data on leaf to stem ratio, leaf yield/ha, Essential oil content and essential oil yield were collected and statistically tested. The combined analysis of variance over the testing locations and years indicated the existence of significant variation among spearmint genotypes for all the characters considered in this study. The respective leaf to stem ratio, leaf yield/ha, essential oil content and essential oil yield of the tested genotypes ranged from 1.29 to 2.2, 10.82 to 13.45 t, 0.16 to 0.5% and 18.13 to 67.99 kg, respectively. The highest leaf to stem ratio (2.2) was demonstrated by WG-SPM-Engl and the lowest (1.29) by WG-SPM-Fran. The highest leaf yield/ha was demonstrated by WG-SPM-Fran followed by WG-SPM-Engl; while the lowest value for these agronomic characters were produced by WG-SM03. Compared with WGSM 03, WG-SPM-Fran demonstrated a respective percent increase value of 47.05 and 81.45% on essential oil content and essential oil yield. The overall highest value for essential oil content (0.39%) was recorded at Allagae followed by Wondo Genet (0.35%) and Hawassa (0.34%); while the least value was recorded at Debre Zeit (0.31%). Averaged over the testing locations, the highest essential oil yield/ha (48.29 kg) was recorded at Hawassa and the lowest at Wondo Genet (34.85 kg). Compared with second testing year, a respective percent increase value of 12.12 and 23.18% on essential oil content and essential oil yield was demonstrated in first testing year.