Innovare Journal of Agricultural Sciences

REVIEW ON FACTORS CONTRIBUTES TO THE UNIQUE QUALITIES OF TIGRAY WHITE HONEY COMPARED TO HONEY FROM OTHER ETHIOPIAN REGIONS?

TESFAY ATSBHA — 2024-11-01

Tigray honey is celebrated for its exceptional quality and health benefits. Studies have confirmed that it meets international standards, boasting optimal moisture content, low ash levels, and a suitable pH level. The region’s diverse flora, which includes honey bee sources such as Hypoestes forskaolii, Becium grandiflorum, and Leucas abyssinica, contributes significantly to the honey’s unique characteristics. Special white honey, believed to be produced from these specific floral sources, is particularly prized in Ethiopia, especially in Tigray. This honey has consistently demonstrated compliance with national and international quality standards in terms of moisture content, electrical conductivity, mineral composition, pH, and free acidity. The combination of Tigray’s natural environment, beekeeping practices, unique floral sources, and rarity has resulted in a honey that is renowned for its exquisite taste, aroma, and health benefits. This exceptional product has garnered significant demand both domestically and internationally, making it a sought-after specialty honey.

OPPORTUNITIES OF INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN KANCHANPUR, NEPAL

JANAK PANT — 2024-11-01

Objectives: The study of opportunities for integrated nutrient management lacking in the Kanchanpur district. Hence, an experiment was carried out to study different combinations of fertilizers to determine suitable integration of fertilizers during November 2023–September 2024.

Methods: The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design. Paddy and vegetable (cauliflower) crops were selected for the 14 research. The sources of fertilizers applied in the research were FYM (Farmyard Manure), poultry manure, vermicompost, green manures, and chemical fertilizer. Six combinations of treatments were prepared, namely (i) T1: 100% N from the recommended dose of chemical fertilizer (RDF) (RDF:200:120:80 NPK kg/ha), (ii) T2: 50% N from RDF+50% N from farmyard manure (FYM), (iii) T3: 50% N from RDF+50% N from poultry manure (PM), (iv) T4: 50% N from RDF+50% N from vermicompost (VC), (v) T5: 50% N from RDF+50% N from green manure (GM), and (vi) T6: 20% N from 17 RDF+20% N from FYM+20% N from PM+20% from VC+20% N from GM.

Results: Combinations of 50% N from RDF+50% N from FYM, 50% N from RDF+50% N from PM, 50% N from RDF+50% N from VC, and 50% N from RDF+50% N from GM provided almost similar results in plant parameters, root, and soil property. Sole application of 100% N from the RDF resulted with the lowest effect in plant and soil attributes.

Conclusion: The integration of 20% N from RDF+20% N from FYM+20% N from PM+20% from VC+20% N from GM was found to be the most effective nutrient management opportunity in the district.

SEED SYSTEM OF GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM L.) IN NORTH SHEWA ZONE, CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF ETHIOPIA

BIZUAYEHU DESTA — 2024-11-18

Objectives: The study aims to assess the status of both formal and informal garlic seed systems. In addition, it also investigates farmers’ indigenous knowledge related to seed selection, maintenance, seed sources, seed quality, and seed management practices in the North Shewa zone of the Amhara Regional State.

Materials and Methods: The study employed a multistage sampling procedure. Accordingly, four districts and eight peasant associations (PAs) were purposively selected based on garlic production area; numbers of garlic grower, and representativeness of the farming system. The data were collected from randomly selected 160 garlic producer households (20 from each PAs) using structured questionnaires. Checklists were also used for key informants interview and focus group discussions.

Results: In the study sites, the farmers’ cultivars/varieties were commonly grown. Farmers selected their seed based on different criteria. Bulb yield (90%), bulb size (85%), and early germination (83.8%) were the most dominant criteria. In all the study sites, informal seed source for all farmers was the initial seed source. Market seed was a predominant seed source; vast majority of farmers indicated that their initial seed source for garlic farming was obtained from market (95.6%). From 2013/14-2015/16: 61.2%, 51.2% and 62.5% of the farmers used seed from the market. The dissemination of improved varieties to farmers is still absent. The informal seed system should prioritize improving seed quality by increasing awareness and skills of farmers, improving seed quality of early generations, and market access.

Conclusion: The provision of technical support and organizing farmers’ into cooperatives to handle the future production and distribution of seed and promoting the formal and informal seed sectors should be taken into account for sustainable supply of quality seed.