Germination pretreatment and storage behavior of Terminalia laxiflora seed

Terminalia laxiflora Engl.&Diels.is an important indigenous and multi-purpose species in Ethiopia.However threatened due to low germination and its storage behavior is unknown.In this study,we aimed to(1)test pretreatments for breaking the dormancy of T.laxiflora seed and(2)determine its storage behavior.Seeds were subjected to four pretreatments such as soaking,scarification,high-temperature,and control.Experiments were done before storage and after 2 years of dry storage at cold temperature(-10℃)based on randomized design with four replicates.The first round of experimental results showed that T.laxiflora seeds with high temperature treatments at 78℃for 10 min showed significantly higher germination percentage(80%).In the second round experiment,high-temperature treatment at 78℃for15 min,cold water soaking,high-temperature treatment at78℃for 10 min,hot water soaking,and high-temperature treatment at 78℃for 5 min showed significantly higher germination percentage from the remaining treatments(75,64,58,56,and 53%,respectively).To break the dormancy of T.laxiflora seed and attain good germination result,seeds should be pretreated with high-temperature at 78℃for 10 min to test the initial germination before storage and should be pretreated with high-temperature(at 78℃for15,10,or 5 min),soaked in cold,or hot water for 24 h to monitor the germination after storage.The two experiments show that T.laxiflora produces orthodox seed.     

EXPLORING THE RECYCLING OF MANURE FROM URBAN LIVESTOCK FARMS: A CASE STUDY IN ETHIOPIA

• Livestock manure was the main organic waste in urban and peri-urban areas.• Manure production will increase by a factor of 3–10 between 2015–2050.• Only 13%–38% of excreted N by livestock will be recycled in croplands.• Intensification of urban livestock production greatly increased N surpluses.• Reducing population growth and increasing livestock productivity needed.Urban population growth is driving the expansion of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in developing countries. UPA is providing nutritious food to residents but the manures produced by UPA livestock farms and other wastes are not properly recycled. This paper explores the effects of four scenarios: (1) a reference scenario (business as usual), (2) increased urbanization, (3) UPA intensification, and (4) improved technology, on food-protein self-sufficiency, manure nitrogen (N) recycling and balances for four different zones in a small city (Jimma) in Ethiopia during the period 2015-2050. An N mass flow model with data from farm surveys, field experiments and literature was used. A field experiment was conducted and N use efficiency and N fertilizer replacement values differed among the five types of composts derived from urban livestock manures and kitchen wastes. The N use efficiency and N fertilizer replacement values were used in the N mass flow model.Livestock manures were the main organic wastes in urban areas, although only 20 to 40% of animal-sourced food consumed was produced in UPA, and only 14 to 19% of protein intake by residents was animal-based. Scenarios indicate that manure production in UPA will increase 3 to 10 times between 2015 and 2050, depending on urbanization and UPA intensification. Only 13 to 38% of manure N will be recycled in croplands. Farm-gate N balances of UPA livestock farms will increase to>1 t·ha⁻¹ in 2050. Doubling livestock productivity and feed protein conversion to animal-sourced food will roughly halve manure N production.Costs of waste recycling were high and indicate the need for government incentives. Results of these senarios are wake-up calls for all stakeholders and indicate alternative pathways.     

The Effect of the Surrounding Landscape and Socioeconomic characteristics on Woody Species Diversity in Homegardens of Shewarobit District,Northeast Ethiopia

Although homegardens are most often suggested as the refuges for biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes, how the surrounding landscape and socioeconomic characteristics affect this diversity in the tropics has received little research attention. Hence, this study has examined how these factors affect woody species diversity in homegardens of northeast Ethiopia. Three landscapes which are similar in agroecology were selected and in total 54 households were used for both a survey and a woody species inventory in respondents’ homegardens. The homegardens were stratified based on their locations in relation to crop fields and natural vegetation using satellite images from Google Earth. The variation in Shannon–Wiener diversity index among homegardens and the effect of the socioeconomic factors including household wealth status, homegarden area and the households’ types of uses of woody plants on species diversity were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Altogether 53 woody plant species belonging to 35 botanical families were identified. Survey results indicated that the woody species diversity was higher in homegardens situated close to crop land as compared with the diversity in homegardens close to natural vegetation. Higher woody species diversity was recorded in homegardens which are larger in area and where the households’ types of uses of woody plants is higher. Moreover, the woody species diversity was found to be higher in homegardens of the high and medium income households when compared with that of poor households. Overall, results suggest that the concurrent ecological and socioeconomic studies are needed to design conservation strategy and policy for plant biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.     

Effects of deep vertical rotary tillage on the grain yield and resource use efficiency of winter wheat in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China

Tillage represents an important practice that is used to dynamically regulate soil properties,and affects the grain production process and resource use efficiency of crops.The objectives of this 3-year field study carried out in the Huang-Huai-Hai(HHH) Plain of China were to compare the effects of a new deep vertical rotary tillage (DVRT) with the conventional shallow rotary tillage (CT) on soil properties,winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield and water and nitrogen use efficiency at different productivity levels,and to identify a comprehensive management that optimizes both grain yield and resource use efficiency in the HHH Plain.A split-plot design was adopted in field experiments in the winter wheat growing seasons of 2016–2017 (S1),2017–2018 (S2) and 2018–2019 (S3),with DVRT (conducted once in June 2016) and CT performed in the main plots.Subplots were treated with one of four targeted productivity level treatments (SH,the super high productivity level;HH,the high productivity and high efficiency productivity level;FP,the farmer productivity level;ISP,the inherent soil productivity level).The results showed that the soil bulk density was reduced and the soil water content at the anthesis stage was increased in all three years,which were due to the significant effects of DVRT.Compared with CT,grain yields,partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFP_N),and water use efficiency (WUE) under DVRT were increased by 22.0,14.5 and 19.0%.Path analysis and direct correlation decomposition uncovered that grain yield variation of winter wheat was mostly contributed by the spike numbers per area under different tillage modes.General line model analysis revealed that tillage mode played a significant role on grain yield,PFP_N and WUE not only as a single factor,but also along with other factors(year and productivity level) in interaction manners.In addition,PFP_N and WUE were the highest in HH under DVRT in all three growth seasons.These results provided a theoretical basis and technical support for coordinating the high yield with high resource use efficiency of winter wheat in the resource-restricted region in the HHH Plain of China.     

Pathogenic characterisation of strains of Ralstonia solanacearum from Ethiopia and influence of plant age on susceptibility of hosts against R. solanacearum

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Ralstonia solanacearum is a diverse species that differs in host range and reaction on tobacco leaf and can be differentiated into races based on its host...