Abstract: Establishment of seedling growing method(s) is priority activity to the distribution of newly introduced vegetable crops. Chaya is proposed as candidate vegetable crop to distribute in eastern Ethiopia. However, recommendation is lacking for rooting media and type of cutting to produce seedlings. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess effect of rooting media and number of nodes on rooting, seedling establishment and early growth of chaya at Dire Dawa from February 2018 to Ju...
Abstract: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important food security and cash crop in Central highlands of Ethiopia. However, its yield is constrained by problem of soil fertility and poor fertilizer management. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of poultry manure, mineral nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on yield and yield components of potato at Holeta, in 2012 growing season. The treatments consisted of factorial combination of 2 levels of poultry manure...
Abstract: The field experiment was conducted during 2015 main rainy season, at two locations, Haramaya University Rare research field and Hirna Research field to assess the effect of tuber planting depth and nitrogen fertilizer rate on the yield and yield related traits of potato. The experimental treatments were factorial combinations of four tuber planting depth (5, 10, 15, 20 cm) and five rates of N (0, 46, 92, 138 and 184 kg N kg ha-1), laid out as a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCB...
Abstract: Onion is an important crop both as a condiment and income generation for smallholder farmers in North western Zone of Tigray. However, Continuous use of inorganic fertilizers and inappropriate soil fertility management practices are among the major factors limiting onion productivity in the North Western Tigray. Therefore, a field experiment was undertaken in Selekleka district from October 2015 to June 2016 to assess the effects of integrated nutrient management on growth, bulb yi...
Abstract: Development of drought tolerant potato varieties for moisture stress areas is one of the strategic orientation and research priorities of the Ethiopian Potato Research Program. Estimation of variability is the first step in the process of variety development. This research was conducted at Simada research site of Adet Agricultural Research Center, a satellite site for drought experiments, in 2016 main rain season to estimate genetic variability, correlation among traits and to dete...
Abstract The Kenya Government prioritized the development of the agricultural sector to achieving the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of sustainable food production. Kenya’s strategic plan, Vision 2030 positions agriculture as a key driver for delivering a 10% annual economic growth and is expected to have an average growth rate of 7% by 2015. Agriculture contributes over 80% of all employment opportunities in the country, but Kenyan youths are not taking advantage of these opportu...
Abstract: Anchote is one of the most important but underutilized indigenous root tuber crops in Ethiopia. The scarcity of quality planting materials and improved varieties are the most important factors limiting production of the crop. Considering the huge importance of plant biotechnological tools in the improvement of anchote, experiments were conducted to develop in vitro protocols for somatic embryogenesis, meristem culture and anther culture of two anchote accessions (KUWE and accession...
Abstract Agriculture in Kenya has great untapped potential for providing employment opportunities for youth that would enable them exploit their creativity, economic innovation and access to agricultural product markets in order to spur faster national economic growth. Reducing cereal importation in Kenya through local investment and expanding of markets for agricultural products can effectively create youth employment. A number of youth took part in agriculture in Kajiado North Sub- County ...
Abstract Agriculture in Kenya plays an important role in development as it contributes about 24% of GDP, 75% of industrial raw materials and 60% of export earnings and about 18% of the total formal employment. It also employs about 3.8 million people in farm, livestock production and fishing, while an estimated 4.5 million other people are employed in agriculture-related off-farm activities. Cereals including maize, sorghum, millet, and wheat among others largely constitute the major food it...
Abstract Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) is an emerging economic crop in Kenya with ready market and high nutritional value. Despite this, its adoption as a major cash crop in Suba District has remained low. The aim of the study was to investigate the determinants of adoption and extent of adoption of butternut squash. The study area was chosen due to persistence of poverty despite the fact that the area has conditions that are favourable for the production of high value crops like but...
Abstract Butternut squash is an emerging economic crop in Kenya with ready market and high nutritional value. It was introduced to promote food security and enhance the incomes of the small-holder farmers in Suba district. However it is not clear whether butternut could address the problem of low income among small-holder farmers. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of butternut squash on the incomes of the small-holders. The choice of the study area was due to persistence of ...
Abstract The Kenya Government prioritized the development of the agricultural sector to achieving the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of sustainable food production. Kenya’s strategic plan, Vision 2030 positions agriculture as a key driver for delivering a 10% annual economic growth and is expected to have an average growth rate of 7% by 2015. Agriculture contributes over 80% of all employment opportunities in the country, but Kenyan youths are not taking advantage of these opportu...
Abstract Declining land productivity is a major problem facing smallholder farmers in Kenya today. This decline is as a result of reduced soil fertility caused by continuous cultivation without adequate addition of manures and fertilizers. Low soil fertility is one of the greatest challenges facing farmers in the central highlands of Kenya. A farmers’ participatory trial was established in Meru South District, Kenya in 2000 to investigate feasible soil nutrient replenishment technologies f...
Abstract: Plant spacing and seed tuber size are important agronomic management practices in the production of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). However, potato farmers in Ethiopia often use haphazard plant spacing and tuber sizes, which contributes to the low yield of the crop. A field experiment was conducted during off season of 2014 at the research field of Holetta Research Centre, Ethiopia with the objective of elucidating the effect of varied seed tuber spacing and seed tuber sizes on the ...
Abstract: Declining soil fertility is one of the major problems causing yield reduction in Ethiopia. Farmers at Areka apply both organic and inorganic fertilizers to overcome the problem and increase yield of potato. However, information on the application of farmyard manure and chemical fertilizer is inadequate to the area to increase the yield of potato crop. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at Areka, Southern Ethiopia during the 2016 cropping season with the objective of assessing t...