English 
አማርኛ 
Ethiopian Journal of Biodiversity - EthJBD
Vol 4 - No 1
Research Articles
The existence of a high degree of variability in crop genetic resources for disease resistance can be taken as one of the strategies that allow crops to survive in equilibrium with the challenges posed by pathogenic organisms. Three hundred twenty barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) lines were evaluated for severity and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) at two locations in Ethiopia. These disease resistance traits were for barley leaf scald (Rhynchosporium commune) and powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis). The lines were tested during the 2017/18 and 2018/19 cropping seasons for disease severity and in a single season for AUDPC, under natural infestation conditions. The REML analysis based on BLUP mean revealed that lines differ significantly (p≤0.01) for both disease severity and AUDPC in both diseases. Furthermore, there was a significant difference (p≤0.01) among the test environments for disease severity based on over years combined data. For leaf scald, the severity was found to be higher in the first year possibly due to a comparatively earlier planting date in the season which in turn facilitated repeated infection within the growing season. Hence, apart from the utilization of resistant lines, avoiding early planting can be taken as a good management strategy to reduce the damage caused by leaf scald. Lines HB-42 and Accn# 243209 were in the top ten for both leaf scald and powdery mildew resistance suggesting their potential for multiple disease resistance. These two lines can be used as parental lines in the attempt to develop high-yielding genotypes with multiple disease-resistance backgrounds.
Keywords: AUDPC, disease severity, genetic resources, farmers’ varieties.
The existence of a high degree of variability in crop genetic resources for disease resistance can be taken as one of the strategies that allow crops to survive in equilibrium with the challenges posed by pathogenic organisms. Three hundred twenty barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) lines were evaluated for severity and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) at two locations in Ethiopia. These disease resistance traits were for barley leaf scald (Rhynchosporium commune) and powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis). The lines were tested during the 2017/18 and 2018/19 cropping seasons for disease severity and in a single season for AUDPC, under natural infestation conditions. The REML analysis based on BLUP mean revealed that lines differ significantly (p≤0.01) for both disease severity and AUDPC in both diseases. Furthermore, there was a significant difference (p≤0.01) among the test environments for disease severity based on over years combined data. For leaf scald, the severity was found to be higher in the first year possibly due to a comparatively earlier planting date in the season which in turn facilitated repeated infection within the growing season. Hence, apart from the utilization of resistant lines, avoiding early planting can be taken as a good management strategy to reduce the damage caused by leaf scald. Lines HB-42 and Accn# 243209 were in the top ten for both leaf scald and powdery mildew resistance suggesting their potential for multiple disease resistance. These two lines can be used as parental lines in the attempt to develop high-yielding genotypes with multiple disease-resistance backgrounds.
Keywords: AUDPC, disease severity, genetic resources, farmers’ varieties.
Knowledge of tree population structure and regeneration status is very important to understand the reproductive and recruitment potential of selected indigenous tree species. The aim of this study was to investigate the population structure and regeneration status of Pouteria adolfi-friedericii. The study was conducted in four natural forests of Yayu, Bonga, Bebeka, and Masha, in south western Ethiopia. A systematic sampling method was used to collect vegetation data. Ten transects of 160 m length were laid out in each forest at 100 m interval along the slope gradient and quadrats (size: 20 m×20 m each) were laid at 50 m interval along each transect line. A total 120 quadrats were used for vegetation data collection. Sub quadrats (size: 5 m×5 m each) were established at four corners and in the center of each main quadrat to collect data on regeneration. From each main quadrat, the DBH and total height of the species were measured by using a diameter tape and clinometer, respectively. The size class distribution of the species showed irregular patterns across the forests. The regeneration status of P. adolfi‑friedericii is “good” in Masha and Bebeka, and “fair” in Bonga and Yayu forests. The population structure of the species varied across the inventoried forest sites.
Keywords: Population structure, Pouteria adolfi‑friedericii, Regeneration, Seed production
In Ethiopia, poultry production offers considerable opportunities in terms of generating employment opportunities, improving family nutrition, empowering women and ultimately ensuring household food security. The objective of this study was to characterize the production system of indigenous chickens in pastoral and agro-pastoral districts of South Omo Zone. A total of three districts and seven kebeles were purposively selected based on chicken population number and production potential of the selected areas. A total of 81 households were randomly selected for characterization of the production system. Data was gathered using semi-structured questionnaire, and field observations. The study showed that most of the household heads were male (70.3%). The average flock size of local chicken was 13.3±0.4 per household and the flock structure includes pullets (30.8%), layers (24.1%), cocks (17.5%), chick (16.6%) and cockerels (11.0%). Traditional chicken management system was the dominant production system (82.7%) practiced in the areas. The major feed sources for indigenous chickens were open scavenging and seasonal feed supplementation. Maize and sorghum grains as well as household leftovers were major supplements used. Newcastle disease was the most common diseases in study districts. The chicken populations have good potential for egg and meat production and the reproductive performances was also reasonable under the existing limiting environmental factors. The major constraints in the districts were disease, predator and feed shortages. Studying the production system of indigenous chickens can be used as first step to design conservation and improvement strategies, and contribute to sustainable utilization of indigenous chickens at scavenging environment.
Keywords: Indigenous chicken, characterization, production system.
Many smallholder farmers in the developing world live in adverse poverty and rely on agriculture as their primary source of income and household food. This study examines factors influencing the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices and crop productivity among smallholder farmers in Nyimba District, Zambia. Data were collected from June to July of 2022 from 194 smallholder farmers’ households in twelve villages belonging to four agricultural camps of Nyimba District. Four focus group discussions were conducted to supplement data collected from the household interviews. A binary logistic regression model was used to assess the determinants of climate-smart agriculture adoption and crop productivity among smallholder farmers. Propensity score matching was performed to measure the impacts of climate-smart agriculture adoption among adopters and non-adopter farming households. The Logistic regression model showed that the smallholder farmer’s level of education, household size, synthetic fertilizer usage, age of household head, gender, farming experience, livestock ownership, annual income, farm size, marital status of household head, and access to climate information, all affect smallholder farmer climate-smart agriculture practices adoption and crop productivity. The propensity score matching the analysis found overall crop yield (for entire crops) was 20.20% higher for climate-smart agriculture practices adopters than for non-adopters. The study also found smallholder farmers’ climate-smart agriculture practices adopters maize yield (staple crop) increased by 21.50% higher than non-adopters. The findings from this study have implications for further research and policy design and implementation of climate-smart agricultural practices.
Keywords: Adoption, Agriculture, Climate-smart agriculture, Climate change, Crop productivity.