College of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources Management
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Item Assessment on Honeybee Flora and Effects of Feed Supplementation on honeybee colony performance in Endamekoni District, Southern Tigray, Ethiopi(Mekelle University, 2025-04-28) Lemlem MeresaBeekeeping is the management of honeybee colonies for pollination of crops, and honey and other products. It plays a great role directly by providing valuable output such as honey, beeswax, queen and bee colonies, and other products such as pollen, royal jelly, and indirectly by providing nutritional, economic and ecological security. But like other agricultural sectors bee keeping activity is also affected by drought, and during dry season honey bee face a shortage of feed which reduces the production of honey, as well as affects the overall performance of honeybees. To solve this problem, supplementation of honeybee during dry season is an effective way to reduce the effect of the dry season on honeybee colonies. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate different supplemental protein feeds on honeybee productive performance during dearth periods. It also assesses bee flora and floral calendar of the study area. A survey was carried out in three tabias of EndaMekoni district (Mekan, Embhasti and Hizba). Data were obtained from 102 beekeepers by using structured questionnaire on demographic characteristics and honeybee management practices. In this study a survey identified 42 honey bee forage plants and their flowering periods, including Beciame grandiflorum, Hypoestes forskaolii, Leucas abyssinica, Eucalyptus spp., and Trifolium spp., which were found to be major sources of nectar and pollen. Constraints such as poor nutrition, inadequate management, pests, chemical exposure, and lack of knowledge and equipment were identified as key challenges in beekeeping. The experimental study was conducted in Mekan tabia from mid-February up to mid-May for three months trial period. During this study, twelve honeybee colonies were grouped into four treatments and three replications. Treatment diets were T1 (Control) T2 (Bean flour), T3 (Chickpea flour), and T4 (Lentil flour). Completely randomized design (CRD) was used to assign the experimental groups. Sugar syrup was supplemented equally to all experimental colonies for maintenance and to stimulate the colonies during dearth periods. Performances indicators such as brood area, pollen store, colony strength, and honey yield were measured. The results showed that significantly higher number of bee covered frames/hive was recorded in chickpea flour group (p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.01), compared with the control, bean flour and the lentil flour groups, respectively. The mean consumption rate of chickpea flour (155.6±10.1g/colony/week) was notably higher (p<0.05; p<0.01) compared with the bean flour and lentil flour groups, respectively. The experimental colony received chickpea flour had significantly higher pollen area (p<0.05) compared with the lentil and control groups. Results showed significant differences (p<0.05) among the treatments. Colonies fed chickpea showed superior performance with 9.25 fully covered honeybee frames, 1506.25±140.4 cm² of brood area, 326.6±90.1 cm² of pollen store, and 25 kg of honey, compared to lower values in control colonies. Honey production (kg) in the honeybee colony not supplemented protein diets (7kg) showed markedly lower (p<0.001, p<0.05), compared with the colonies supplemented with chickpea flour (25kg) and bean flour (15kg), respectively. In sum, supplementing honeybees with protein feeds during dry seasons significantly enhances colony performance and productivity. Raising awareness among beekeepers on nutritional management is recommended for sustainable and profitability of apiculture.