College of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources

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    EFFECT OF MOTHER BULB SIZE AND NITROGEN FERTILIZER RATES ON GROWTH, SEED YIELD, AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF ONION (Allium cepa L.) AT LAELAY MAYCHEW DISTRICT, CENTRAL ZONE OF TIGRAY, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA
    (Mekelle University, 2025-02-21) Nirayo Gidey Demoz
    Inappropriate uses of bulb size and without or with very low rates of nitrogen fertilizer application are major factors constraining onion seed production in Tigray. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted during 2023/2024 in Laelay Maychew Woreda Central Zone of Tigray to study the effect of mother bulb size (3-4 cm), medium (4.1-5 cm), and large (5.1-6 cm) and nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 23, 46, 69, and 92 kg ha-1) on growth, seed yield, and yield components of onion. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results revealed that all growth and yield components were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the main effect of bulb size and nitrogen and nitrogen only. The tallest plant heights (cm), flower stalk length (cm) and Maximum numbers of flowers talks per plant were obtained from the plant that received 69 N kgha-1 as well as those large bulb sizes (5.1-6 cm).However highest values of flower stalk diameter (mm), wider umbel diameters (mm) and number of seed per umbel (550) were found from the plant treated at the rate of 92 kg ha-1 of N and medium mother bulb size (4.1-5cm).The maximum seed weight per umbel (2.32g), thousand seed weight (3.86g) and seed yield per plant (17.20g) and seed yield per plot (1197.91g) were obtained from the combination of large (5.1-6 cm) mother bulb size with 69 kg of Nha-1.The shortest days to 50% flowering and maturity were found from the treatment combination of 69 kg ha-1 with 5.1-6 cm mother bulb size. The highest seed yield per hectare (1983.25 kg ha-1) was obtained from the treatment combination of 69 kg and 5.1-6 cm mother bulb size. As the partial budget analysis revealed that maximum net field benefits (4550120) Ethiopian Birr with Marginal rate of return (56.88) were obtained from a bulb of 5.1–6 cm size grown with an application of 69 kg N ha-1. Hence, for high yield and economically feasible seed yield of onion, the treatment combination of 5.1–6 cm bulb size and 69 kg ha-1 of N are recommended for the study area. To make a final recommendation, it is advised to conduct the experiment again in the study area, as it was conducted for only one season and one site
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    Farmers’ Perception on Pollination and the Influence of Honeybees and Other Insect pollinators on Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) Seed Yield and Quality in Mekelle and Degua Tembien, Tigray, Ethiopia
    (Mekelle University, 2025-02-15) Medhanye Araya Tadesse
    Insect pollinators, particularly honeybees are important in enhancing seed yield and quality of crops. However, Farmers’ perception of pollination remains unstudied. This study was conducted to assess farmers’ perceptions on pollination service and to evaluate effect of honeybees and other insects on seed yield and quality of Nigella sativa. This study considered both field experiment and survey study. The survey was conducted in Degua-tembien, Tigray region, Ethiopia, with 179 households, FGDs and KIIs. Field experiment was conducted at Mekelle Agricultural Research Center, organized in randomized complete block design with three treatments including plots caged with honeybees, open pollinated and caged without insect pollinators; and each was replicated three times. The survey data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square with SPSS software; while the experimental data was analyzed statistically using one way ANOVA with R-software. The survey result showed 93.3% of respondents were unaware about pollination and none of them knew the contribution of honeybees and other insect pollinators in enhancing crop yield and quality. The experimental result indicated caged plots with honeybees had the highest seed yield (20.5 Qt./ha) followed by open pollination (19.58 Qt./ha) and caged without insect pollinators (13.75 Qt./ha). The germination percentage, 1000 seed weight, protein, oil and moisture content were also affected by the mode of pollination. However, ash and crude fiber content were not affected by the mode of pollination. So this result indicates, honeybees and other insect pollinators had a statistically significant effect on seed yield and quality of Nigella sativa, despite farmers’ lack of awareness. Honeybees were the most abundant insect pollinators in the open treatment, comprising 64.4%. As a result, farmers can gain 13,041,000 ETB/year net benefit of Nigella sativa via insect pollination. The study recommends training local farmers to improve awareness on chemical utilization and significance of pollination to enhance quality and yield performance of the crop; Farmers should be encouraged to utilize honeybee colonies for pollination to improve seed quality and yield of Nigella sativa. Further research is needed to determine the optimal number of honeybee colonies for specific areas and crops to maximize production and farmer income