Anteneh Argaw

Symbiotic effectiveness of inoculation with Bradyrhizobium isolates on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] genotypes with different maturities

The influence of soybean genotypes with different maturity groups on the symbiotic effectiveness of Bradyrhizobium spp under high native soil N is not well known. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of maturity time of soybean genotypes on the symbiotic effectiveness of Bradyrhizobium spp. at higher soil N. Three isolates of Bradyrhizobium spp. (UK-isolate, TAL-379 isolate and local-isolate) and six soybean genotypes, three late maturing (Wogayen, TGx-1336424 and Belsa) and three medium maturing (GIZA, Afgat and Gishame) were used for greenhouse experiment. Only GIZA and TGx-1336424 were selected for field experiment. The result of the experiments showed that significantly (P < 0.05) differences in all investigated traits, except total plant tissue N, was observed in TGx-1336424 with UK-Isolate and Local-Isolate.TAL-379 inoculation performed better in all investigated traits of GIZA genotype than other inoculation treatments. N-fertilization in the greenhouse experiment significantly (P < 0.05) improved the shoot biomass of Wogayen and Belsa-95, but did not observe in GIZA and Gishame. The regression analysis obtained between nodule number and nodule dry weight with that of grain yield indicated generally higher R2 value for late maturing than that of the medium maturing genotypes. This indicates high importance of nodulation for improving the GY of late maturing genotypes. Hence, this study proves the need for inoculation to improve the production and productivity of soybean sustainably in Ethiopia, with particularly pronounced effect on late maturing genotypes of soybean.

Agronomic efficiency of N of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in some representative soils of Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract Nitrogen is the major plant nutrient that limits common bean production throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Four experimental trials were conducted at four areas namely Babillae, Fedis, Haramaya, and Hirna experimental sites to determine if various inherent soil fertility status and soil total N might affect the N use efficiency of common bean var. Dursitu. Six levels of N application and two inoculation treatments were factorially combined and laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. The agronomic efficiency of N (AE-N) by common bean obtained from different locations displayed significant difference at p ≤ 0.05. The highest AE-N was obtained from Babillae site, while the lowest from Hirna site. In general, overall AE-N declined with increase in rates of N application. Slight increase of AE-N was observed in Babillae and Hirna sites when 20 kg N ha−1 was applied. Haramaya and Hirna sites had the highest of all investigated growth parameters, except 100 seeds weight and harvest index. The regression analysis indicated strong and negative association (R2 = 0.498 and R2 = 0.390 at p ≤ 0.05) between AE-N and N rates of application in Babillae site followed by Fedis site, respectively. A stronger and significant association (R2 = 0.276, p ≤ 0.05) of AE-N and grain yield was observed only in Hirna site. In general, this study indicated the remarkable effect of soil inherent fertility and soil total N content on N use efficiency of common bean in the study sites.

Evaluation of symbiotic effectiveness and size of resident Rhizobium leguminosarum var. viciae nodulating lentil (Lens culinaris medic) in some Ethiopian soils

This study was initiated to isolate, characterize and select symbiotically effective rhizobia nodulating lentil (Lens culinaris medic) and to enumerate indigenous rhizobia nodulating lentil in some Ethiopian soils. More than 84 nodule and soil samples were collected. In sand culture, only 62 isolates were authenticated as rhizobia nodulating lentil. Analyses of variance indicated that most of the parameters measured were significantly (p < 0.05) improved by inoculation, with the exception of root length. Inoculation increased shoot length, shoot dry weight and plant total nitrogen by 82.3, 196 and 452%, respectively, over negative control (without inoculation and N fertilization). The tested isolates were found to be very effective (20.9%) and effective (77.4%), with only one ineffective isolate. Indigenous rhizobia in the investigated soils ranged from 30 to 5.8 × 103 cell g−1 dry soil. A pot experiment with selected rhizobia and nitrogen fertilizer on Chefedonsa and Debrezeit soils did not show any significant difference in shoot dry weight at p < 0.05. From the study, it was observed that most Ethiopian soils were inhabited by a moderate to high number of indigenous rhizobia and rhizobia inoculation did not improve lentil productivity in the investigated soils.

Effectiveness of Rhizobium inoculation on common bean productivity as determined by inherent soil fertility status

Field experiments at Haramaya, Hirna, Fedis, and Babillae sites were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of selected isolates of rhizobia on the common bean production using eight selected isolates of rhizobia with a control check and N fertilized (20 kg N ha-1) treatments. The treatment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications and three common bean varieties (Kufanzik, Gofta, and Dursitu).Analysis of variance revealed that inoculation, common bean varieties and their interaction significantly influenced most of the investigated yield and yield traits of common bean. Most of the tested Rhizobium isolates significantly increased the nodule number (NN) and nodule dry weight (NDW) as compared to the control check. Of the tested isolates, a higher number remarkably improved the remaining investigated traits in Hirna and Haramaya sites when compared to the Fedis and Babillae sites. In the Babillae site, N fertilization resulted in the highest NDW, total biomass yield (TBY), and grain yield (GY) of common bean. The GY increases due to inoculation of NSCBR-14 at Haramaya and Hirna sites, N fertilization at Babillae and NSCBR-31 at the Fedis site were 775.5, 609.7, 506.3, and 400.9 kg ha-1 over the uninoculated treatments of the corresponding experimental sites, respectively. The highest NN, NDW, and plant N concentration was recorded with Dursitu while the highest GY and TBY were obtained from Kufanzik. Therefore, inherent soil fertility and the prevailed environmental factors affect the effectiveness of the inoculated isolates in enhancing common bean production in the study sites.

Effectiveness of native Rhizobium on nodulation and yield of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in Eastern Ethiopia

ABSTRACT This study was initiated to evaluate the effect of locally isolated Rhizobium on nodulation and yield of faba bean at Haramaya, Ethiopia for three consecutive years. Ten treatments comprising of eight effective isolates of rhizobia, uninoculated, and N-fertilized (20 kg N ha−1) were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The result of the experiment indicated that all inoculation treatments increased nodule number and dry weight over the control check in all cropping seasons. The result, however, showed the non-significant effect of Rhizobium inoculation on shoot length, number of tiller per plant and 100 seed weight in all cropping season. Inoculating Haramaya University Faba Bean Rhizobium (HUFBR)-15 in 2011 and National Soil Faba Bean Rhizobium (NSFBR)-30 in 2012 and 2013 gave the highest grain yields (4330, 5267 and 4608 kg ha−1), respectively. These records were 75%, 48%, and 5% over the uninoculated treatment of respective years. Over the season, NSCBR-30 inoculation resulted in the highest nodulation and grain yield production as compared to the other treatments. In general, isolates from central Ethiopia were better than those isolated from eastern Ethiopia and Tropical Agricultural Legume (TAL)-1035 in enhancing faba bean production at Haramaya site. Therefore, NSFBR-30 is recommended as a candidate isolate for faba bean biofertilizer production in eastern Ethiopia soils.

Nutrients uptake and utilization efficiency of wheat (Triticum Turgidum L. Var) as affected by filter cake and bagasse ash amendment in nitisol

ABSTRACT A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of six rates of filter cake and bagasse ash each separately (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 ton ha−1) on nutrients uptake and utilization efficiency of wheat in nitisol. Filter cake application was found to better increase in nitrogen (N), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) uptake and utilization efficiency while bagasse ash influenced zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) uptake. Bagasse ash application also reduced the uptake of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) by wheat. Multiple regression analysis showed that the soil properties explained selected macronutrients and micronutrients uptake. Exchangeable acidity negatively explained some of the nutrient uptakes. In general, filter cake and bagasse ash were found effective in enhancing the nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency by wheat cultivated in acidic soils such as nitisol.

Inorganic nitrogen application improves the yield and yield traits of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) irrespective of the indigenous rhizobial population

The effect of number and efficiency of indigenous rhizobia on the need for external inorganic nitrogen (N) application to boost common bean production is unknown. Hence, field experiments were conducted at four locations with soil populations of <100, 100–1 000 and >1 000 rhizobia to evaluate the effect of the indigenous rhizobial population on N requirement of common bean in eastern Ethiopia. The treatments comprised six levels of N application arranged in a randomised complete block design with three replications. The results showed decreases in nodule number (NN) and nodule dry weight (NDW) with increasing rate of inorganic N application in all soil types. Application of 20 kg N ha−1 resulted in a significant increase in the NN and NDW in soil with a low and moderate rhizobial population but not in soils with a high rhizobial population. The highest yield and yield traits in soil containing a high and low rhizobial population was recorded with <40 and >60 kg N ha−1 application, respectively. The association between grain yield and N application was negative in soils with a high and moderate rhizobial population, and positive in soil containing a low rhizobial population. In general, the results revealed that the number of indigenous rhizobia could affect the quantity of N applied.

The inorganic N requirement, nodulation and yield of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as influenced by inherent soil fertility of eastern Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Though mineral N application impaired nodulation initiation and function, it improves the productivity of common bean. The effect of inorganic application on common bean productivity, however, is dependent on the availability of plant nutrients including nitrogen (N) in the soils. Therefore, multilocation field experiments were conducted at Babillae, Fedis, Haramaya, and Hirna to evaluate the effect of inherent soil fertility status on responsiveness of common bean to different rates of N fertilizer application and its effect on nodulation, yield, and yield components of common bean. The treatments were six levels of N fertilizer (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 kg N ha−1) laid out in randomized completed block design with three replications. The result revealed that 20 kg N ha−1 application significantly improved the nodule number (NN) and nodule dry weight (NDW) except Hirna site, in which reduction of NN and NDW was observed. Although the remaining investigated yield and yield components were significantly improved due to N fertilizer in all study sites, 40 kg N ha−1 application resulted in significantly increased GY of common bean at Fedis, Haramaya, and Hirna site, while 60 kg N ha−1 at Babillae site. The highest total biomass yield (7011.6 kg ha−1) and GY (2475.28 kg ha−1) of common bean were recorded at Hirna and Haramaya sites, respectively, indicating the importance of better fertile soil for good common bean production. Hence, it can be concluded that the effect of inorganic N on common bean was irrespective of soil fertility rather the total amount of N in soil would affect the need of different rate of inorganic N.

Organic and inorganic fertilizer application enhances the effect of Bradyrhizobium on nodulation and yield of peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) in nutrient depleted and sandy soils of Ethiopia

PurposeAn investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of the integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizer effect on Bradyrhizobium effectiveness on nodulation and yield of peanut at the major growing areas of Eastern Ethiopia, Babillae and Fedis sites.MethodsSystemic combination of compost, manure, Bradyrhizobium inoculation and NP application was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications.ResultsThe result showed that Bradyrhizobium integrated with organic inputs significantly improved the nodule number at Babillae while Bradyrhizobium when applied with DAP resulted in a significant increase of nodulation at Fedis site. The highest total biomass and total pods weight at both sites were found to record when Bradyrhizobium integrated with manure and compost. Integration of Bradyrhizobium, manure and compost at Fedis and Bradyrhizobium with manure at Babillae was found to increase the kernel yield by 44 and 66.6% over the control check, respectively. Integration of Bradyrhizobium, manure and compost at Babillae and Bradyrhizobium with starter N at Fedis significantly increased plant N accumulation. The effect of organic and inorganic application on soil N and organic carbon content was not significant at Fedis, but the slight increase was observed in Babillae site. A significant increase in the soil available P by organic and/or DAP application was found in either of the experimental sites.ConclusionOrganic fertilizer when integrated with Starter N and DAP is better in improving the effectiveness of Bradyrhizobium, nodulation and yield of peanut in either of the sites.

Manurial value of khat waste vermicompost from Awday, Harar town, Ethiopia

PurposeCatha edulis, commonly called as khat or chat is an evergreen plant cultivated in Ethiopia for its stimulant leaves. The young leaves are chewed as a part of social recreation and the older leaves along with the twigs are discarded. This forms the major part of municipal solid waste that is dumped in large quantity in Harar region. The present study was carried in Haramaya University, Ethiopia to decompose the khat wastes along with crop residues and different animal manures (cow dung, goat manure, poultry manure and swine manure) using the earthworm Eisenia foetida.MethodsThe collected khat wastes along with crop residues and different animal manures were vermicomposted and assessed for nutrient contents using standard procedures.ResultsThe result of the experiment indicated that all the parameters were improved by the decomposition using earthworms and the C/N ratio was within the limits that indicate the maturity of the compost. The organic carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorus, copper, iron, zinc and manganese contents were analyzed and found to be improved after decomposition. The added crop residues and animal manures enhanced the decomposition process and manurial value of the khat leaf waste.ConclusionThe nutrient content of the vermicomposts revealed khat to be a suitable substrate for vermicomposting thereby making efficient utilization of solid wastes. This can be an effective technology to reduce the solid waste and the resultant product can be used for improving soil fertility and crop production by the farmers.