Research Article
Cost of Productions and Partial Budget Analysis of Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) Seedling Across Various Pot Sizes and Biochar-Based Media Preparations
Leta Ajema Gebisa*
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 5, October 2024
Pages:
76-82
Received:
12 September 2024
Accepted:
29 September 2024
Published:
29 October 2024
Abstract: Coffee cultivation mainly lies in the production of coffee seedlings with desirable characteristics under the recommended nursery management operations. Any improper handling made at early stage would remain to cause poor field performances. Biochar is considered as a soil conditioner and a carrier for plant nutrients, which improve the different soil functions, as an amendment to improve soil fertility, soil pH, available phosphorus, organic carbon, and water retention. The experiment was conducted to provide detail information on production costs and gross net profits of reduced sizes poly bag and biochar application used for coffee seedling production under small scale farmers. Biochar to topsoil blended at 1:3 ratio was found to increase (SVI) over the local and standard practice by 66.50% and 7.50%, respectively. Hence, combined effects of reduced pot size (13x19cm) with biochar mixed topsoil 1:3 noticed to significantly improve soil chemical conditions and growth response of coffee seedlings under nursery conditions at the study area. Besides, the result of simple partial budget analysis indicated the cost effectiveness with reduced polybag sizes as compared to the conventional pot sizes, especially for production, transportation and early stage field transplanting of quality coffee seedlings in large quantities. However, it is imperative to assess the effects of the present promising pot size and pot media treatments under field performance by considering growth, yield, and quality performances and profitability to smallholder coffee farmers over locations and year in the study area and other similar agro ecological zones in the country.
Abstract: Coffee cultivation mainly lies in the production of coffee seedlings with desirable characteristics under the recommended nursery management operations. Any improper handling made at early stage would remain to cause poor field performances. Biochar is considered as a soil conditioner and a carrier for plant nutrients, which improve the different s...
Show More
Research Article
Response of Yield of Shallot (Allium ascalonium L.) to Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates and Spacing Under Irrigation at Mulo, Ethiopia
Alemu Hailu*,
Zerihun Jalata
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 5, October 2024
Pages:
83-90
Received:
17 July 2024
Accepted:
22 October 2024
Published:
11 November 2024
DOI:
10.11648/j.bio.20241205.12
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: The shallot (Allium ascalonium L.) is one of the important alliaceous crops cultivated in many tropical countries. It is an important horticultural crop used to flavor the local stew "wot" and a source of income for farmers in Ethiopia. However, the productivity of shallot is low at study area due to various limiting factors such as low soil fertility, plant population and lack of improved agronomic practices. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of intra-row spacing and nitrogen fertilizer levels on growth, yield and quality of shallot at Mulo District, Oromia Regional state, Ethiopia during 2021/22 off season. The treatments consisted of four intra-row spacing (5, 10, 15 and 20) cm and four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 50, 100 and 150) kgNha-1 tested in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on shallot yield was collected. The interaction effect of intra-row spacing and nitrogen fertilizer influenced the marketable yield, unmarketable yield, bulb weight, bulb fresh weight, bulb dry weight, dry matter and total yield. As a result, the treatment combination of 150kgha-1 nitrogen and 15cm intra-row spacing yielded the highest net benefit of shallot (Eth-Birr 1,012,274), followed by the treatment combination of 150kgha-1 nitrogen and 20 cm intra-row spacing. In conclusion, the above findings indicated that the combined application of 150kgNha-1 with 15 cm spacing can improve shallot growth and productivity in the Mulo district area. However, more research needs to be done in different seasons and locations, taking into account the application rate of nitrogen fertilizer and different intra-row spacing, to generate more reliable information.
Abstract: The shallot (Allium ascalonium L.) is one of the important alliaceous crops cultivated in many tropical countries. It is an important horticultural crop used to flavor the local stew "wot" and a source of income for farmers in Ethiopia. However, the productivity of shallot is low at study area due to various limiting factors such as low soil fertil...
Show More
