Growth and biomass yield response of clover (<i>Trifolium decorum</i>) to preceding crop and organic treatment in the highlands of Awi Administrative Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Low soil fertility status is a dominant challenge in Ethiopian agriculture for decades. Organic amendment from different sources could help to rebuild the soil fertility status of the country. Hence, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the outcome of organic treatment and preceding crops on growth and biomass yield of clover. Four levels of organic treatments (V1= 0 t ha -1 FYM; V2 = 5 t ha -1 FYM; V3 = 2.5 t ha -1 FSB and V4 = 5 t ha -1 FYM +2.5 t ha -1 FSB) and two levels of crop rotation patterns (R1 = wheat -clover and R 2 = potato-clover) were factorially arranged and laid out in a completely randomized block design (RCBD) with four replications. Plant height, number of tillers plant -1 , number of nodules plant -1 , root biomass plant -1 and above ground biomass of clover was recorded and analyzed using SAS system. The overall experimental results showed that only the main effect of organic amendment had a significant effect on the growth and biomass yield of clover. The highest total dry biomass (5.6 t ha -1 ) of clover was recorded at 5 t ha -1 FYM +2.5 t ha -1 FSB. The unfertilized control gave the lowest mean dry biomass (3.06 t ha FSB could be recommended for better biomass yield of clover. The finding could bridge the chronic green manure and livestock feed shortage of the district.

Biochar ageing improves soil properties, growth and yield of red radish (Raphanus sativus) in a Haplic Cambisol

“…The biomass yield increase after the application of biochar plus fertiliser is mainly attributed to the plants’ increase in nutrient availability and efficient use, especially nitrogen, which is of primary importance in biomass partitioning [ 54 ]. The increase in nutrient availability leads to an increase in more growth and development of plants, thus, increasing their biomass.…”

Phenology, growth, yield, and yield-related traits of Ethiopian garlic genotypes. A review

“…The total production from 12,429 ha of land was only 124,801 quartiles. The low production of garlic growth, yield, and yield-related traits was due to biotic and abiotic factors such as lack of high-yielding genotypes [ [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] ], inappropriate organic and inorganic fertilizer [ 3 , 4 , 18 , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] , [47] , [48] , [49] , [50] , [51] , [52] ], inappropriate intra-row spacing [ 38 , 42 , 43 , [53] , [54] , [55] , [56] , 69 ], clove weight and size [ [57] , [58] , [59] , [60] ], watering [ [61] , [62] , [63] , [64] , [65] , [66] , [67] , [68] ], mulching [ 70 , 71 ], disease [ 12 , 36 , 42 , [53] …”

Climate Change Challenges and Knowledge Gaps in Smallholder Potato Production: The Case of Mauche Ward in Nakuru County, Kenya

“…This global warming has led to intensity of extreme events such as increased rains, floods, frost, droughts and heat waves, which profoundly impact on the conditions in which agricultural activities are conducted (Bett et al, 2016) and the whole value chain of crop production (Shibabaw et al, 2014). In every region of the world, plants, animals and the ecosystem are adapted to the prevailing climatic conditions (FAO, 2016a).…”