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Forskningsartikel2020Vetenskapligt granskad

Early establishment, growth and development response of enset (Ensete ventricosum) seedlings to manure in the field

Bosha, A.; Dalbato, A. L.; Tana, T.; Mohammed, W.; Tesfaye, B.; Karlsson, L. M.

Sammanfattning

Introduction - In Ethiopia, enset is a food security and livelihood crop, grown merely by vegetative reproduction from selected genotypes (landraces). There are immediate concerns: (i) need for variety improvement and (ii) preservation of the genetic diversity as the habitat of wild ensets declines. Utilisation of seeds is suggested. Seedling establishment, growth and development responses to manure were studied. Methods - Experimental field was in southern Ethiopia. Three seed lots were sown, and germinated seeds planted in pots outdoors. At five weeks, 48 seedlings (N=4) were planted in the field with 0.0-6.0 kg dry cow manure per plant, watered until onset of the rainy season, and grown for one year. Growth rate and size at harvest were recorded. Results - Seedlings established well (100%) in the field. Growth and development responses to increased manure supply were strong but generally plateaued from 4.0 to 6.0 kg manure provided per plant. At 12 months, average fresh weights were 15.5, 45.6, 81.8 and 85.5 kg when grown with 0.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 kg manure, respectively; weights were well correlated to sizes, e.g., analogous pseudostem volumes were 16.6, 53.6, 99.4 and 105.5 dm(3). Conclusion - Enset seedlings can efficiently be grown in the field with cow manure. Producing quality seedlings with available resources, following a robust method, directly enables the preservation of the existing gene pool and makes breeding programs possible. However, farmers interested in growing enset crop shall be provided with sprouts from vegetative reproduction of known genotypes, to ensure genotype purity for the intended purpose.

Nyckelord

Ethiopia; food security; gene pool; indigenous crop; Musaceae; sustainable agriculture

Publicerad i

Fruits
2020, Volym: 75, nummer: 4, sidor: 153-160 Utgivare: INT SOC HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE-ISHS