evaluation of accessions and varieties of different

EVALUATION OF ACCESSIONS AND VARIETIES OF DIFFERENT VICIA SPECIES FOR AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND HERBAGE QUALITY IN THE CENTRAL HIGLANDS OF ETHIOPIA

M.Sc. THESIS

GEZAHAGN KEBEDE BUNARE

HAWASSA UNIVERSITY, HAWASSA, ETHIOPIA

FEBRUARY, 2011

EVALUATION OF ACCESSIONS AND VARIETIES OF DIFFERENT VICIA SPECIES FOR AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND HERBAGE QUALITY IN THE CENTRAL HIGLANDS OF ETHIOPIA

GEZAHAGN KEBEDE BUNARE

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANT AND HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE HAWASSA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES HAWASSA UNIVERSITY HAWASSA, ETHIOPIA

INPARTIAL FULFULIMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREES OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PLANT AND HORTICULTURAL SCIENCES (SPECILIZATION: AGRONOMY)

FEBRUARY, 2011

APPROVAL SHEET 1

This is to certify that the thesis entitled “Evaluation of accessions and varieties of different vicia species for agronomic performance and herbage quality in the central highlands of Ethiopia” Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science with specialization in Agronomy of the graduate program of the department of Plant and Horticultural Science, Hawassa college of agriculture, and is a record of original research carried out by Gezahagn Kebede Bunare Id.no SGS /0025/01 under my supervision, and no part of the thesis has been submitted for any other Degree or diploma.

The assistance and help received during the course of this investigation have been dully acknowledged. Therefore, I recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the thesis requirements.

Getnet Assefa (Ph.D.) Name of major advisor

________________________ Signature

Hussein Mohammed (Ph.D.) _______________________ Name of co-advisor

Signature

_______________________ date

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APPROVAL SHEET 2 We, the under singed, members of the board of examiner of the final open defense by _______________________________ have read and evaluate his thesis entitled “Evaluation of accessions and varieties of different vicia species for agronomic performance and herbage quality in the central highlands of Ethiopia” and examine the candidate. This is therefore to certify that the thesis has been accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science.

____________________________________ Name of the chair man

____________________________________ Name of major advisor

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____________________________________ Name of external examiner

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_________________ date

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Final approval and acceptance of the thesis is contingent up on the submission of the final copy of the thesis to CGS through the DGC of the candidates department.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT Above all, I thank the almighty God in the name of Jesus Christ, who gave me the patience, strength, health and wisdom to finalize this piece of work. This thesis would have not been completed had it not been to the support of many individuals and institutions.

First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to my major advisor, Dr. Getnet Assefa, Holetta research center, for his unreserved encouragement, advice, support, guidance, critical reading of the manuscript, valuable suggestions and comments throughout the whole period of the research, starting from the identification of the problem of the study. I am greatly indebted to my co-advisor, Dr. Hussein Mohammed, Plant and Horticultural Science Department, Hawassa University, for his genuine and regular advice, concrete suggestions, valuable criticism, fast comments and guidance from the initial thesis research proposal up to the final write up of this thesis.

I wish to express my sincere word of thanks to the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR)/ Holetta Agricultural Research center (HARC) for giving me the chance to pursue this study at Hawassa University. Among others, the assistance of Mr. Seyoum Bediye (the livestock research director, EIAR) and Mr. Yohannes Gojjam (the former center Director, HARC) are duly acknowledged.

My special gratitude goes to forage and pasture research colleagues at HARC: Mr. Fekede Feyissa, Mr. Tadesse Tekletsadik, Mr. G/Medhin Hagos, Mr. Getachew Gudeta, Mr. Andarge Shewareged, Mr. Asres Merso, Mr. Gurmu Wordofa, Mr. Degisa Keneni, W/o. Felekech Asfaw, W/t. Tensaye Abate and Mr. Mamaru Tesfaye, for their technical, material and moral iii

support throughout the entire work. Their contributions in maintaining pleasant working environment has immensely contributed to the completion of this study.

I am grateful to feeds and nutrition research staff members at HARC: Mr. Dereje Fekadu, for his assistance in feed quality analysis using Near Infra Red Spectroscopy/ NIRS/ techniques, Mr. Getu Kitaw, Mr. Aemiro Kehaliew, Mr. Mesfin Dejene, and Mr. Tadesse Daba, for their moral support and continuous encouragement. I am also Very much thankful to Mr. Getachew Alemu, soil scientists, HARC, for his technical assistance and support in soil samples laboratory analysis; Dr. Dereje Gorfu, plant pathologist, HARC, for his genuine support in the identification of disease; Mr. Solomon Sahlemariam, for provision of meteorological data.

I am very much thankful to Dr. Girma Taye, Mr. Muluneh Minta, Mr. Wondimu Fekadu, Mr. Tezera Wolabu, Mr. Zewdie Wondatir, and Mr. Kefena Effa, for their support in statistical analysis, genuine guidance and encouragement. My special thanks also go to Mr. Gemechu Keneni, Mr. Daniel Muleta, Mr. Bineyame Kassa, Dr. Aster Yohannes, Dr. Likelesh Gugisa, and Dr. Baye Muleta for their strong encouragement. My sincere appreciation and thanks also goes to the school of graduate studies of Hawassa University and my course mates, for their genuine assistance and friendship which were instrumental for the completion of my thesis.

Lastly, but most importantly, unlimited appreciation and special thanks goes to my mother and sisters for their praying, encouragement, sacrifice, love and tremendous support, which has allowed me to pass smoothly through difficulties and to complete my study successfully. To all the people who contributed to this thesis directly or indirectly, who stood by me throughout the journey may almighty God in the name of Jesus Christ bless you all. iv

DEDECATION

This thesis is heartly dedicated to my beloved mother, Almaz Wanore; and my sisters Terefech Kebede, Tesfanesh Desalgn and Seblewengel

Desalgn, who provided me all their love and sacrificed their interest for my success while I was in school and that will be remembered fore ever.

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STATEMENT OF THE AUTHOR

First I declare that this thesis is my genuine work and that all sources of materials used for this thesis have been duly acknowledged. This thesis has been submitted in the partial fulfillment of the requirements for M.Sc. degree at Hawassa University and is reserved at the University library to be made available to users under rules and regulations of the University library. I solemnly declare that this thesis is not submitted to any other institution any where for the award of any academic degree, diploma or certificate.

Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission provided that accurate acknowledgement of the source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of plant and horticultural science department or the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author.

Name: Gezahagn Kebede

Signature: ___________________

Place: Hawassa University, Hawassa Date of submission: _______________________

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ABREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

ADF

Acid Detergent Fiber

ADL

Acid Detergent Lignin

BNF

Biological Nitrogen Fixation

BPR

Biomass Production Rate

CEC

Cation Exchange Capacity

CV

Coefficient of Variation

CP

Crude protein

CPY

Crude Protein Yield

DAS

Days After Sowing

DFH

Days to Forage Harvest

DSH

Days to Seed Harvest

DAP

Di-Ammonium Phosphate

DM

Dry Matter

DMRT

Duncan Multiple Range Test

EIAR

Ethiopia Institute of Agricultural Research

FDMY

Forage Dry Matter Yield

GDP

Gross domestic product

GFP

Grain Filling Period

GLM

General Liner Model

GSFR

Grain Sink Filling Rate

HARC

Holetta Agricultural Research Center

IAR

Institute of Agricultural Research

IBCR

Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Research

ICARDA

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas

ILCA

International Livestock Center for Africa

ILRI

International Livestock Research Institute

IVDMD

In-Vitro Dry Matter Digestibility vii

LEIA

Low External Input Agriculture

LP

Leaf Proportion

LSR

Leaf to Stem Ratio

masl

meter above sea level

meg/100g

mill-equivalent per 100 gram

NDF

Neutral Detergent Fiber

NGOs

Non- Governmental Organizations

NIRS

Near Infra Red Spectroscopy

NPP

Number of Pods per Plant

NSP

Number of Seeds per Pod

OC

Organic Carbon

PGRC/E

Plant Genetic Resources Center of Ethiopia

PHFH

Plant Height at Forage Harvest

pH

Power of Hydrogen

PL

Pod Length

ppm

parts per million

RCBD

Randomized Complete Block Design

RNB

Root nodule bacteria

SAS

Statistical Analysis System

SP

Stem Proportion

SY

Seed yield

TSW

Thousand Seed Weight

USA

United States of America

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENT ........................................................................................................ iii DEDECATION ......................................................................................................................... v STATEMENT OF THE AUTHOR........................................................................................ vi ABREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS .................................................................................vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................ ix LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................... xi LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................. xiii LIST OF TABLES IN APPENDICES ................................................................................. xiv ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................. xv 1.

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1

2. LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................... 5 2.1. Description of vetches ...................................................................................................... 5 2.2. Genetic diversity and evaluation of herbaceous forage legumes in Ethiopia .................. 9 2.3. Significance of tropical forage legumes in agriculture .................................................. 11 2.4. Environmental stress on forage growth and development ............................................. 13 2.5. Seed production of forage legumes ................................................................................ 16 2.6. Methods of integrating forage legumes into the farming systems ................................. 18 2.6.1. Intercropping/ under sowing ................................................................................... 18 2.6.2. Crop rotation............................................................................................................ 19 2.6.3. Alley cropping/hedge row ....................................................................................... 20 2.6.4. Over-sowing legumes .............................................................................................. 21 2.6.5. Sequential/ relay cropping ....................................................................................... 22 2.7. Factors affecting compatibility of forage-food crops in the integration systems .......... 22 2.8. Nutritional quality of forage legumes ............................................................................ 24 3. MATHERIALS AND METHODS .................................................................................... 27 3.1. Description of the study sites ......................................................................................... 27 3.2. Experimental materials .................................................................................................. 28 3.3. Experimental design and treatments .............................................................................. 29 3.4. Data collection ............................................................................................................... 31 3.4.1. Establishment performance of the plants ................................................................ 31 3.4.2. Changes in Dry matter (DM) accumulation and growth in height .......................... 31 3.4.4. Plant height at different growth stages .................................................................... 32 3.4.5. Forage yield, proportions of morphological fractions and their yields ................... 32 ix

3.4.6. Chemical analysis and in vitro dry matter digestibility ........................................... 33 3.4.7. Seed yield and other related traits (parameters) ...................................................... 34 3.4.8. Insect pest and disease problem .............................................................................. 35 3.4.9. Soil physico-chemical properties ............................................................................ 35 3.4.10. Climatic records .................................................................................................... 36 3.5. Statistical analysis .......................................................................................................... 36 4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ......................................................................................... 39 4.1. Weather of the experimental sites .................................................................................. 39 4.2. Physico-chemical properties of soils of the experimental sites ..................................... 41 4.3. Establishment performance ............................................................................................ 43 4.4. Changes in dry matter (DM) accumulation and plant height ......................................... 48 4.4.1. Aerial DM accumulation and plant height .............................................................. 48 4.4.2. Root DM accumulation over the sampling period .................................................. 53 4.5. Days to forage and seed harvest ..................................................................................... 60 4.6. Plant height at forage and seed harvest .......................................................................... 66 4.7. Proportions of morphological fractions at forage harvest .............................................. 72 4.8. Biomass yield ................................................................................................................. 79 4.8.1. Biomass production rate and number of branches at forage harvest ....................... 79 4.8.2. Forage and botanical fractions yields ...................................................................... 83 4.8. 3. Insect pest and disease ............................................................................................ 88 4.9. Forage chemical compositions and in-vitro dry matter digestibility ............................. 89 4.9.1. Chemical compositions at forage harvest ................................................................ 89 4.9.2. In-vitro dry matter digestibility at forage harvest ................................................. 101 4.10. Seed yield ................................................................................................................... 104 4.10.1. Grain filling period, total grain sink filling rate and frost tolerance ................... 104 4.10.2. Seed yield and its components ............................................................................ 106 4.11. Correlations of observed traits ................................................................................... 113 4.11.1. Correlations among agro-morphological traits.................................................... 113 4.11.2. Correlations among nutritional traits ................................................................... 116 4.11.3. Correlations between agro-morphological and nutritional traits ......................... 118 4.12. Clustering of the accessions and varieties for major observed traits ......................... 124 5. SUMMURAY AND CONCLUSION .............................................................................. 128 6. REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 133 7. APPENDICES ................................................................................................................... 153 8. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ........................................................................................... 164 x

LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1. Accessions/varieties of five vetch species used as treatments for the experiment…..29 Table 2. Physico-chemical properties of the soil at the experimental sites at Holetta, red nitosol and Ginchi clay vertisol before planting and after harvesting……….….42 Table 3. Least square means for days to emergence, vigor and seedling counts per square meter of different vetch species grown at Holetta and Ginchi ……………..46 Table 4. Average days to emergence, vigor and seedling counts per square meter of different accessions/varieties of vetch grown at Holetta and Ginchi …… …………47 Table 5. Least square means for days to forage and seed harvest of vetch species grown at Holetta and Ginchi ………………………………………………………..64 Table 6. Average days to forage and seed harvest of different accessions/varieties of vetch grown at Holetta and Ginchi ……………………………………………........65 Table 7. Least square means for stretched and un-stretched height at forage and seed harvest of vetch species grown at Holetta and Ginchi ……………………………...70 Table 8. Average stretched and un-stretched plant height at forage and seed harvest of different accessions/varieties of vetch grown at Holetta and Ginchi…………….71 Table 9. Least square means for proportions (%) of leaf, Stem, and green pod and flower fractions on DM basis and leaf to stem ratio of vetch species taken at forage harvest at Holetta and Ginchi ……………………………..........................77 Table 10. Average proportions (%) of leaf, stem, and green pod and flower fraction on DM basis and leaf to stem ratio of different accession/varieties of vetch taken at forage harvest at Holetta and Ginchi………………………………….........78 Table 11. Least square means for number of branches at forage harvest and biomass production rate of vetch species grown at Holetta and Ginchi………………………81 Table 12. Average number of branches at forage harvest and biomass production rate of different accessions/varieties of vetch grown at Holetta and Ginchi…………….82 Table 13. Least square means for total dry matter yield (t ha-1) and botanical fraction yields (t ha-1) of vetch species grown at Holetta and Ginchi ………………………..86 Table 14. Average total dry matter yield (t ha-1) and botanical fraction yields (t ha-1) of different accessions/varieties of vetch grown at Holetta and Ginchi……………...87 xi

Table 15. Least square means for ash and CP on (%) DM basis and CP yield (t ha-1) of vetch species at Holetta and Ginchi………………………………………………97 Table 16. Average ash and CP contents on (%) DM basis and CP yield (t ha-1) of different accessions/varieties of vetch at Holetta and Ginchi……………………….98 Table 17. Least square means for NDF, ADF, ADL, Cellulose and Hemi-cellulose contents on (%) DM basis of vetch species at Holetta and Ginchi …………………99 Table 18. Average NDF, ADF, ADL, Cellulose and Hemi-cellulose contents on (%) DM basis of vetch accessions/varieties at Holetta and Ginchi…………………….100 Table 19. Least square means for in-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) on DM basis of vetch species at Holetta and Ginchi …………………………………102 Table 20. Average in-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) on DM basis of different accessions/varieties of vetch at Holetta and Ginchi ……………………………….103 Table 21. Least square means for grain filling period (days), grain sink filling rate (kg ha-1 day-1), and frost tolerance of vetch species at Holetta and Ginchi... ...109 Table 22. Average grain filling period (days), grain sink filling rate (kg ha-1 day-1), and frost tolerance of different accessions/varieties of vetch at Holetta and Ginchi …………………………………………………………………………110 Table 23. Least square means for number of pods per plant, pod length (cm), number

of seeds per pod, seed yield (t ha-1) and thousand seed weight (g) of vetch species at Holetta and Ginchi………………………………………………………111 Table 24. Average number of pods per plant, pod length (cm), number of seeds per pod, seed yield (t ha-1) and thousand seed weight (g) of different accessions/ varieties of vetch at Holetta and Ginchi……………………………………............112 Table 25. Pearson’s correlation coefficients among agro-morphological traits of different accessions/varieties of vetch at Holetta and Ginchi……………………...121 Table 26. Pearson’s correlation coefficients among nutritional parameters of different accessions/varieties of vetch at Holetta and Ginchi ……………………………….122 Table 27. Pearson’s correlation coefficients of agro-morphological and nutritional parameters of different accessions/varieties of vetch at Holetta and Ginchi ……...123 Table 28. Total number of accessions and varieties of vetch and their list under three clusters………………………………………………………………………….....126 Table 29. Cluster mean values for major measured parameters of different accessions and varieties of vetch grown at Holetta and Ginchi ……………………………….126 xii

LIST OF FIGURES Page Fig. 1. Map of the experimental sites at Holetta (Welmera) and Ginchi (Dendi) in the central highlands of Ethiopia……………………………………………………….38 Fig.2. Total monthly rainfall (mm) and monthly average maximum and minimum air temperature (oC) during the experimental period (2009) at the trial site, Holetta….. ….40 Fig.3. Total monthly rainfall (mm) and monthly average maximum and minimum air temperature (oC) during the experimental period (2009) at the trial site, Ginchi……….40 Fig.4. Mean aerial DM accumulation and growth in height of 20 accessions and varieties of vetch grown at Holetta and Ginchi………………………………………….55 Fig.5. Mean aerial DM accumulation (a) and plant height (b) of vetch species……………….56 Fig.6. Mean branches number for the species tested (a) and the trend of branch counts (b) over the growing period at Holetta and Ginchi……………………………...56 Fig.7. Aerial DM accumulation of Vicia sativa accessions grown at Holetta (a) and Ginchi (b) over the growing period……………………………………………………..57 Fig.8. Aerial DM accumulation of Vicia villosa accessions grown at Holetta (a) and Ginchi (b) over the growing period……………………………………………………...57 Fig.9. Aerial DM accumulation of Vicia narbonensis accessions grown at Holetta (a) and Ginchi (b) over the growing period………………………………………………..58 Fig.10. Aerial DM accumulation of Vicia dasycarpa varieties grown at Holetta (a) and Ginchi (b) over the growing period………………………………………………..58 Fig.11. Aerial DM accumulation of Vicia atropurpurea variety grown at Holetta and Ginchi over the growing period………………………………………………………..59 Fig.12. Mean root DM accumulation for the species tested over the growing period (a) and for all accessions/varieties at each sampling period (b) at Holetta and Ginchi….59 Fig.13. Dendnogram showing the groupings of vetch accessions and varieties based on the major parameters on the average alogarithm using standard values…………..127

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LIST OF TABLES IN APPENDICES Page Appendix 1. Mean monthly minimum and maximum air temperature (oc), total monthly rainfall (mm), relative humidity (%) and evaporation (mm) during the experimental year (2009) and 10 years (1999-2008) at the testing site, Holetta....153 Appendix 2. Mean monthly minimum and maximum air temperature (oc), total monthly rainfall (mm), relative humidity (%) and evaporation (mm) during the experimental year (2009) and 10 years (1999-2008) at the testing site, Ginchi....154 Appendix 3. Analysis of variance and level of significance of measured agromorphological and quality traits of vicia species combined over locations………………………………………………………………………...155

Appendix 4. Analysis of variance and level of significance of measured agromorphological and quality traits of 20 accessions and varieties of vetch combined over locations…………………………………………………………157

Appendix 5. Mean performance of measured agro-morphological and quality traits of vetch species grown at Holetta and Ginchi………………………….................159

Appendix 6. Mean performance of measured agro-morphological and quality traits of 20 accessions and varieties of vetch grown at Holetta and Ginchi………………...160

Appendix 7. F-test for homogeneity of variance (error mean square) of vetch species grown at Holetta and Ginchi…………………………………………………….161 Appendix 8. F-test for homogeneity of variance (error mean square) of accessions/ varieties of vetch grown at Holetta and Ginchi…………………………………162 Appendix 9. Germination percentage of accessions and varieties of different vetch species used in the experiment………………………………………………….163

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EVALUATION OF ACCESSIONS AND VARIETIES OF DIFFERENT VICIA SPECIES FOR AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND HERBAGE QUALITY IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF ETHIOPIA

By Gezahagn Kebede Bunare (B.Sc.) Major Advisor: Getnet Assefa (Ph.D.) Co-advisor: Hussein Mohammed (Ph.D.) ___________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT Twenty accessions/varieties of five vicia species were evaluated for their morphological, agronomical and nutritional differences at Holetta and Ginchi in the central highlands of Ethiopia during 2009 cropping season. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications. At sowing, 100 kg DAP ha-1 was applied for all treatments. Data on establishment, growth, forage yield, herbage quality and seed yield were collected and analyzed using the general linear model procedures of SAS, and Duncan multiple range test was used for mean comparison. Most measured parameters showed significant (P