The experiment was carried out to asses the influence of five preservative solutions (aluminium + ethanol, aluminium + sucrose, ethnol + sucrose, aluminium + ethanol + sucrose and water) and two rose cultivars ('Red Sky' and 'Blizzard'). The scope of the study was to identify the best combination of preservative solutions on rose cultivars. The treatments were arranged in factorial combination in CRD with three replications. Ten (10) cut flowers of each treatment were pre-treated using prepared preservative solution for 24 h in cold room (3 ± 1°C) before storage. Interaction effects of Preservative solutions and cultivars were significant (P < 0.05) on solution uptake on day 16; petal fresh weight on day 4; total soluble solids (TSS) on day 4, 8 and 12 and on vase solution absorbance. Preservative solutions had significant effects on solution uptake on day 1, 4, 8 and 12; TSS on day 1 and 16; petal fresh weight on day 1, 8, 12, and 16. Flower longevity and maximum flower head diameter, relative fresh weight and petal fresh weight loss were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced. Cultivars had significant (P < 0.05) difference on solution uptake and TSS. Aluminium + ethanol + sucrose preservative solution treated cut flowers had shown longest vase life, flower opening, solution uptake, petal fresh weight and TSS on both cultivars; while the values were significantly higher in 'Red Sky' cultivar. The findings provide an alternative for extending the vase life of cut roses and thereby ensure the satisfaction of flower users and sustainability of cut rose flower production.

This study was conducted to optimize the compositions of amaranths, teff and barley flour blending ratios for better nutritional and sensory acceptability of injera. Ten formulations of composite flour were determined using D-optimal constrained mixture design with the aid of MINITAB17 software package. The ingredients were in the range of 40-100%, 0-60% and 0-20% for teff, amaranths and barley, respectively. Proximate and mineral analysis of injera was done using standard methods, and sensory evaluation was made using 5-point hedonic scales. Results of the study showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in protein, calorie, fiber, calcium, iron, zinc and sensory quality of injera as the compositions of ingredients were changed. Levels of protein and gross energy increased with the increased proportion of amaranths, and addition of barley increased the carbohydrate value of injera. Calcium, iron and zinc contents of injera increased with the increment of amaranths and teff. Overall optimum point protein (11.84-14.60%), carbohydrate (74.39-79.71%), gross energy (363.68-381.22 kcal/100 g, iron ABOUT THE AUTHORS Fitsum Woldemariam graduated from department of food science and postharvest technology of the Hawassa University. He worked as lecturer in Debub College, Ethiopia. He is working on food product development and safety. Ali Mohammed is a professor of food and postharvest technology. He has been lecturing in the department of food science and postharvest management and head of the department in Jimma University, Ethiopia.

<p class="abstrakinggris">In Ethiopia, potato is a staple food crop and source of cash income for smallholder farmers, but the national average yield in farmers’ field is lower than experimental yields due to poor agronomic activities. The study aimed to determine the effects of flower removal and earthing up time on growth and tuber yield of potato. The experiment comprised of three flower removal stage and five earthing up time treatments, which were laid out in a randomized complete block design of 3x5 factorial arrangements with three replications. Results indicated that plant height, stem number, tuber length and tuber diameter were shown significantly affected (p &lt; 0.05) by the main effect of flower removal and earthing up time but not by their interaction. Fresh shoot biomass and physiological maturity were recorded significantly affected (p &lt; 0.05) by earthing up time, but not by flower removal stage and its interaction with earthing up time. Total fresh biomass, marketable and unmarketable tuber yield, as well as total tuber yield were significantly affected (p &lt; 0.05) by main factors and their interaction effects. The results clearly indicated that the highest total tuber yield (30.96 ton ha^-1) was recorded from flower bud removed potato earthed up at 15 days after complete emergence. Therefore, flower bud removed potato earthed up at 15 days after full emergence was better in terms of all yield contributing characters and tuber yield.</p><em></em><em></em>

Inappropriate spacing is one of the major problems in tomato production at the study area. A field experiment was conducted to determine inter- and intrarow plant spacing for yield and yield components of tomato at Shewarobit, central rift valley of Ethiopia, under irrigation condition. The treatment comprises of three intrarow spacing (20, 30, and 40 cm) and four interrow spacing (60, 80, 100, and 120 cm) replicated three times and arranged in randomized complete block design using tomato variety Weyno. Data collected on fruit yield and yield components were analysed using SAS. The main effect of interrow spacing significantly affected marketable fruit, unmarketable fruit, marketable fruit number, unmarketable fruit number, and fruit diameter. The 20 cm interrow spacing showed a marked increase in marketable fruit yield by 35.96% as compared to 30 cm spacing used by farmers. Planting tomato in closer interrow spacing (60 cm) resulted in 50% yield increment than the widest (120 cm) space between rows. Interaction effects of both inter- and intrarow spacing significantly (p < 0.05) affected plant height and fruit length. An intrarow and interrow spacing of 20 ∗ 100 cm and 20 ∗ 120 cm resulted in tallest plants and widest fruits, respectively. Therefore, farmers can use 20 cm intrarow spacing and 60 cm interrow spacing for planting of tomato seedling of Weyno variety.

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