No abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Wondo Genet Agricultural Research Center in the production season of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 with the objective of identifying the best combination of intra and inter-row spacing for optimum plant population density of rosemary. The treatments consisted of five intra-row spacing (50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 cm) and three inter-row spacing (60, 80 and 100 cm) with a total treatment combination of fifteen that were laid out in factorial randomized completely block design with three replications. Data on plant height, fresh leaf weight per plant, fresh aboveground biomass and dry leaf weight were collected and analyzed. The main effect of intra-row and inter-row spacing had a significant influence on the number of branch per plant, fresh leaf weight per plant, dry leaf weight per hectare and oil yield per hectare in each year and pooled mean. The interaction effect of intra-row and inter-row spacing caused significant variations in the number of branch per plant, fresh leaf weight per hectare and aboveground biomass per hectare in the pooled mean analysis. Plant height and oil content were not influenced by the main effect of intra-row and inter-row spacing and their interaction in each year and pooled mean. Significantly maximum fresh leaf yield (23777 kg ha-1) and fresh aboveground biomass (33746 kg ha-1) were obtained from the combined of 50 cm intra-row and 60 cm inter-row spacing. Significantly higher dry leaf yield (7081.1 kg ha-1) and (6333.4 mkg ha-1) and oil yield (174.6 kg ha-1) and (154.7 kg ha-1) were obtained from the main effect of 50 cm intra-row and 60 cm interrow spacing respectively. It may, therefore, be concluded that spacing combination of 50 cm intra-row x 60 cm inter-row responded favorably in attaining higher leaf yield and oil yield of Rosemary in the area.

A field trial was conducted at Menagesha Cheshire Rehabilitation center to investigate the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus application on growth and yield of stevia during 2014/15 and 2015/16 cropping season in supplementary irrigation. The treatments consisted of four levels of N (0, 23, 46, and 96kg ha-1) and four levels of P (0, 10, 20 and 30kg ha -1 ) arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The main effect of nitrogen had a significant influence on leaf and above-ground biomass yield of Stevia. The main effect of phosphorous had no significant effect on all of the parameters. The interaction effect of nitrogen and phosphorus were significantly affected number branch per plant, fresh leaf weight and above-ground biomass yield of Stevia. Significantly higher fresh leaf yield (17.18t ha -1 ) was obtained from the combined application of 23/30NPkg ha -1 and 46/0NPkg ha -1 . The maximum above-ground biomass (28.3t ha -1 ) was recorded from the combined application of 23/30NP kg ha -1 . In conclusion, the results revealed that nitrogen and phosphorous at moderate rates led to a significant increment in growth components and leaf yield of Stevia. Thus, be realized that the application of nitrogen and phosphorous noticeably increases the production of Stevia in the area.