Adaptation and Growth Performance Evaluation of Nitrogen Fixing Tree/Shrub Species in Dello-menna District of Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia

Abstract

Prior integration of any tree/shrub species in a given land use system there is always the need of undertaking a field trials for the adaptability and growth performance evaluation for particular environment. Study was designed and conducted to evaluate the adaptability potential and growth performance of six nitrogen fixing tree/shrub species in Dellomenna district of Bale zone, southeast Ethiopia. The considered species in the study are Cajanus cajan, Flemingya macrophylla, Gliricidia sepium, Sesbania sesban, Calliandra calothyrsus and Leucaena leucocephela. Seedlings were produced in a nursery site and transplanted to the experimental site. The experiment was laid out in RCBD design with three replications, and the management practices employed uniformly for each species throughout the stud period. In the study the necessary growth performance data parameters; plant height, root collar diameter and survival rate were measured and recorded. Thereafter, the data was analyzed by GenStat (15 th ed) and Excel computerized programs. Results obtained showed that, these growth performance data parameters were significantly (p < 0.05) varied among the tested species. In this respect, Flemingya macrophylla, Sesbania sesban, Gliricidia sepium and Cajanus cajan attain the higher mean values in survival rate, plant height and root collar diameter. While Leucaena leucocephela and Calliandra calothyrsus attain the lowest mean values for the entire growth performance parameters. Hence, it can be inferred that the study site matched well with the environmental requirement of F. macrophylla, S. sesban, G. sepium and C. cajan. The species therefore offers much promise for future use in any of agroforestry practices in the area. However, evaluation of their contribution to soil fertility improvement and crop yield needs to be further investigated as this may insights to know their nutrient provision potential while integrated together with annual and/or perennial plants in agroforestry land use system.

Adaptation and Growth Performance Evaluation of Selected Multipurpose Trees and Shrubs at Yabello District, Borana Zone, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

“…On the other hand, Calliandra calothyrsus had the lowest survival rates (91.67%, 63.89%, 36.11%, and 22.22%) over the entire experimental period. The result was also similar to the study, which reported that Calliandra calothyrsus had the lowest survival rates (83.89%, 52.78%, and 11.11%) over a three-year experimental period at Dello-Menna District [24]. The lower survival rates of Calliandra calothyrsus are attributed to their suitability for fodder production.…”

“…Another study from [22] reported that the RCD of Moringa oleifera was 4.75 cm in Bako conditions. Similar studies from [24] also stated that the RCD of Calliandra calothyrsus was 2.96 cm in the Dello-Menna District of Bale Zone.…”

“…Likewise, the study from [22] also reported that the height of Moringa oleifera was 3.97 m in Bako conditions. Another finding also stated that the height of Calliandra calothyrsus is 0.371 m in the Dello-Menna District of Bale Zone [24]. Similarly, it also stated that apart from indicating productivity, height may also be seen as a measure of the adaptability of trees to the environment, as tall trees are usually better adapted to the site than short trees [26].…”

Effect of harvesting frequency on leaf biomass production of three Moringa stenopetala (Bak.f) provenances grown in Dello-menna district of Bale zone, Southeast Ethiopia

“…M. stenopetala is known for its characteristics as a highly resilient tree that grows very fast and is easy to propagate. It grows best in semi-arid to arid conditions and has very low requirements in terms of nutrients, water and management (Isah et al, 2014;Bekele et al, 2022). This implied the tree could be grown over a wide range of climatic conditions, even in drought prone areas and being promoted across African country as a fast growing multipurpose tree.…”

“…Recently, three M. stenopetala provenances were introduced for multitude benefits in the midland area of Bale, Southeastern Ethiopia (Bekele et al, 2022). Despite their introduction knowledge on leave biomass production along with different leaf, harvest cycle is not studied.…”