Effects of negarim and semi-circular structures on growth and yield of banana in moisture deficit area of Daro Labu District, West Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted for three consecutive years (2011/2012 to 2013/2014) to evaluate the growth and production of banana (Robusta variety) with different water harvesting structure in Daro Labu districts of Oda Leku peasant association. The water harvesting structures used as treatments were semi-circular bund with and without mulch, negarim micro catchment with and without mulch and normal pit with and without mulch (control). The treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design on three farms as a replication. The data on yield, number of fingers, survival rate/6 month, number of sucker/2 years, plant height, and area coverage/1 year and 9 months were collected. The statistical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) among treatments on survival rate, number of sucker, plant height, and area coverage but there was a highly significant variation (p<0.01) among treatments on yield and number of fingers. The means of plant height, area coverage and number of sucker on semicircular bund with mulch and negarim micro catchment with mulch were better than the structures without mulch and control. Both structures are therefore recommended with mulch for banana production in moisture stress areas and similar agro-ecologies.

Selection of Soil and Water Conservation Technologies and Native Tree Species for Rehabilitation of Degraded Arid Lands in Southeast Ethiopia

“…Te current study showed that the height and RCD growth of the four studied species was signifcantly higher in trench and half-moon moisture conservation structures than the other structures indicating that moisture-conserving structures contributed for higher growth increment and are the main factors controlling the performance of tree growth. Various studies in diferent dry land areas of Ethiopia have showed a similar result where the height and diameter growth of all planted tree species were best under moisture conservation structures than that of tree seedlings planted in normal pits [48][49][50][51][52]. A similar study in the interior dry land of the Maule Region, Chile, by Ovalle et al [53] reported a signifcant efect of moisture-conserving structures on plant height, crown diameter, and trunk diameter.…”

Effects of natural and modified zeolite based composite fertilizers on slow release and nutrient use efficiency

“…According to Ref. [ 20 ], the soils of the studied area (Haramaya district, Eastern Ethiopia), face a wider set of soil fertility issues, which have historically been the major focus for extension workers, researchers, policymakers, and donors. In addition to soil fertility issues, a shortage of rainfall is also frequently observed in Haramaya district.…”