STM Journals Peer-reviewed research from Consortium e-Learning Network

Research & Reviews : Journal of Botany

Evaluation of Early Performance Different Provenance of Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Tree Seedlings at the Nursery Level in Central Ethiopia

  1. Begashaw Mitiku
  2. Fikiru Bafa
  3. Getahun Yaekob

Abstract

Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufodontis is an important and valuable indigenous tree species in the lowland area of Ethiopia. And also the tree have economical, social, and in the livelihood of farmers and play key roles in ecosystem resilience under climate change scenarios. On the other hand, the variability with in plant genetics can be limiting factor to improve species’ appropriateness for a specific site. Therefore, this research aimed to select better provenance for Moringa Stenopetala in the study area. The provenances of Moringa Stenopetala trees those have more common and abundant were selected and seeds were collected and sowed in the nursery. After taking appropriate nursery management Germination, Survival, Height, RCD, Branch number, and above and below-ground biomass of seedlings were measured in each provenance. The result shows that Derashe, Jumbo, and Arbaminch-zuria provenance seeds performed significantly higher in most parameters like growth and biomass parameter (p=0.05). In germination rate is recorded at 79% and the lowest is 26.8% from Shewarobit and Konso respectively. The growth parameter of Moringa Stenopetala shows a significant difference in Height and branch number. Shewarobit (12.75) shows a significantly higher mean Branch number than Benatsemay (9.75). Derashe (44.05cm) Humbo (43.48cm) and Arbaminch (43.12 cm) height which is significantly higher than Benatsemay and Konso (31.2cm and30.8cm respectively). Similarly, Derashe also has highly significantly differed SFW (21.03g) RFW (16.6g) SDW (6.9g) RDW (5.35g) of Moringa Stenopetala from Benatsemay (14.1g), Metehara (10.9), Konso (3.6), and Zuria-wereda (3.3) in SFW, RFW, SDW, and RDW respectively. As result, to improve the germination potential selection of seed sources from different agroecology is important. Despite this, we have concluded that Derashe is the seed source for the study area (meskan) for Moringa Stenopetala production from the tested provenance. Derashe recommended as a seed source to produce Moringa Stenopetala seedlings in meskan wereda.

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