Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology (EJST)
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Eth. J. Sci. & Technol. ISSN 1816-3378 Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology Volume VI No. 1 February 2013 Bahir Dar University Bahir Dar, Ethiopia Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology (EJST) Editors Melaku Wale (PhD) Department of Biology, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia (Editor-in-chief) Zewdu Emiru (PhD) Department of English Language and Literature, Bahir Dar (Managing Editor) University, Ethiopia Editorial Board Members Firew Tegegne (PhD) Department of Animal Production & Technology , Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia Berhanu Abraha (PhD) Department of Biology, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia Ali Said (PhD) Department of Biology, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia Baylie Damtie (PhD) Department of Physics, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia Solomon Tesfamariam (PhD) School of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia Advisory Board members Prof. Zinabu G. Mariam Hawasa University, Hawasa, Ethiopia Prof. Zerihun Woldu Department of Biology , Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia Prof. Teketel Yohannes Department of Chemistry, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia About EJST Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology (EJST) is published bi- annually by the Vice President‟s Office, Research and Community Services, Bahir Dar University, PO Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Contact Address: Office of the Vice President, Research and Community Services, Bahir Dar University, PO Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Tel.: 251-058-222 1908 Fax: 251-058-220 2025 Web Site: http://www.bdu.edu.et. Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology Vol. V I No.1 February 2013 Contents Symbiotic Blue Green Algae (Azolla): A Potential Biofertilizer for Paddy Rice 1-11 Production in Fogera Plain, Northwestern Ethiopia Tesfaye Feyisa, Tadele Amare, Enyew Adgo and Yihenew G. Selassie Effect of Harvesting and Threshing Time and Grain Fumigation of Field Peas 13-24 (Pisum sativum L.) on Pea Weevil (Bruchus pisorum (L.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) Development and Damage Esmelealem Mihiretu and Melaku Wale Influence of Time of Nitrogen Application on Productivity and Nitrogen Use 25-31 Efficiency of Rain-fed Lowland Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the Vertisols of Fogera Plain, Northwestern Ethiopia Alemayehu Assefa, Tilahun Tadesse, and Minale Liben Floristic Composition and Structure of Yegof Mountain Forest, South Wollo, 33-45 Ethiopia Sultan Mohammed and Berhanu Abraha Effect of Transplanting on Rice in Northwestern Ethiopia 47-54 Tilahun Tadesse, Minale Liben, Alemayehu Assefa and Zelalem Tadesse Effect of Apple Supplement and Unsupervised Home-based Brisk Walking on 55-63 Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Khelifa Nida Bartrua, M.S. Sohal, Kiranjeet Kaur and Maninder Kaur GUIDE TO AUTHORS 65-67 Eth. J. Sci & Technol., Vol. VI, no.1: 1-11, 2013 ISSN 1816-3378 © Bahir Dar University, February 2013 Symbiotic Blue Green Algae (Azolla): A Potential Bio fertilizer for Paddy Rice Production in Fogera Plain, Northwestern Ethiopia Tesfaye Feyisa1, Tadele Amare1, Enyew Adgo2 and Yihenew G. Selassie2* 1Adet Agricultural Research Center, PO Box 08, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia 2Bahir Dar University, PO Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia * Corresponding author:[email protected] Abstract Keywords: Azolla, biofertilizer, fresh biomass, nitrogen, rice, symbiotic A field experiment was carried out in Fogera plain, where lowland rice is widely grown, to assess the adaptability and yield of Azzola strains and to determine the level of nitrogen they generate in 1. Introduction 2005 and 2006. A year earlier, 2004, the two Azolla strains (Azolla filiculoides and Azolla microphylla) Nitrogen is the key element required for were introduced from India. They were maintained plant growth and productivity. It is and multiplied in plastic containers at Adet in a greenhouse and then inoculated into concrete tanks abundant and constitutes 78% of the for testing their adaptability. Both strains were well atmosphere, but cannot be utilized by adapted to Adet condition. The actual experiment plants as such and has to be converted to was laid out in a randomized complete block design nitrates or ammonium form either by replicated three times. In the summer season, Azolla chemical or biological processes (Singh, filiculoides gave an average of 48 tons/ha (range: 42-56.4 tons) and Azolla microphylla yielded 40 1998; Banu et al., 2003). Chemical tons/ha fresh biomass (range: 30-45 tons). In synthesis of nitrogen by industrial means is autumn and winter seasons, biomass production was energy intensive and expensive. However, reduced because of fluctuating temperatures. An the same process can be carried out by -1 average of 54.4 t ha of Azolla fresh biomass was certain species of bacteria such as harvested at Fogera. Maximum plant height, number of tillers, straw yield and grain yield of rice cyanobacteria, which are equipped with the was recorded on the treatment that was planted by appropriate enzymes. Most of the using 64 kg N + 20 kg P ha-1 followed by Azolla cyanobacteria exist under free living filiculoides + 20 kg P ha-1, 32 kg N + 10 kg P ha-1. conditions but some are found in symbiotic Inoculation of Azzola by incorporating once into association with lower plants like water the soil has increased rice yield by 911 kg ha-1 (19%) on Azolla filiculoides plots and 721 kg ha-1 fern Azolla (Singh, 1998). (15%) on Azolla microphylla plots. However, there was temperature fluctuation and colonization of Azolla partners blue green algae inside its Azolla roots by algae. Multiplication and lobes and is capable of harvesting maintenance of Azolla needs special attention. It atmospheric nitrogen. Due to this invisible also needs continuous watering to a depth of 5 -10 cm and P fertilizer application, thus, irrigation partnership, the fern multiplies very fast. facility and alternate P sources are vital. Azolla The symbiotic association of the algae aids gives a lot of biomass and it is easy to manage and in the creation of a large amount of establish, which means that it is logical and cost- biomass on the surface of the water. In effective to use it as biofertilizer for paddy rice. Its Azolla-anabaena symbiosis, the fern is a effect on high value and perennial crops may be the subject of further research. macro symbiont which gives protective environment and nutrients to the blue green algae (the micro symbiont) which in turn gives nitrogen and other growth hormones 1 Tesfaye et al., 2013 to the fern for its growth and low cost rice production technology. multiplication. Both partners harvest solar Biological nitrogen fixation through Azolla energy via photosynthesis and the total anabaena complex is considered as nitrogen requirement can be supplied by potential biological system for increasing the assimilation of N fixed by anabaena. rice yield at comparatively low cost (Singh, Each leaf of Azolla has the potential of 1998). According to Kikuchi et al. (1984), harboring 75 thousand anabaena cells maximum biomass production ranged from containing 3 to 3.5% nitrogen 0.4 to 5.2 t dry matter ha-1 (average = 2.1 t (www.ineedcoffee.com/06 /azolla/). The ha-1); and the N content ranged from 40- beauty of this fern is that it is quite hardy 146 kg ha-1 with an average of 70 kg N ha- and during favorable environmental 1. conditions it multiplies exponentially. The algal symbiont is closely associated with Azolla derives more than 80% of its N all stages of the fern‟s development and from Nitrogen fixation in the field (Giller, resides in the cavities formed in the dorsal 2001). Annual N production rates by lobe of the fern. Rapid multiplication of the Azolla can be as high as 500 kg N ha-1 (for fern takes place in summer months. Azolla A. pinnata) to 1200 kg N ha-1 (for A. lives on the water surface of rice fields filiculoides) with average of 1000 kg N ha-1 harmoniously under the canopy of rice yr-1 with daily production rates of 0.4 - 3.6 plants without affecting the growth of rice kg ha-1 day-1 with average of 2 kg N ha-1 (Gevrek, 1999), and on small ponds, day-1 (Kikuchi et al., 1984). Azolla grown canals, and rivers (Ferentinos et al., 2002; as an intercrop with rice can accumulate Dhar et al., 2003). Generally, it multiplies 40-170 kg N ha-1 (average 70 kg N ha-1) vegetatively and often sexually. Its size is (Kikuchi et al., 1984). Singh (1979) in 1- 5 cm. Azolla has high protein content of Gevrek (1999) reported that the mineral approximately 23-37% of the dry biomass. nutrient composition inside the plant body Hence, it can also be used as, feed of A. pinnata was Nitrogen 4-5%; supplement with other low protein rations, phosphorus 0.5-0.9%; potassium 2-4.5%; feed for fish, pigs, ducks, chicken and calcium 0.4-4 %; magnesium 0.5-0.65%; cattle that like to eat it fresh as well as iron 0.06-0.26%; manganese 0.11-0.16% dried and used in salads and sandwiches, and crude protein 24-30% on dry matter just as alfalfa and bean sprouts are used basis. Gevrek and Yagmur (1997), also (Gevrek, 1999; Ferentinos et al., 2002). recorded the chemical composition of A. mexicana as N 3.92%; P 0.52%; K 1.25%; Azolla is distributed worldwide. Seven Ca 4.3%; Mg 1.10%; Na 1.08%; Zn 0.1%; species are recognized in temperate and Mn 0.3% and etc on dry matter basis. This tropics viz. Azolla filiculoides, A. rubra, A. indicates that Azolla has higher rate of caroliniana, A. mexicana, A. microphylla, nitrogen than compost (0.5 – 0.9% N) and A. pinnata and A. nilotica (Dhar et al., animal manure. 2003). All these species have anabaena as symbiont in leaves (Singh, 1998). Losses of Azolla N were found to be small (0-11%) in comparison to the loss from an The high nitrogen fixing ability, rapid equivalent amount of urea fertilizer (30%) growth, high biomass accumulation and N which was probably due to direct content determines the potential of Azolla volatilization of ammonia to the as fertilizer for increasing rice yield under atmosphere (Watanabe and Berja, 1983).