Effect of cultivar, parent corm pre-treatment and sucker size on enset (Ensete ventricosum, Musaceae) growth

• In Ethiopia, enset (Ensete ventricosum, Musaceae) has been utilized as multipurpose crop since ancient time, being a measure for smallholder farmers to mitigate prolonged droughts and thus climate change effects. However, there is little research on enset agriculture to provide appropriate advice to farmers. Enset management relies on farmers indigenous knowledge, which shall be acknowledged, but must be tested and evaluated. Poor management practises are identified as a cause for low productivity. To test the effect of parent corm pre-treatment, cultivar and initial sucker size on further growth and development, 162 suckers from the six released enset cultivars (Endale, Gevvada, Kelisa, Mesena, Yanbule, and Zerita) were detached from parent corms and planted individually. Plant characteristics were recorded at planting and at yearly destructive sampling for three years, and after cutting off at soil surface at two years and allowing regrowth during additional two years. At all occasions, development of different characteristics depended on sucker size at planting. Cultivars differed by their inherent characteristics throughout the study, while propagation method had no effect on further growth. The results underline the importance of more research on improving the techniques of vegetative reproduction. Achieving large suckers at propagation has long-term benefits to the success in enset agriculture. The technical knowledge on planting material achieved in this study can directly be disseminated through agricultural extension and adopted by current enset farmers as well as new growers.

Ämnesord

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske -- Jordbruksvetenskap (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries -- Agricultural Science (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske -- Trädgårdsvetenskap/hortikultur (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries -- Horticulture (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

climate change mitigation; drought tolerance; Ethiopia; food security; indigenous crop; sustainable agriculture

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