A. Bosha^1,2, A.L. Dalbato³, T. Tana^1,4, W. Mohammed¹, B. Tesfaye⁵ and L.M. Karlsson^{3, a
1} Department of Plant Sciences, Haramaya University, Ethiopia
² Department of Horticulture, Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia
³ Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
⁴ Department of Crop Production, University of Eswatini, Luyengo, Eswatini
⁵ Department of Plant Sciences, Hawassa University, Ethiopia

SUMMARY Introduction – In Ethiopia, enset is a food security and livelihood crop, grown merely by vegetative reproduction from selected genotypes (landraces). There are immediate concerns: (i) need for variety improvement and (ii) preservation of the genetic diversity as the habitat of wild ensets declines. Utilisation of seeds is suggested. Seedling establishment, growth and development responses to manure were studied. Methods – Experimental field was in southern Ethiopia. Three seed lots were sown, and germinated seeds planted in pots outdoors. At five weeks, 48 seedlings (N=4) were planted in the field with 0.0–6.0 kg dry cow manure per plant, watered until onset of the rainy season, and grown for one year. Growth rate and size at harvest were recorded. Results – Seedlings established well (100%) in the field. Growth and development responses to increased manure supply were strong but generally plateaued from 4.0 to 6.0 kg manure provided per plant. At 12 months, average fresh weights were 15.5, 45.6, 81.8 and 85.5 kg when grown with 0.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 kg manure, respectively; weights were well correlated to sizes, e.g., analogous pseudostem volumes were 16.6, 53.6, 99.4 and 105.5 dm3. Conclusion – Enset seedlings can efficiently be grown in the field with cow manure. Producing quality seedlings with available resources, following a robust method, directly enables the preservation of the existing gene pool and makes breeding programs possible. However, farmers interested in growing enset crop shall be provided with sprouts from vegetative reproduction of known genotypes, to ensure genotype purity for the intended purpose. Keywords Ethiopia, food security, gene pool, indigenous crop, Musaceae, sustainable agriculture

Significance of this study What is already known on this subject? Enset is a traditional food security crop, propagated vegetatively. There is need for variety improvement and gene pool preservation from cultivated and wild plants. What are the new findings? Five-weeks enset seedlings established and grew well in the field: average pseudostem volume was over 100 dm3 within one year when supplied with 4.0–6.0 kg dry cow manure. What is the expected impact on horticulture? The production of quality seedlings, with a simple and robust method, directly enables the preservation of the existing gene pool and makes breeding programs possible.

E-mail: email@lailakarlsson.se  

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Received: 16 March 2020 | Accepted: 29 April 2020 | Published: 17 August 2020 | Available online: 17 August 2020