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Demonstration of Local Honeybee Flora “Mentesie” (Becium grandflorum) Propagation Techniques in Wag - Himra Zone, Ethiopia

Received: 13 August 2024     Accepted: 3 September 2024     Published: 12 November 2024
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Abstract

The demonstration of local honeybee flora "Mentesie" (Becium grandiflorum) propagation techniques was carried out over two rainy seasons in the Gazgibla district, Debreweyla watershed closure area of the Northeastern Amhara region. The shrub has numerous benefits for the community, including honey production, fuel use, and soil and water conservation. However, it has been gradually declining. To preserve these valuable shrubs, various propagation techniques were tested. The objectives of the experiment were to demonstrate the propagation techniques of Becium grandiflorum to beekeepers and to generate wider demand for its plantation among beekeepers and extension workers. The experiment compared two selected propagation techniques with local farmers’ traditional planting practices, under the guidance of forestry researchers. The treatments included seeds and cuttings. Seeds were collected from mature fruits, and cuttings were taken early in the morning from natural, mature, young, and healthy mother plants at a height of 40 cm during 2020/21. These materials were packed in perforated polyethylene bags. The average mean of flower numbers, branch numbers, and canopy cover for the enhanced propagation techniques (seedlings with pots) were 4107, 21.81, and 92.5, respectively. These values were higher than those for the comparative propagation technique, which had flower numbers of 2462, branch numbers of 19.4, and a canopy cover of 92.5. There were significant differences (p<0.05) among the propagation techniques in terms of canopy cover, height, number of flowers, and branches per plant. Farmers recognized the higher flower biomass, canopy cover, and potential for greater plant height of the enhanced techniques, which are beneficial for bee forage and soil and water conservation. Therefore, planting seedlings using pots were found to be the best method for the wider production of B. grandiflorum in its natural growing areas.

Published in American Journal of BioScience (Volume 12, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajbio.20241206.11
Page(s) 162-168
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

B. grandflorum, Propagation, Seedling, Cutting, Farmer’s Preference

References
[1] Alebachew, G. W., Abejew, T. A., & Tesema, Z. (2022). Honeybee Colony Management Practices and Identification of Honeybee Floras in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia. Journal of Apiculture, 37(2), 151–161.
[2] Arega, H., Shitaneh, E., Getnet, M., & Worku, B. (2020). Adaptation of Bee Forage Species in Metekel Zone of Benishagul Gumuz. 3(12), 37–43.
[3] Bareke, T., & Addi, A. (2018). Performance evaluation of herbaceous of bee forages for semi-arid parts of the rift valley of central, Ethiopia. October.
[4] Gebremedhn, H., & Belay, T. (2012). Determining suitable size of stem cutting for propagating Becium grandflorum. In Livestock Research for Rural Development (Vol. 24, Issue 10).
[5] Hill, D. B. (1995). Apiculture and forestry (bees and trees). November 2018.
[6] Yeserah, S. (2023a). Effect of Spacing on the Performance of native honeybee forage, Becium grandiflorum at Remeda station, Sidama National Regional State, Ethiopia. January 2021.
[7] Bareke, T., & Addi, A. (2018). Performance evaluation of herbaceous of bee forages for semi-arid parts of the rift valley of central, Ethiopia. October.
[8] Gebremedhn, H., & Tesfay, Y. (2012). Identification and evaluation propagation techniques of Hypoestes forskaolii (Grbia) as bee fodder for smallholder farmers. In Livestock Research for Rural Development (Vol. 24, Issue 9, p. 18).
[9] Hill, D. B. (1995). Apiculture and forestry (bees and trees). November 2018.
[10] Mihiretu, A., & Assefa, N. (2019). Comparative Evaluation and Demonstration of Field Pea Production Practices in Intermediate Altitudes of Northeastern Amhara, Ethiopia Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology Comparative Evaluation and Demonstration of Field Pea Produ. November.
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    Desale, E., Tsegaye, A., Lemma, M., Grmay, A., Ibrahim, Y., et al. (2024). Demonstration of Local Honeybee Flora “Mentesie” (Becium grandflorum) Propagation Techniques in Wag - Himra Zone, Ethiopia. American Journal of BioScience, 12(6), 162-168. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20241206.11

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    ACS Style

    Desale, E.; Tsegaye, A.; Lemma, M.; Grmay, A.; Ibrahim, Y., et al. Demonstration of Local Honeybee Flora “Mentesie” (Becium grandflorum) Propagation Techniques in Wag - Himra Zone, Ethiopia. Am. J. BioScience 2024, 12(6), 162-168. doi: 10.11648/j.ajbio.20241206.11

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    AMA Style

    Desale E, Tsegaye A, Lemma M, Grmay A, Ibrahim Y, et al. Demonstration of Local Honeybee Flora “Mentesie” (Becium grandflorum) Propagation Techniques in Wag - Himra Zone, Ethiopia. Am J BioScience. 2024;12(6):162-168. doi: 10.11648/j.ajbio.20241206.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajbio.20241206.11,
      author = {Ertiban Desale and Agazhe Tsegaye and Meressa Lemma and Ayalew Grmay and Yesuf Ibrahim and Alemu Tsegaye and Adisu Bihonegn},
      title = {Demonstration of Local Honeybee Flora “Mentesie” (Becium grandflorum) Propagation Techniques in Wag - Himra Zone, Ethiopia
    },
      journal = {American Journal of BioScience},
      volume = {12},
      number = {6},
      pages = {162-168},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajbio.20241206.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20241206.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajbio.20241206.11},
      abstract = {The demonstration of local honeybee flora "Mentesie" (Becium grandiflorum) propagation techniques was carried out over two rainy seasons in the Gazgibla district, Debreweyla watershed closure area of the Northeastern Amhara region. The shrub has numerous benefits for the community, including honey production, fuel use, and soil and water conservation. However, it has been gradually declining. To preserve these valuable shrubs, various propagation techniques were tested. The objectives of the experiment were to demonstrate the propagation techniques of Becium grandiflorum to beekeepers and to generate wider demand for its plantation among beekeepers and extension workers. The experiment compared two selected propagation techniques with local farmers’ traditional planting practices, under the guidance of forestry researchers. The treatments included seeds and cuttings. Seeds were collected from mature fruits, and cuttings were taken early in the morning from natural, mature, young, and healthy mother plants at a height of 40 cm during 2020/21. These materials were packed in perforated polyethylene bags. The average mean of flower numbers, branch numbers, and canopy cover for the enhanced propagation techniques (seedlings with pots) were 4107, 21.81, and 92.5, respectively. These values were higher than those for the comparative propagation technique, which had flower numbers of 2462, branch numbers of 19.4, and a canopy cover of 92.5. There were significant differences (pB. grandiflorum in its natural growing areas.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Demonstration of Local Honeybee Flora “Mentesie” (Becium grandflorum) Propagation Techniques in Wag - Himra Zone, Ethiopia
    
    AU  - Ertiban Desale
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    AB  - The demonstration of local honeybee flora "Mentesie" (Becium grandiflorum) propagation techniques was carried out over two rainy seasons in the Gazgibla district, Debreweyla watershed closure area of the Northeastern Amhara region. The shrub has numerous benefits for the community, including honey production, fuel use, and soil and water conservation. However, it has been gradually declining. To preserve these valuable shrubs, various propagation techniques were tested. The objectives of the experiment were to demonstrate the propagation techniques of Becium grandiflorum to beekeepers and to generate wider demand for its plantation among beekeepers and extension workers. The experiment compared two selected propagation techniques with local farmers’ traditional planting practices, under the guidance of forestry researchers. The treatments included seeds and cuttings. Seeds were collected from mature fruits, and cuttings were taken early in the morning from natural, mature, young, and healthy mother plants at a height of 40 cm during 2020/21. These materials were packed in perforated polyethylene bags. The average mean of flower numbers, branch numbers, and canopy cover for the enhanced propagation techniques (seedlings with pots) were 4107, 21.81, and 92.5, respectively. These values were higher than those for the comparative propagation technique, which had flower numbers of 2462, branch numbers of 19.4, and a canopy cover of 92.5. There were significant differences (pB. grandiflorum in its natural growing areas.
    
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