Effect of Vermicompost on Growth of Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) Seedlings in Selected District of Sidama Region and Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia
Genet Getachew
*
Soil Microbiology Research Program, Sidama Agricultural Research Institute, Hawassa, P.O.BOX-06, Ethiopia.
Tesfatsion Tadele
Soil Chemistry Research Program, Sidama Agricultural Research Institute, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
Atnafua Bekele
Sidama Agricultural Research Institute, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
Samuel Sebsibe
Sidama Agricultural Research Institute, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
Amare Tega
Sidama Agricultural Research Institute, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is considered the most nutritious of all fruits. The farmers in Sidama region and Gedeo zone usually grow avocado plants from the seeds in their backyards or small gardens without proper use of fertilizers. An experiment was carried out in Wondogenet, Shebedino, Wonago and Dilla zuria districts for two consecutive years from 2020 to 2022 G.C to study the effect of vermicompost for growth of avocado seedlings. Seedlings for root stock were raised on five selected farms in each location and grafted to Hass and Etinger varieties. This experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Bock Design (RCBD) with three replications. It consists of eight treatments viz; (T1) 0.7 kg/plant vc, (T2) 1.33 kg/plant vc, (T3) 2 kg/plant vc, (T4) 100 kg NPS/ha, (T5) 0.7 kg/plant vc +50 kg NPS/ha, (T6) 1.33 kg/plant vc +50 kg NPS/ha, (T7) 2 kg/plant vc+50 kg NPS/ha and (T8) control (forest soil). All fertilizers were applied at the time of planting as per treatments. Data on germination date, plant height and leaf number, maturity period of seedlings, grafting and grafted date of avocado and trunk diameter were collected and analyzed statistically using SAS software version 9.0. Results indicated that the highest values of seedling height, number of leaves and days to germination were recorded to be 30cm, 32 and 38 dates, treatment 0.7 kg/plant vermicompost, in Dilla zuria and Wonago district. In Shebedino, highest values of seedling height, number of leaves and dates to germination were recorded 36cm, 52 and 13, respectively in treatment 1.33 kg/plant vermicompost application. The maximum values were seedling height (42.7 cm), leaf number (46) and dates to germination (17.5), respectively when treatments 0.7kg/plant vermicompost was applied in Wondogenet. Application of 0.7 kg/plant vermicompost, was found best for growth of avocado seedlings in Dilla zuria, Wonago and Wondogenet districts, whereas 1.33 kg/plant vermicompost was found best for the growth of the seedlings in Shebedino district.
Keywords: Avocado, grafting, organic fertilizer, seedling, vermicompost