ICARDA Supervised Theses

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    Screening elite barley genotypes (Hordeum vulgare L.) for salinity tolerance and forage production under hydroponic conditions.
    (Thesis, 2022-09-30) Chisela Kaite, Paul
    Soil salinization presents a major problem hindering crop development in many areas of the world. Over 800 Ma are affected by soil salinity globally (Munns and Tester, 2008). This process is mainly due to various reasons ranging from the natural accumulation of soluble salts in the soil to irrigation practices. However, breeding for salinity tolerance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) has been productive over the past two decades with salinity levels expected to further increase from now till 2050 amid climate crisis. On one hand, selection programs such as that of ICARDA on dual-purpose barley and forage production will richly contribute to reinforcing the resilience of cereals in arid and semi-arid agricultural regions. Both sections of this study were carried out in the glasshouse and growth chamber at ICARDA, Morocco from February 2022 to August 2022. Primarily, the first set of experiments focuses on evaluating and effectively selecting from 240 elite barely genotypes (ASABYT-21 & DUAL-22) under hydroponic conditions over two screening events. With the ultimate goal of selecting high and moderately saline tolerant genotypes, 3 NaCl treatments (0mM, 100mM and 200mM) were used. The screening method adopted focused on evaluating plant response to salinity stress through 9 physiological traits (fresh root and shoot length, fresh & dry root and shoot weight, & leaf area) hence characterizing fresh and dry biomass production, biomass losses & ultimate plant survival between genotypes and across treatment trials. Observed results highlighted significant effects of salinity stress on all 9 measured traits. Over the course of the first screening events, a sheer total of top 30 genotypes were selected in extreme salinity treatments (200mM) on the basis of survival, minimal biomass loss and root & shoot biomass. With regard to salinity stress tested genotypes averaged drops of 35% and 55% in shoot biomass in 100mM & 200mM. Thereafter preselected lines plus additional 5 commercial checks were run in a confirmation experiment to validate obtained results. Of the 30 preselected lines, 23 lines confirmed the trait (salinity tolerance) in two replications. On the other hand, besides its sole use for grain yield, barley presents a rich nutritional arsenal that allows for use in feed, food and malting purposes. Hydroponic forage allows for rapid and sustainable fodder and forage production in areas restricted by climatic limitations, feed and fodder availability (off-season), integrated crop-livestock set-ups, and affordability. Over a production cycle of only 8 days, the viability of these systems is complemented with irrigation efficiency, high crop water productivity and high total fodder yielding lines. The basis of this second experiment primarily covers the development of a protocol for optimized hydroponic forage production. In light of our experimental approach, 20 CB-21 & 20 preselected lines for high biomass production from the salinity tolerance screening events were tested for hydroponic forage production in two replications. Over the course of this experiment, tested genotypes were tested across 3 irrigation applications (12, 8 & 6 ml/well/day). Ideally, green and dry fodder yields were accounted for in addition crop water productivity (CWP) for all irrigation applications. Statistical results highlighted significant differences amongst genotypes across all 3 irrigation trials. Observed results highlighted CWP of up 0.203 & 0.0208 in 12ml & 8 ml trials. With top genotypes (GIZA-126/IG:153839) able to produce 18.6 Kg/m² & 3.024 Kg/m² in green and dry fodder yield, overall fodder yield varied greatly between genotypes for all 3 trials. The basis of obtained results will serve on one hand in a validation run under salinity field conditions as compared to those obtained in hydroponics. On the other end second set of results will serve in the development of low cost (“rack or shelf”) systems for hydroponic forage production.
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    Optimising the use of Barley straw in Tropical Ruminant Diets
    (Thesis, 2022-03-30) Keno, Mulugeta
    This thesis provides a general overview of barley straw utilization and the means for its improvement in Ethiopian mixed crop-livestock farming systems. Most Ethiopian households store crop residues in exposed heaps which may lead to heavy loss in biomass and nutritive value due to feed spoilage. Hence, application of appropriate storage and management options to avoid wastage or spoilage of the straw is necessary. The high variation in grain and straw yield and quality among barley cultivars points to the possibility of improving yield and quality traits in the study area through selection. The cultivars that were chosen as the most promising from this PhD work were selected based only on their performance in one year. Including data from at least a second year would have made these conclusions more robust, but the large differences in performance between the growing locations demonstrates the necessity of considering environmental influences, such as geological and climatological conditions, to avoid missing the optimal cultivars for a specific General Discussion 123 condition. In addition, in vitro analysis does not cover all aspects of nutritive value for animals, meaning that, at least for crucial decision steps, animal studies will be needed to get an accurate ranking of barley cultivars. With the ongoing deterioration of farming land in barley-livestock farming systems, and the concomitant decrease in grain and straw production, methods are needed to further optimize the multi-purpose use of barley straw for food, feed, and soil mulch.
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    On farm evaluation of the effects of Nutritional flushing on Body weight, Body condition score and Reproductive performances of Doyogena ewes in Doyogena District, Southern Ethiopia’
    (Thesis, 2022-12-30) Ayele, Asfaw Tesfaye
    On farm evaluation of the effects of Nutritional flushing on Body weight, Body condition score and Reproductive performances of Doyogena ewes in Doyogena District, Southern Ethiopia’’.
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    Effect of Nutritional Flushing with Energy and Protein on Weight Gain, Reproductive Characteristics and Semen Quality of Menz Rams in Central Highlands of Ethiopia.
    (Thesis, 2022-12-30) Belayneh, Tesfa
    Effect of Nutritional Flushing with Energy and Protein on Weight Gain, Reproductive Characteristics and Semen Quality of Menz Rams in Central Highlands of Ethiopia.
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    Genetic parameters, productivity indices and breeding plans for designing community-based goat breeding programs in Ethiopia
    (Thesis, 2016-10-15) Jembere, T.
    The overall objectives of this dissertation were to improve access to improved/selected bucks by farmers of the research sites and to contribute to their food security and income improvements. The specific objectives were: 1) to present reliable genetic parameter estimates based on meta-analysis of literature reports; 2) to evaluate production and productivity of three indigenous goat breeds in Ethiopia namely Abergelle (AB), Central Highland (CH) and Woyto-Guji (WG) and have bench mark production and productivity estimates for the ongoing Community Based Breeding Programs (CBBPs) in Ethiopia; 3) to evaluate alternative breeding scenarios in the CBBP of the three goat breeds including dam-side selection, genomic selection and two-tier breeding programs; and 4) to assess the need for recording birth weight in CBBP of small ruminants. This dissertation was based on four articles/manuscripts. Accordingly, in article 1, unweighted and weighted average genetic parameters including direct heritability (ha 2 ), maternal heritability (hm 2 ), ratio of common environmental variances (c2 ), repeatability (R), phenotypic (rp) and genetic (rg) correlations for growth, reproduction and milk production traits in goats were presented. Unweighted averages across publications were obtained directly. For the calculation of weighted average ha 2 , hm 2 , c 2 and R, the inverse of their variances were used. Weighted average rp and rg were transformed to an approximate normal scale using Fisher’s Z transformation and then transformed back to correlations. Weighted average ha 2 for growth, reproduction and milk production traits ranged from 0.03 to 0.45, 0.00 to 0.17 and 0.15 to 0.22, respectively. Weighted averages rp and rg correlations among growth traits ranged from -0.06 to 0.84 and 0.01 to 0.98, respectively. It seemed that weighted average ha 2 , hm 2 , c 2 , R, and rg are more reliable for two reasons: weighted estimates were more conservative than values based on relatively higher number of records and the absence of significant effects of the tested fixed factors on some parameter estimates. Papers II-VI were based on data generated from the three indigenous goat breeds, in two villages for each. Production parameters including three months weight (3mw, kg), kidding interval (KI, days) and litter size at birth (LSB); and productivity indices including live weight production per parturition (kg) (index I), index I per postpartum weight (ppw) (Index II) and overall productivity (index III) were analyzed in manuscript II. Fixed effects of villages, year, season, type, sex, and parity of kids’ birth, flock size and ppw were investigated on the parameters, except for index III. The overall means of 3mw (kg) were 7.44, 10.96 and 9.38 for AB, CH and WG goat breeds, respectively. The overall means of KI were 362, 268 and 309 days for AB, CH and WG goat breeds, respectively. The overall means of LSB for AB, CH and WG goat breeds were 1.03, 1.40 and 1.09, respectively. Overall means of index I and index II were 16.66 kg and 0.50, respectively. xii Index III ranged from 0.27 to 0.53. In general, CH goat breed was found to be the most productive using the three indices. In manuscript III, application of dam-side (SN2) and genomic selection (SN3) onto the current breeding practice, where only male side selection is practiced, (SN1) and expansion of SN1 to a two tiers programs (SN4) were evaluated for three indigenous goat breeds to determine the optimal scenario(s). Due to significant distances between CH Gonder site and CH Ambo site, separate breeding plans were optimized for the CH goat breeds. The predicted annual genetic gain (PAGG) in six month weight (6mw, kg) ranged from 0.308 to 0.467 (CH Gonder site), 0.209 to 0.311(CH Ambo site), 0.188 to 0.270 (WG) and 0.174 to 0.249 (AB). The PAGGs in KI for WG goats ranged from 0.167 to 0.419 from all the scenarios. The PAGG in average daily milk yield (ml) and survival to six months (SURV) (%) for AB ranged from 0.617 to 0.970 and 0.008 to 0.013, respectively. The PAGGs in LSB and litter size at weaning (LSW) for CH were found to be small (0.001 to 0.002). The discounted profit from SN3 was negative for all breeds. Based on the PAGGs and discounted profitability, SN2 was recommended. In article IV, the Pearson correlation "r" between birth weight (BWT) & six month weight (6MW), BWT & nine month weight (9MW), three month weight (3MW) & 6MW & 3MW & 9MW; and regression coefficients ("b") of 6MW & 9MW on BWT, 6MW & 9MW on 3MW were investigated. The "r" BWT & 6MW, BWT & 9MW, 3MW & 6MW & 3MW & 9MW ranged from 0.099 to 0.176, 0.051 to 0.163, 0.598 to 0.706 & 0.370 to 0.546, respectively. The "b" of 6MW on BWT, 9MW on BWT, 6MW on 3MW & 9MW on 3MW ranged from 0.494 to 0.999, 0.311 to 0.996, 0.706 to 0.927 and 0.415 to 0.669, respectively. In general, BWT had weak "r" with 6MW & 9MW in three indigenous goat breeds of Ethiopia. However, it seems that recording BWT in the CBBP is compulsory. Hence, it was concluded that keeping BWT records under the CBBP of small ruminants has little or no significance. In summary, reliable genetic parameter estimates are presented for genetic improvements in goats. Production parameters and productivity indices presented here could be used as reliable benchmark for the anticipated CBBPs. The productivity indices could also be used to compare productivity efficiencies among different goat breeds. Planning dam-side selection could be considered together with sire side selection. Recording of BWT could be avoided in CBBPs to contribute to reduced breeding costs.
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    Determination of cultivar-dependent variation in food-feed traits in lentil (Lens culinaris)
    (Thesis, 2016-01-30) Mersha, A.
    The study was conducted with the objectives of analyzing and evaluating of lentil varieties for haulm nutritional values, determining the relationship between fodder traits and agronomic traits, and developing Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) equation for predicting nutritional value of lentil haulm. The samples were collected from Debre zeit, Akaki, Chefe Donsa and Minjar field experimental sites of Debre zeit Agricultural Research Center and the laboratory work was conducted at Animal Nutrition laboratory of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa. The study was conducted from January 2014 to April 2015. NIRS equation development was done using 633 haulm samples from preliminary and national variety trials. Only 315 samples of national variety trial were used for analysis of nutritional value on twenty seven testing and five control varieties using Random Complete Block Design (RCBD). Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of Statistical Analysis System(SAS) software. The model developed by NIRS for the prediction of lentil haulm of crude protein (CP), metabolizable energy (ME), true in vitro organic matter digestibility (TIVOMD), ash and fiber fractions were accurate and successful method. In potential environment varieties (PE) haulm CP (11.53%), at Debre zeit, while crude protein yield (CPY)(0.42t/ha), ME(8.55MJ/kg DM) and TIVOMD(57.89%) at Chefe Donsa had the highest (P<0.05) values. In low moisture stress varieties (LMS) higher (P<0.05) haulm CP(9.90%) was obtained at Minjar, but higher values of CPY(0.38t/ha), ME(8.01MJ/kg DM) and TIVOMD(54.74%) were obtained from Debre zeit.In LMS Dz2012Ln0014 had the highest (P<0.05) CP (11.94%), TIVOMD (57.91%) and the lowest fiber fractions than controls, also higher in ME (8MJ/kgDM) contents than Alem Tena and local check. But, Dz2012Ln0013 had the highest(P<0.05) crude protein yield CPY). In PE Dz2012Ln0018 and Dz2012Ln0024 were the highest (P<0.05) in CP (10.05 and 10.19%), CPY (0.46 and 0.48 t/ha) and ME (8.6 and 8.58MJ/kg DM) contents than controls respectively. But, Dz2012Ln0019 had the highest (P<0.05) TIVOMD (59.45%) value. In the present study haulm yield and grain yield were positively correlated. CPY was positively correlated with all studied agronomic traits with the exceptions of grain yield and harvest index. ME and TIVOMD were positively correlated with yield and yield components. In LMS higher (P<0.05) grain yield was obtained from DZ2012Ln0004 (1.22t/ha), DZ2012Ln0001(1.07t/ha)and DZ2012Ln0005 (1.02t/ha) than controls.DZ2012Ln0005 (4.83 and 2.55t/ha), DZ2012Ln0013(4.67 and 2.46t/ha), DZ2012Ln0012 (4.43 and 2.42 t/ha) had significantly higher (P<0.05) values of haulm yield and haulm digestible dry matter yield than controls respectively. In PE Derash (2.81t/ha) had the highest (P<0.05) grain yield followed by Alemaya(2.09t/ha) andDz2012Ln0016(2.01t/ha). Significantly high (P<0.05) haulm yield and digestible dry matter yield were obtained from Dz2012Ln0017(6.52 and 3.70t/ha) and Dz2012Ln0026(5.99 and 3.36 t/ha) respectively. Varieties with high haulm nutritional value were not found to be high in their potential utility index that may be, because of their lower values of harvest index due to infestation of mild parasites and incidence of diseases.
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    Variability in food-feed traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) varieties
    (Thesis, 2016-03-30) Alemu, T.
    The study was conducted with the objectives of analyzing and developing Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) equation for predicting nutritional value and mineral constituents of chickpea haulm, and to determine the relationship between fodder quality and agronomic traits of chickpea. The samples were collected from Akaki, Alem Tena, Chefe Donsa, Debre-zeit and Minjar field experimental sites of Debre zeit Agricultural Research Center and the laboratory work was conducted at Animal Nutrition laboratory of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa. A total of 105 tested and 8 control genotypes with 1348 samples of chickpea haulms from preliminary and national variety trials were used for NIRS prediction. Calibration models were developed between chemical and NIRS spectral data. Randomized Complete Block Design with 4 replications was used in the experiment. The plot size was 4m x 1.2m (4rows/plot), 30cm between rows and about 10cm between plants spacing was used. All management activities were done. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS (Statistical Analysis System) used for analyzing the data with samples of 597 chickpea haulms from national variety trials. The model developed by NIRS for the prediction of chickpea haulm Crude Protein (CP), ME (Metabolizable Energy), TIVOMD(True In Vitro Organic Matter Digestibility) values and fiber fractions were accurate and successful method. The coefficients of determination for Calibration (r2c), validation (r2v) and Ratio Performance Deviation (RPD) of chemical constituents were within the range of 0.97-0.99, 0.96-0.99 and 3.61-26, respectively. The r2c, r2v and RPD for minerals were between the range of 0.71-0.99, 0.68-0.92 and 1.58-3.55, respectively. Higher CP value was recorded in kabuli and desi type chickpea at Debre zeit, Alem Tena and Minjar locations. Dz2012ck0084 and dz2012ck0018 had higher (P<0.05) CP, ME, TIVOMD and lower in fiber fractions for moisture stress area. On the other hand, dz2012ck0036 had higher grain yield. The CP content of the haulm was significantly (p<0.001) higher and negatively correlated with days to 90% maturity (DTM), grain yield (GYLD), biomass (BM) and haulm yield (HYLD). Moreover, the ME and TIVOMD were negatively correlated to all agronomic traits, except hundred seed weight (HSW). The highest correlation coefficient with strong associations (p<0.001) were observed for BM with HYLD (r=0.90), BM with GYLD (r=0.82), GYLD with HYLD (r= 0.51) and DTF with DTM (r= 0.63). Grain yield was positively and significant (p<0.001) correlated with DTM and BM and also significantly (p<0.001) and negatively correlated with HSW. Genotypes which combined moderately high grain and haulm yield, better haulm quality traits and ultimately medium potential utility index were Dz2012ck000024, Ejere, Chefe and Dz2012ck0017 from kabuli for moisture stress area, Dz2012ck0007, Dz2012ck0001, Dz2012ck0012, Arerti and Dz2012ck0004 from kabuli for potential environment, Dz2012ck0036, Dz2012ck0031 and Dz2012ck0029 and Natoli from desi type chickpea. Generally, the present showed the possibility for simultaneous improvement of high grain and haulm yield with desirable haulm quality traits to address the high demand existing for dual purpose food-feed traits of chickpea genotypes in mixed-livestock system of Ethiopia.
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    Effects of feeding different varieties of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) straws with concentrate on feed intake, digestibility, body weight gain and carcass characteristics of Arsi-Bale sheep
    (Thesis, 2016-01-30) Wegi, Teklu
    A study was conducted using 40 yearling Arsi-Bale sheep with initial body weight of 19.85+0.29 kg (mean + SD). The objectives were to evaluate the varietal differences among faba bean straws and to evaluate effects of feeding different varieties of faba bean straws with concentrate (2 parts wheat bran: 1 part noug seed cake) fed at the rate 70% straws and 30% concentrate mixture on feed intake, digestibility, body weight gain and carcass characteristics of the animals. The varieties included Mosisa (T1), Walki (T2), Degaga (T3), Shallo (T4) and local (T5) which were grown at Sinana Agricultural Research Center. The experiment consisted of 7 days of digestibility trial and 90 days of feeding trial followed by evaluation of carcass parameters at the end of the feeding period. Randomized complete block design was used for the experiment. The experimental animals were grouped into eight blocks of five animals each based on their initial body weight and each animal within each block was randomly assigned to one of the five treatment diets. Yield were significantly different (P<0.001) among varieties evaluated. Crude protein (CP) contents of faba bean straws were 4.9, 5.1, 5.2, 4.3 and 6.2% for Mosisa, Walki, Degaga, Shallo and local respectively and that of wheat bran (WB) and “noug” seed cake (NSC) were 13 and 26.8% respectively. The DM intake of sheep in T2 (754.3 g/day) was higher (P<0.001) than T1, T4 and T5 but did not differ (P>0.001) from T3 (717.9 g/day) and sheep in T3 had higher (P<0.001) DM intake than sheep in T1 and T4. CP intake for T5 was significantly greater (P<0.001) than T3, T1 and T4 whereas no significant difference (P>0.001) from T2. The apparent digestibility of DM of T1, T2 and T3 were greater (P<0.05) than T4 but did not differ (P>0.05) from T5. The OM digestibility was significantly higher (P<0.05) for sheep in T2 than T4. The CP digestibility of sheep in T5 was higher (P<0.001) than that of T3 and T4 but similar (P>0.001) with sheep in T1 and T2 whereas CP digestibility of T1 and T2 were also higher (P<0.001) than T4. Sheep in T2 had greater (P<0.01) average daily gain (64.6 g/day) than sheep in T3 (43.2 g/day), T4 (37.5 g/day) and T5 (48.3 g/day) but no difference (P>0.01) from T1 (52.2 g/day). Feed conversion efficiency was higher (P<0.05) for sheep in T2 as compared to T3, T4 and T5 whereas similar with values obtained for T1. Slaughter body weight and empty body weight were higher (P<0.05) for sheep in T1 and T2 as compared to sheep in T4 but similar (P>0.05) among others. Apart from this, the other carcass components were not affected (P>0.05) by variety of the faba bean straws. It can be concluded that there is significant difference between faba bean straws from different varieties in feed intake, digestibility, body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency and that faba bean straws when supplemented with concentrate had higher potential as animal feed. Based on these results, Walki and Mosisa varieties could be recommended as pulse crop rotation with cereals in the study area.