Articles
Efficient propagation of enset (Ensete ventricosum, Musaceae), an Ethiopian drought tolerant, multipurpose, indigenous starch crop
Article number
1422_41
Pages
337 – 344
Language
English
Abstract
In Ethiopia, enset has been utilised as food, fodder, fibre, and traditional medicine since ancient times.
We present results from a series of studies on reproduction by saplings in the field; a common and practical method, but rarely studied systematically.
Plants used were registered cultivars.
Results: i) A single corm gave more sprouts if parted in pieces than if kept entire, while size and number of large sprouts were not affected; ii) Providing dry manure in the corm planting hole increased number of sprouts and their size, despite many enset farmers believing this would cause the corm to rotten; iii) More than circa 4 kg of dry manure per buried corm gave no significant additional effect, while any small amount of manure was beneficial; iv) Equal amount of nitrogen from manure or inorganic fertiliser gave similar results, but other beneficial effects on soil from organic matter should be considered; v) Watering from corm burial to emergence gave quicker and uniform emergence, while there was good emergence also without watering; vi) Achieving large sprouts from buried corms gave a positive effect on size of plant during several years, while also small sprouts were valuable; vii) Cultivars had individual characteristics but responded analogous to treatments.
In conclusion, our results show that enset cultivation can be improved by straightforward measures, regardless of selection of landraces or cultivars used by farmer.
Such simple but systematic approach, communicated among researchers, extension agents and farmers, would improve enset agriculture.
We present results from a series of studies on reproduction by saplings in the field; a common and practical method, but rarely studied systematically.
Plants used were registered cultivars.
Results: i) A single corm gave more sprouts if parted in pieces than if kept entire, while size and number of large sprouts were not affected; ii) Providing dry manure in the corm planting hole increased number of sprouts and their size, despite many enset farmers believing this would cause the corm to rotten; iii) More than circa 4 kg of dry manure per buried corm gave no significant additional effect, while any small amount of manure was beneficial; iv) Equal amount of nitrogen from manure or inorganic fertiliser gave similar results, but other beneficial effects on soil from organic matter should be considered; v) Watering from corm burial to emergence gave quicker and uniform emergence, while there was good emergence also without watering; vi) Achieving large sprouts from buried corms gave a positive effect on size of plant during several years, while also small sprouts were valuable; vii) Cultivars had individual characteristics but responded analogous to treatments.
In conclusion, our results show that enset cultivation can be improved by straightforward measures, regardless of selection of landraces or cultivars used by farmer.
Such simple but systematic approach, communicated among researchers, extension agents and farmers, would improve enset agriculture.
Publication
Authors
L.M. Karlsson, A.L. Dalbato, T. Tana, M.Y. Haile, A. Bosha, B. Tesfaye, W. Mohammed
Keywords
climate change adaptation, corm, food security, multiplication, sustainable agriculture
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