Effect of Spacing on the Performance of native honeybee forage, Becium grandiflorum at Remeda station, Sidama National Regional State, Ethiopia

Dinku  Negash; Ademe Sileshi Yeserah; Afework  Bogale

Dinku Negash Associate researcher, junior researcher at Hawassa Agricultural Research Center and South Agricultural Research Institute, Hawassa, Sidama National Regional State, Ethiopia
Ademe Sileshi Yeserah Research team leader, Ethiopian Meat and Dairy Industry Development Institute, EMDIDI, Bishoftu, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0604-2485
Afework Bogale Associate researcher, junior researcher at Hawassa Agricultural Research Center and South Agricultural Research Institute, Hawassa, Sidama National Regional State, Ethiopia

Keywords: Bee forage, Flower number, Becium grandiflorum

Abstract

This study was carried out to compare and analyze how spacing influenced the performance of Becium grandiflorum bee forage plant in Remeda site intending to find the most appropriate spacing for optimum flower production. The effect of four spacing viz: 0.1m×1m, 1m×1m, 1.5m×1m, and 2m×1m was evaluated. The experiment was laid out with a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times. Data were taken on four parameters viz: plant height, branch number, flower number, and canopy cover. The result shows that spacing has a great effect on the performance of Becium grandiflorum. Spacing (S1), (2×1m) gave the highest flower number (510±30.39 cm), branch number (23±2.27cm), and canopy cover (201.3±8.17cm). There was a significant difference in the canopy cover per plant between spacing (S₁) with the mean value of (201.3±8.17cm) and spacing (S₄) with the mean value of (128.3±1.02cm). Based on the findings of the study, the 2x1m spacing was recommended for local farmers for maximum flora production.

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