The Effect of Integrated Weed Management Methods on Growth and Yields of Arabica Coffee at Awada, Southern Ethiopia
Mihiret Mekonnen1, Ano Wariyo2, Wondmagegnehu Ge/tsadik3, Tadesse Eshetu4
Citation : Mihiret Mekonnen,et.al, The Effect of Integrated Weed Management Methods on Growth and Yields of Arabica Coffee at Awada, Southern Ethiopia International Journal of Research Studies in Agricultural Sciences 2018, 4(5) : 11-16
Coffee production in Ethiopia is ancient practice; the plant is now grown in various parts of the world; in Ethiopia around 3% of the global coffee market. Coffee is important to the economy of Ethiopia. Therefore the objective of the present study was to determine the appropriate weed management method for optimum growth and yield of coffee. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. About 16 coffee trees per plot spacing between plot 2mx2m and spacing between blocks 4m. It includes two times slashing, three times slashing + mulching ,one time slashing followed by herbicide applications, herbicides +haricot bean intercropping + hand weeding, herbicides + soy bean intercropping + hand weeding, weed free all year round. The recently released variety Angefa (1377) and roundup herbicide were used. The total fresh cherry (gm/tree) and buni cherry were collected, both total fresh cherry and buni were converted into clean coffee in qt/ha as final green bean yields in each harvesting season. The experimental data were analyzed using SAS software. Difference between means was assessed at 5% probability level. There was significant difference between the tested treatments in green bean yields of coffee per hectare for the means of overall five years seasons. Coffee bean yields in the average means of overall five years was obtained sequentially, 1slashing followed by herbicide ,herbicide + haricot bean intercropping +hand weeding, herbicide + soybean intercropping + hand weeding, weed free all year round, 3 times slashing + mulching and 2 times slashing. Different weed species that were identified found in the experimental site.