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Performance Evaluation of Herbaceous Bee Forages for Beekeeping Development

Received: 1 June 2023     Accepted: 5 July 2023     Published: 13 July 2023
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Abstract

Availability of adequate perennial and annual sources of nectar and pollen is the most limiting factor in the survival, abundance and distribution of honey bees. The study was conducted to evaluate and characterize the best performing bee forages from ten plant species with a view to selecting for honey production for mid and lowland agro-ecologies. The planting materials were Nigella sativa, Coriander sativum, Dolchus lablab, Brassica carinata, Ocimum sanctum, lathyrus satives, phaseolus vulgaris, Glycinemax and Helianthus annus. The species were evaluated and characterized based on pollen yield, germination rate, number of flower heads perplant, time to set flower, foraging intensity of honey bees and flowering length. Accordingly, Helianthus annus, Brassica carinata, Ocimum sanctum, Coriander sativum and Glycine max were good at Adami Tulu and Nagele Arsi districts. Mean number of flower heads per1m2 for all studied plant species was different. Helianthus annus and Brassica carinata had higher pollen yield at each study site. Honey Bees foraging intensity was higher for Helianthus annus. From these studies, it is concluded that Helianthus annus, Coriander sativum, Brassica carinata, Ocimum sanctum, Nigella sativa, Glycine max, lathyrus satives and Dolchus lablab showed better performance at mid and lowland agro ecology, however, these species requires further evaluation particularly on Carrying capacity and honey production potential of the selected plant should be investigated in different agro ecology.

Published in American Journal of Entomology (Volume 7, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.aje.20230703.11
Page(s) 89-93
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Bee Forage, Herbs, Flowering Period, Foraging Intensity

References
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[2] Alemtsehay T. Seasonal availability of common bee flora in relation to land use and colony performance in Gergera watershed atsbi Wembwrta district, eastern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia. MSc. Thesis, Debub University Wondo Genet College of Forestry Hawassa, Ethiopia. 2011.
[3] Baptist B. A. and R. K. W. Punchihewa, 1983. A preliminary Analysis of the principal factors will affect honey production in Sri Lanka. In: Second International Conference on apiculture in Tropical climates 1989. New Delhi. P. 95.
[4] Collett, T. S., Graham, P. and Durier, V. (2003). Route learning by insects. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 13, 718-725.
[5] Crane, E., 1990. Bees and beekeeping, science, practice and world resource Heinemann Newness, London.
[6] Debissa L, Admassu A, Amssalu B. Botanical inventory Phenology of bee plants in east shoa Zone. In ESAP proceedings, 2005.
[7] Edwards, S., 1976. Some wild flowering plants of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa University press. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[8] Fitchl, R. and Admasu, A. 1994. Honey bee flora of Ethiopia. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University and Deutscher Entwicklungs dieenst (DED). Mergaf Verlag, Germany.
[9] Gezahegn, T. (2007). Adaptation trial of honey plants: adaptability trials of temperate honey plants in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Beekeepers Association newsletter Vol. 5, NO. 1, pp 16-17.
[10] John BA, Gordon RH and Parrish DJ 1987 Plant Science. McGraw-Hill publishing Company. 126582.
[11] Kenea, G. C., Abi, D. A., Beyene, T., & W. Tsadik, M. (2014). Comparative Study on the Adaptation of Selected Herbaceous Bee Forages in Mid Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Global Journal of Animal Scientific Research, 2, 244-248.
[12] Menzel, R., Geiger, K., Chittka, L., Joerges, J., Kunze, J. and Muller, U. (1996). The knowledge base of bee navigation. J. Exp. Biol. 199, 141-146.
[13] Moore, (2001). Honey bee circadian clocks: behavioral control from individual workers to whole-colony rhythms. J. Insect Physiol. 47, 843-857.
[14] Rizzardi MA, Luiz AR, Roman ES, et al. Effect of cardinal temperature and water potential on morning glory (Ipomoea triloba) seed germination. Planta Daninha. 2009; 27 (1): 13-21.
[15] Shubharani R, Sivaram V, Roopa P. Assessment of honey plant resources through hpollen analysis in Coog honeys of Karnataka State. The International Journal of Plant Reproductive Biology. 2004; 31-39.
[16] Wakene Negasaand Heluf Gebrekidan. 2003. Form of phosphorus and status of available micro nutrients under different land use systems of Alfisolsin Bakoarea of Ethiopia: Ethiopian Journal of Natural Resources. 5 (1): 21.
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  • APA Style

    Mekonnen Wolditsadik, Taye Beyene, Desta Abi. (2023). Performance Evaluation of Herbaceous Bee Forages for Beekeeping Development. American Journal of Entomology, 7(3), 89-93. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aje.20230703.11

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    ACS Style

    Mekonnen Wolditsadik; Taye Beyene; Desta Abi. Performance Evaluation of Herbaceous Bee Forages for Beekeeping Development. Am. J. Entomol. 2023, 7(3), 89-93. doi: 10.11648/j.aje.20230703.11

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    AMA Style

    Mekonnen Wolditsadik, Taye Beyene, Desta Abi. Performance Evaluation of Herbaceous Bee Forages for Beekeeping Development. Am J Entomol. 2023;7(3):89-93. doi: 10.11648/j.aje.20230703.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.aje.20230703.11,
      author = {Mekonnen Wolditsadik and Taye Beyene and Desta Abi},
      title = {Performance Evaluation of Herbaceous Bee Forages for Beekeeping Development},
      journal = {American Journal of Entomology},
      volume = {7},
      number = {3},
      pages = {89-93},
      doi = {10.11648/j.aje.20230703.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aje.20230703.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aje.20230703.11},
      abstract = {Availability of adequate perennial and annual sources of nectar and pollen is the most limiting factor in the survival, abundance and distribution of honey bees. The study was conducted to evaluate and characterize the best performing bee forages from ten plant species with a view to selecting for honey production for mid and lowland agro-ecologies. The planting materials were Nigella sativa, Coriander sativum, Dolchus lablab, Brassica carinata, Ocimum sanctum, lathyrus satives, phaseolus vulgaris, Glycinemax and Helianthus annus. The species were evaluated and characterized based on pollen yield, germination rate, number of flower heads perplant, time to set flower, foraging intensity of honey bees and flowering length. Accordingly, Helianthus annus, Brassica carinata, Ocimum sanctum, Coriander sativum and Glycine max were good at Adami Tulu and Nagele Arsi districts. Mean number of flower heads per1m2 for all studied plant species was different. Helianthus annus and Brassica carinata had higher pollen yield at each study site. Honey Bees foraging intensity was higher for Helianthus annus. From these studies, it is concluded that Helianthus annus, Coriander sativum, Brassica carinata, Ocimum sanctum, Nigella sativa, Glycine max, lathyrus satives and Dolchus lablab showed better performance at mid and lowland agro ecology, however, these species requires further evaluation particularly on Carrying capacity and honey production potential of the selected plant should be investigated in different agro ecology.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Performance Evaluation of Herbaceous Bee Forages for Beekeeping Development
    AU  - Mekonnen Wolditsadik
    AU  - Taye Beyene
    AU  - Desta Abi
    Y1  - 2023/07/13
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aje.20230703.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.aje.20230703.11
    T2  - American Journal of Entomology
    JF  - American Journal of Entomology
    JO  - American Journal of Entomology
    SP  - 89
    EP  - 93
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2640-0537
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aje.20230703.11
    AB  - Availability of adequate perennial and annual sources of nectar and pollen is the most limiting factor in the survival, abundance and distribution of honey bees. The study was conducted to evaluate and characterize the best performing bee forages from ten plant species with a view to selecting for honey production for mid and lowland agro-ecologies. The planting materials were Nigella sativa, Coriander sativum, Dolchus lablab, Brassica carinata, Ocimum sanctum, lathyrus satives, phaseolus vulgaris, Glycinemax and Helianthus annus. The species were evaluated and characterized based on pollen yield, germination rate, number of flower heads perplant, time to set flower, foraging intensity of honey bees and flowering length. Accordingly, Helianthus annus, Brassica carinata, Ocimum sanctum, Coriander sativum and Glycine max were good at Adami Tulu and Nagele Arsi districts. Mean number of flower heads per1m2 for all studied plant species was different. Helianthus annus and Brassica carinata had higher pollen yield at each study site. Honey Bees foraging intensity was higher for Helianthus annus. From these studies, it is concluded that Helianthus annus, Coriander sativum, Brassica carinata, Ocimum sanctum, Nigella sativa, Glycine max, lathyrus satives and Dolchus lablab showed better performance at mid and lowland agro ecology, however, these species requires further evaluation particularly on Carrying capacity and honey production potential of the selected plant should be investigated in different agro ecology.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Apiculture Research Team, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO), Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, Batu/Ziway, Ethiopia

  • Apiculture Research Team, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO), Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, Batu/Ziway, Ethiopia

  • Apiculture Research Team, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO), Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, Batu/Ziway, Ethiopia

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