Effect of media, effective microorganisms inoculation and cutting types on rooting and growth of aba-buna hybrid coffee (Coffea arabica L.) At jimma

Abstract

The study was conducted at Jima Agricultural Research Center (JARC) in 2013 (January to June) to investigate the effect of media, effective microorganisms (EM) inoculation and cutting types on rooting ability and growth of stem cuttings of hybrid coffee variety Ababuna to identify best alternatives for production of adequate planting material. Eight types of media, composed of top soil (Ts), sub soil (Ss), farm yard manure (M), decomposed coffee husk (Ch) and sand (S), were combined with two levels of EM (with or without) and cutting types (whole node or half node) factorial arrangement and laid down in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Significant (p < 0.05) variation among treatments was observed for all root and shoot parameters. The highest rooting percentage (88.89) was recorded for whole node cutting type when grown on rooting media composed of 6TS:3M:0Ch:2S(M6) with EM and 2Ts:1M:1S + top 10cm Ss(M7), with or without EM. Half node cuttings grown on rooting media M6 with or without EM, respectively produced 80.58 and 83.33 percent rooting, which is statistically at par with the highest values recorded for whole node cuttings and the same type of cutting propagated on 2Ts:1M:1S + top 10cm Ss(M7), with or without EM with the values 77.78 percent. Highest percent survival for whole node (97.22) and half node (86.66) was obtained from M6. Significantly higher or better performances of most root and shoot growth parameters for both cutting types were also observed from M6 with EM. Low percent rooting (11-22) and complete death of half node cuttings was observed when propagated on 1Ts:1M:1Ch:1S(M1), 3Ts:1M:2Ch:1S(M3) and 3Ts:2M:1Ch:1S(M4). From the present study, considering all parameters, M6 with EM could be recommended as a best potting media. Similarly, if there is financial limitation to purchase sand and EM, M6 and M7, both without EM, could also used as an alternative potting media and depending on propagules required for planting, both cutting types could be recommended for vegetative propagation of hybrid coffee (Ababuna) by stem cutting. Furthermore, Pot rooting under propagator constructed from inexpensive material could be employed to reduce cost of production. However, further investigation, including the remaining two hybrids was suggested to come up with conclusive recommendation.