Comparative Study on the Adaptation of Selected Herbaceous Bee Forages in Mid Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted in three districts of Ethiopian mid rift valley to evaluate germination date, blooming duration and number of bee visit of seven species of herbaceous bee forages. There was significant difference (P<0.01) in germination date, blooming duration and bee visit among different bee forages in each site. Phacelia tanacetifolia, Bacium grandflorum, Trifolium pretense and Lenorus had the shortest germination date than other plant species at Adami Tulu Research station. Whereas, Lenorus, Bacium grandflorum and Trifolium pretense had short germination date at Bura Borema site and Lenorus is the only plant species with short germination date at Lephis site. There was significant difference (P<0.01) in blooming duration between different species of plants tested in all sites.  Aschynomene uniflorum and Sinapis alba had long blooming duration followed by Phacelia tanacetifolia at Adami Tulu Research station and Lephis, whereas, Echuin vulgare and Bacium grandflorum showed short blooming duration at this site. Similarly Aschynomene uniflorum and Sinapis alba showed long blooming duration at Bura Borema followed by Phacelia tanacetifolia and Lenorus. Bee visit was also significantly different (P<0.01) between all plant species. Phacelia tanacetifolia was highly visited by honey bees in all sites, while Lenorus was the least visited forage in all sites followed by Sinapis alba. It is recommended that further demonstration and scale up is required at farmers’ apiary site particularly for Phacelia tanacetifolia, Bacium grandflorum and Aschynomene uniflorum.