Allometric equations for yield predictions of enset (Ensete ventricosum) and khat (Catha edulis) grown in home gardens of southern Ethiopia

The objective of this study was to develop linear allometric models for estimating the edible (food and feed) and commercial yields of enset and khat plants, respectively. Data were collected from 20 enset and 100 khat plants. Diameter at 50‐cm height (d50), pseudostem height (hp) and their combination were good predictor variables for the food products of enset with adjusted R2 values above 0.85, while d50, hp, edible pseudostem height (hep), total height (ht) and their combination were good predictor variables for the feed products of enset with adjusted R2 values above 0.70. For dwarf khat plants crown area (ca) combined with total height (ht) resulted in the best prediction with an adjusted R2 of 0.77, while the leaf and twig dry weight for tall khat plants was best predicted by ca with adjusted R2 of 0.43. In all cases linear models were used.

Source: Annals of Applied Biology - March 1, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: B.T. Mellisse, K. Descheemaeker, M.J. Mourik, G.W.J. Ven Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research