Study On Identification And Establishment Floral Calendar Of Honey Plants In Atakilty Kebele Tigray Ethiopia

Identification of nectar and pollen source and the establishment of flowering calendarrnare important steps in beekeeping development program. Plants were collected usingrnthe herbarium techniques and honey pollen analysis was carried out following thernmethods adopted by Erdtman (1969) and Louveaux (1978). Both botanical collection ofrnpollen and analysis of honey indicated that 39 plant species as nectar and pollen sourcernplants in the area. Pollen analysis showed that Aloe berhana, Bidens pachyloma, Cparisrnerythrocarpus and Justicia shimperina are the major honeybee source plants. Pollenrnanalysis of honey also showed that Pterolobium stelatum, Hypostes forskaolii, Acaciarnabyssinica, Zeziphes mucronata, Senna occidentalis, Olea europeae and Trifoliumrnspecies are minor pollen sources in the area. The result of the respondent farmers,rnWoreda experts, and Kebele development agents also indicated that 16 honeybeernplants were commonly identified as pollen source plants for honeybees. Some of thernhoney plants identified by the respondents are similar with the honey plants identifiedrnthrough pollen analysis from honey samples. From analysis interview it was possible tornidentify one flowering season and one honey-harvesting season in the area. The majorrnhoney-harvesting season begins from October to December and this is because mostrnareas of the locality are covered by with herbaceous flora of weeds cultivated cropsrnforest trees and shrubs. The trees, herbs and shrubs play major role for honeyrnproduction and therefore beekeeping should be integrated with the vegetationrnconservation for livelihood improvement and food security.

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