Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9600
ISSN: 2155-9600
Agazhe Tsegaye Dessie
The study aimed to investigate the nectar TSS and honey production potential of some Acacia species (Acacia asak, Acacia etbaica, and Acacia tortolis) in Waghimra zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia. Trees per hectare, flowers per tree, inflorescences per flower, nectar TSS per inflorescences were taken in this experiment. The number of trees in a hectare of land was counted in quadrat method while number of flowers counted in average of sampled trees. Flower inflorescences per plant were randomly selected from each studied Acacia species and nectar TSS was measured by washing technique using honey refractometer. Prior to nectar removal, flowers were covered with fine mesh bags on different parts of the trees and nectar sample was taken at a 3 hour interval for three days. The nectar TSS amount in a single flower of A. asak, A. etbaica, and A. tortolis has been estimated to be 10.19, 5.25, and 2.56 mg, respectively. In a hectare of land 105.6, 2020.2, and 2102.8 kg of honey yield was expected from A. asak, A. etbaica, and A. tortolis species, respectively. Nectar TSS of three Acacia species showed an increasing trend from early morning 6:00 am to 3:00 pm (after noon) and decreased to 6:00 pm. Temperature and Relative Humidity (RH) had showed positive and negative correlation with nectar TSS, respectively. In a hectare of beekeeping site, 105.6, 2020.2, and 2102.8 kg of honey yield was expected from A. asak, A. etbaica, and A. tortolis species, respectively. Despite the variations among the three Acacia species, a comparable honey yield was estimated to produce in the main flowering time of the species.
Published Date: 2025-03-01; Received Date: 2024-10-16