Effect of drought/irrigation on proximate composition and carbohydrate content of two enset [Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman] clones

Abstract

Enset [Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman] is an important root crop serving as a carbohydrate rich food source in Ethiopia. Perennial crops, like enset, are often exposed to recurrent dry periods which could greatly affect their growth, physiology and yield. The effect of induced drought/irrigation on the proximate composition and carbohydrate content of harvestable plant parts (pseudostem and corm) of two field grown enset clones (Ameratye and Yesherakinkye) was investigated. Proximate analysis showed that extended drought significantly (P