Omo International Journal of Sciences

Development and evaluation of Moringa stenopetala-based functional beverage blended with watermelon and beetroot

Ghulam Hassan Shah — 2025-12-15

The present study aimed to develop a consumer-acceptable beverage from the extract of moringa leaves, watermelon, and beetroot juices for improving consumer acceptance. Juices of moringa, watermelon, and beetroot were blended in nine (9) different ratios, designed using Mini-tab statistical software (v.19.1, USA). The beverages were bottled, stored at room temperatures, and evaluated for Total Soluble Solids (TSS), pH, total bacterial & fungal count, presence of pathogenic microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli), and 5 sensory parameters during storage for a period of 300 days at intervals of 150 days, using standard procedures. The beverages with higher initial total soluble solids (TSS) maintained relatively stable TSS during storage. There was a significant difference (p< 0.05) in pH of different treatments, but no changes (p> 0.05) during storage were observed. The beverages observed variations in total bacterial count among different treatments. The total bacterial counts ranged from Not Detected (ND) to 9.5×10³ cfu/ml, while total fungal growth remained undetectable across all treatments. The microbial quality of all treatments was within acceptable safety limits. Pathogenic organisms (S. aureus and E. coli) were absent in all the treatments. Beverage having 42.5% moringa, 33.75% watermelon, and 23.75% beetroot consistently obtained significantly higher score (p<0.05), ranging from 7.0±0.4 to 7.5±0.5 using 9-point hedonic scale for all sensory parameters throughout storage, indicating strong consumer acceptability and product stability. The pH and TSS of this blended beverage ranged from 5.1±0.05 to 5.2±0.05 and 8.5±0.1 to 8.6±0.1, respectively, during storage. The bacterial count ranged from non-detectable levels to 1×10³, whereas no fungal and pathogenic microorganisms were detected over 300 days of storage.

Keywords: Beetroot; Beverages; Consumer acceptable; Moringa leaves; Watermelon

In-vitro quality assessment of commercially available ciprofloxacin tablets marketed in Arba Minch City, Ethiopia

Teshale Etiso Wado — 2025-12-22

This investigation focused on examining the quality of various ciprofloxacin tablets sold in drug outlets in Arba Minch, applying criteria from Pharmacopoeia as well as non-official measures. Samples were obtained through convenience sampling from local pharmacies in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia. Quality testing was performed at the Jimma University drug quality control laboratory. Each sample underwent assessments for identity, weight uniformity, solubility, friability, and assay, following the guidelines of the United States and British Pharmacopoeias. Among the tested brands, C1 showed the highest friability value (0.199). None of the brands deviated more than 5% from the average tablet weight, which is within acceptable limits. All brands released over 80% of the active ingredient within 30 minutes during dissolution testing. ANOVA analysis revealed no significant differences in dissolution profiles across brands, and the Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetic model provided the finest fitting description of dissolution behavior. Identification tests confirmed consistency with the reference standard, as retention times differed by less than 0.1 minutes. All seven brands met the assay requirements. Overall, all ciprofloxacin tablet brands examined complied with pharmacopeial in vitro quality standards.

Keywords: Assay test; Dissolution; Friability; Quality assessment; Weight uniformity

Growth, yield, and quality of selected watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) varieties as influenced by NPS+UREA fertilizer rates over the seasons at Arba Minch, Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Anteneh Asfaw Akimew — 2025-12-25

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) has been produced in Ethiopia in small land coverage for economic value. The production of watermelon is hindered by diminished quality and yield, primarily due to insufficient agronomic practices, the unavailability of suitable varieties, and inadequate fertilization. The research was conducted at the Research Farm of Arba Minch University, Ethiopia, in the 2023 Belg and Meher seasons to evaluate the effect of watermelon varieties and NPS+UREA fertilizer rates on the watermelon growth, yield, and quality over seasons. The experiment was structured using a randomized complete block design in a factorial configuration with three replications, and the treatments consisted of a combination of three varieties, Polymer, Lahat, and Liyu, with four fertilizer rates: control, 0.05 t/ha, 0.1 t/ha, and 0.15 t/ha NPS+UREA. Growth, yield, quality, and meteorology data were collected, and R software version 4.4.1 was used perform a two-way ANOVA. Results indicated that more leaves, the longest and widest leaf, the longest vine length, and more secondary vines were recorded by the combination effect of the Liyu variety with 0.15 t/ha NPS+UREA at 30 DAS, 45 DAS, and 60 DAS at the Belg and Meher seasons, respectively. In addition to a higher fruit number of 8.3 and the highest fruit length of 28.6 cm. Whereas, the highest fruit width (23.1 cm), highest fruit weight (3 kg), and highest marketable yield (30.4 t/ha) were recorded with the effect of the Liyu variety in the Meher season. Moreover, a total soluble sugar of 8.5° Brix and Vitamin C of 8.5 mg/100 g were recorded with the interaction of the Liyu variety with the 0.15 t/ha NPS+UREA fertilizer rate at Meher and Belg, respectively. Therefore, it was concluded that 0.15 t/ha NPS+UREA/ha and the Liyu variety in the Meher rainy season revealed the highest growth, yield, and good fruit quality. This combination showed better performance than other varieties and NPS+UREA fertilizer rates.

Keywords: Growth, NPS+UREA, Quality, Season, Variety, Watermelon, Yield

On-farm demonstration and evaluation of newly released Soybean (Glycine max) varieties with production technology in pre-extension approach at Karat zuria district, Konso zone, Southern Ethiopia

Lakamo Liben — 2025-12-29

Evaluation and demonstration of soybean technology was conducted at Karat zuria district of Konso zone in Southern Ethiopia in 2022/23 cropping season with the objectives of to analyze socio-economic profitability, farmers’ preference and acceptability under farmers’ conditions. Therefore, this study aims to demonstrate newly a released soybean variety with production technology. The district was purposively selected based on potentiality for Soybean production. Two kebele’s were selected purposively based on potential of the crop.Farmers, development agents and kebele level administrative bodies were trained by the researchers. It was implemented on 20 farmer’s field and 2 FTCs at 200m² areas of adjacent fields with 40cm*5cm spacing b/n row and plant respectively and 60 kg/ha seed rate and 100 kg/ha NPS. All recommended agronomic practices were applied equally to all fields and the fields were closely supervised and properly managed. The highest (1,858.5 kg/ha) and (1,862.5kg/ ha) grain yield were recorded from Nyala variety at farmers field and FTC respectively. The result showed that there is no that much statistically significant difference at 5% probability level between Nyala and Gazale. The cost benefit analysis results also showed that using Gazale (37,873.75 ETB/ ha) can make farmers’ slightly profitable than Nyala (35,455 ETB/ ha). On both locations, even if Nyala performed better yield, farmers preferred Gazale variety in some important attributes, mainly in the attributes of seed size, seed color and marketability. Extension materials like banners, posters, brochures, leaflets were used during the field day to promote the technology. Therefore, Arba Minch Agricultural esearch centers and seed producer cooperatives should multiply the seeds of Gazale variety the extension system of the Konso zone, Karat zuria district office of Agriculture and similar agro-ecology should expand the soybean.

Keywords: Gazale; Grain yield; Karat zuria; Nyala; Production technology; Soybean; Technology transfer

Morphological Characterization of Konso Goat under Community-Based Breeding Program in South Ethiopia

Dereje Dea — 2026-01-04

This study was aimed on the morphological characterization of 362 indigenous Konso goats involved in a community-based breeding program across three villages: Baide, Arfayde, and Jarso. About five qualitative and nine quantitative traits were used to analyze the fixed effect of village, sex, and age based on dentition by using SPSS version 20. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in qualitative features such as coat color, coat pattern, wattle and ruff presence, and horn orientation, emphasizing notable diversity across locations. Quantitative traits were measured using ANOVA and Duncan's Multiple Range Test. The findings, revealed that sex, village, and dentition class significantly affected most measurements. Older goats showed larger body measurement values with males having longer horns and greater wither height while females were slightly heavier. Chest girth showed the strongest correlation with body weight (r = 0.86) followed by body length (r = 0.76) and wither height (r = 0.64). A stepwise regression model identified chest girth, body length, and wither height as key predictors of live weight, resulting in the equation: BW = -37.27 + 0.518CG + 0.246BL + 0.172WH (R² = 0.81). These results indicate the phenotypic diversity of Konso goats and offer practical tools for selection and field-based weight estimation which points important steps for improving management and genetic gains in this valuable local breed.