Abstract
Locally there is cultivation of vegetables in greenhouse as a production system; however, it is not common to use honeybee as pollinators. This might be due to a fear of low pollination efficiency or activity of local bees under caged condition. Moreover there is no research related to the foraging behavior of local honeybee under caged condition. Hence, this investigation was designed to study foraging behavior of honeybees (Apis mellifera) and their pollination efficiency under managed condition. Pollination efficiency of the local bees was determined by comparing the seed yield and quality of self-pollinated crops with crops caged with honeybee. This was done during the blooming time of Guzzotia abyssinica. Data related to foraging behavior and seed yield and quality was analyzed using repeated measure analysis of variance and t-test, respectively using Genstat 14th version statistical software. Crops caged with honeybee had higher yield (200.3 g) compared to crops prevented from insect pollinators (115.2 g).The highest foraging rate of bees was recorded at 14:30-15:30pm (12.02 flowers /five minute), while the lowest foraging rate was recorded at 8:30-9:30am (8.15 flowers/five minute). The overall foraging trend of bees was similar under caged and open conditions. Finally, the use of local honeybees' pollination under managed condition was recommended for improving the seed yield and quality of G. abyssinica seeds. Key words: Caged, foraging, honeybee, pollination.
Highlights
Honeybee pollination services benefit agricultural production significantly and important in crop production as water or fertilizer (Jacobs et al, 2006)
Crops caged with honeybee had higher yield (200.3 g) compared to crops prevented from insect pollinators (115.2 g).The highest foraging rate of bees was recorded at 14:30-15:30pm (12.02 flowers /five minute), while the lowest foraging rate was recorded at 8:30-9:30am (8.15 flowers/five minute)
There was significant difference between crops caged with honeybee and without in relation to seed yield/plot and seed germination rate (Table 1)
Summary
Honeybee pollination services benefit agricultural production significantly and important in crop production as water or fertilizer (Jacobs et al, 2006). Previous research indicates that honeybees (A. mellifera ) are a feasible alternative to bumble bee pollination for greenhouse crops and financially viable for growers (Sabara and Winston, 2003). To use honeybees for such purposes the question arises among research workers whether the foraging and pollination efficiency of honeybee differs under such artificial conditions from the natural condition (Devkota and Thapa, 2005)
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