Identification and Establishing Floral calendar in, Jimma zone of Oromia Ethiopia
Honeybee colony performance as well as production of honey and other hive products depends on bee forages. The study was designed with objective to identify and establish flowering Calendar of bee plants for multiple honey production. Bee forage inventory was made in a plot size of 20mx20, for woody plants and 2mx2m for herbaceous bee forages. Based on the inventory of bee forages, pollen load collection and honey pollen analysis, 103 plant species were identified as source of nectar and pollen for honeybees. From identified plant species Ageratum conizoides, Guizotia scabra, Cordia africana, Datura arborea, Plantago lanceolatum, Rumex nervosus, and Justicia schimperina, were the major honey source plants in the area.The fresh weight of pollen collected at different months of the year indicated that significant amount of pollen was collected during September, October to November but decline of incoming pollen weight was recorded during, March and July. The major honey flow period of the area occurred during November and extends early December and late February. The minor honey flow also resulted May-June. The pollen analysis of honey samples revealed that three monofloral honey types were identified which include Guizotia,Vernonia and Croton monofloral honey types comprising the pollen frequency ranging from 45% to 100%. The study concluded that floral calendar of bee forages strictly dependent on the seasonal availability of food sources and beekeepers should get awareness on management of honeybee colonies with the flowering calendar in the area to increase frequency of honey production.