Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com Introduction Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.), a leafy biennial vegetable, belonging to the Chenopodiaceae family, is a highly nutritious leafy vegetable and popularly known in many parts of the world for its nutritional properties, all year round availability, low cost and is widely used in many dishes. 1 Its leaves and stalks contain relatively high levels of vitamins A, B, and C, as well as minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus and iron. 2 Cooked leaves yield 20 kcal per 100 g. 3 In Ethiopia, it has been producing around urban and peri-urban areas compared to lettuce and cabbage and little research effort was made before on this vegetable. However, this vegetable has advantages that can contribute signifcant positive impact on improving food security especially on reducing malnutrition. 4 The plants of chard were grown on neutral and alkaline soil with different agrochemical characteristics. The quality and quantity of chard depended on soil properties. The content of P, K and Mn in chard depended on its concentration in soil and the chard Ca and Mg were regulated by the content of exchangeable soil Ca and Mg. The opposite trend was noticed between soil pH and chard Mn and Cu content. The yield was in positive signifcant relationship with available soil. 5 Chemical compositions as well as nutritional value of chard may greatly vary depending on climatic conditions, soil characteristics and nutrient supply as important determinants of quantity and quality of yield of agricultural plants. 6 Swiss chard is a very nutrient demanding crop species. The content of mineral elements, total quality and yield are infuenced by the amount, frequency and method of fertilization. 7 Soil characteristics infuence nutrient solubility, but also microbial activity and root growth. 8 Soil acidity had become a serious threat to crop production in most highlands of Ethiopia in general and in the western part of the country in particular. About 40.9 % of Ethiopia is covered by acid soils, 28% by moderately acidic soils (pH 4.5 - 5.5), 13% by strongly acidic soils (pH <4.5). 9 An earlier study estimated that about 41% of arable lands of Ethiopia are affected by soil acidity/Al 3+ toxicity. But recently the status of most soil in western Ethiopia was became acidic though the degree varied from location to location; severely limiting crop production. 10 Farmers have been producing Swiss chard in acid affected area in Ethiopia especially in highland areas as well as in urban and around urban areas under both irrigation and rain-fed conditions. No previous investigations were made on the effect of acidity on seed germination performance of swiss chard. Therefore, the current study was designed with the objectives to evaluate the effect of acidity on seed germination of Swiss chard (var. Fordhook Giant) and identify the optimum pH level for the best seed germination and therefore better growth of Swiss chard. Material and methods Experimental area The experiment was conducted in 2021 at Horticulture department laboratory of Wolkite University, Ethiopia. Wolkite University is located about 158 km southwest of the capital city, Addis Ababa, on the way to Jima. Geographically the university is located at 7.8-8.5 o N latitude and 37.5-38.7 o E longitude with an altitude range of 1300- 1400 m. Description of experimental material Fordhook Giant variety of swiss chard was used as experimental material. Fordhook Giant has darker green leaves and broader leaf stems. Fordhook Giant is a widely known variety. It is well adapted Horticult Int J. 2023;7(1):9‒12. 9 ©2023 Sisay et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially. Effect of acid media on seed germination performance of Swiss-chard (Beta vulgarise L.) Volume 7 Issue 1 - 2023 Birhanu Tsegaye Sisay, Adane Fentaye Belay Wolkite University, Welkite, South Ethiopia Correspondence: Birhanu Tsegaye Sisay, Wolkite University, Welkite, South Ethiopia, Tel +251-965198424, Email Received: March 03, 2023 | Published: March 17, 2023 Abstract Objectives: An experiment was designed with the objectives of studying the effect of acidity (pH) on the seed germination performance of Swiss-chard, and to determine the optimal pH level for the highest seed germination. Methods: The study was carried out in the laboratory of the Department of Horticulture of the University of Wolkite. The treatments were different pH levels (2, 4, 6 and 7) obtained from solutions of citric acid and distilled water in different concentration mixtures. The CRD design was used with three replicates. Findings: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that all recorded germination parameters (germination rate, mean germination time, germination speed and germination index) were all most signifcantly different (p<0.001) for different pH levels. The highest seed germination rates (85.33% and 81.33%) were recorded at pH 7 and pH 6 respectively. Similarly the highest mean germination time (13 days and 11 days) and the highest germination speed (3.88/day and 3.7/day) were recorded at pH 6 and pH 7, respectively. However, the lowest seed germination rate (4%), the lowest mean germination time (0.5 days) and the lowest seed germination speed (0.18/day) at pH 2. The highest germination index (100 and 95.42) was recorded at pH 7 and pH 6 respectively while the lowest seed germination index (4.61) was recorded at pH 2. In general pH 7 and pH 6 can give the best results to the highest germination yield of Swiss chard. Keywords: Swiss chard, pH, germination percent, mean germination time, germination index Horticulture International Journal Research Article Open Access