ABSTRACT
A field experiment was made to evaluate the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield of wheat and soil chemical properties. The study was conducted for two consecutive cropping seasons (2023-2024) on farmers’ fields in the Sinana district of Oromia National Regional State. Therefore, this study has attempted to evaluate the effect of the integrated use of vermicompost and inorganic fertilizer on bread wheat production and soil fertility improvement in the study area. Fertilizer source organic Sources of nutrients both included (vermicompost) and inorganic fertilizer (urea and NPS) were used in the integrated form. These treatments consist of: T1 = Control (no input) T2 = Recommend NP, T3 =25% RVC + 75% N + Rec P, T4 =100% RVC + rec P, T5 =50% RVC + 50% N + rec P and T6 =75% RVC + 25% N + Rec P. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with three replications. Soil sampling and agronomic data on wheat grain yield and yield components were collected. Accordingly, the highest mean grain yield (5403.67kgha-1) was recorded from the plot of T2 (Recommended rate from inorganic) flowed by (5186.00 kgha-1) was recorded from T3 (25% RVC + 75% N + Rec P) while the lowest grain yield (2637.67 kgha-1) was recorded from control plot. The partial budget analysis was performed for alternative uses of integrated organic and inorganic fertilizer applications for bread wheat production. The results showed that the application of integrated vermicompost with recommended rates of inorganic NP significantly increased the yield and yield components. It can be concluded that the application of integrated vermicompost and recommended rate of inorganic NP fertilizers (25 % Equivalent N from + 75 % N + Rec P is desirable) based on environmental sustainability for future productivity. This experiment has to be repeated over seasons and locations to make conclusive recommendations for the study area.

ABSTRACT
One of the fundamental goals of plant breeding is to evaluate genetic diversity in crop species, which aids in the development of breeding approaches. Therefore, this field experiment was conducted to assess mean performance, the genetic variability in garlic genotypes on bulb yield and related traits. The field evaluation of thirteen garlic genotypes and one released variety Holetta local (HL) was conducted at Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center using a randomized complete block design with three replications during the main growing seasons of 2020 and 2021. The analysis of variance indicated there were significant differences among the genotypes for all traits except days to physiological maturity in 2020 season, while only some growth and yield traits are significant in 2021 production season. Some of the genotypes GOG-065/18, GOG-057/18, GOG-047/18, GOG-064/18, GOG-068/18, GOG-045/18, and GOG-018/18 had mean performances higher than the standard check variety Holetta local (HL). Highest phenotypic (PCV) and genotypic (GCV) coefficients of variation recorded for total bulb yield tons per hectare and number of cloves per bulb, while the days to physiological maturity had the lowest heritability (h2b) in broad sense and genetic advance as a percent of mean (GAM), 67% and 33.89% (total bulb yield per hectare) and 1.13% to 0.08% (day to physiological maturity) respectively. High phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation coupled with high heritability and genetic advance as percent of mean were observed for total bulb yield tons per hectare number of cloves per bulb and clove weight. Therefore, selection for these characters would be effective for selecting genotypes for future garlic breeding programs.

ABSTRACT
Despite Ethiopia is endowed with diverse genetic base for the Arabica coffee and is the center of origin, there is still a limited availability of yield competitive improved variety; hence, the national average productivity is far below the world’s average. Due to this reason, the national average productivity is very low. From the various sets of pure lines variety development program in Ethiopia, it had been observed that it is rarely possible to improve yield above 1800-2000 kg/ha through direct selection indicating the need to look heterotic hybrids to maximize yield as high as 2500- 3000 kg/ha. Thus, it could be useful to further evaluate the performance of the best performing hybrids for yield and growth characters at full bearing stage to identify high yielding hybrids for commercial use. Therefore, to bridge this gap and improve coffee productivity, it is essential to develop hybrid coffee varieties that are high yielding, stable and disease resistant. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate coffee hybrid genotypes for yield and yield components. The experiment was conducted at Awada and Leku to depict the growth and yield characteristics of four Arabica coffee promising hybrid genotypes). The experiment was conducted by using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications during the years from 2016 to 2021. Data were collected for plant height, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, length of the longest primary branch, number of main stem nodes, stem girth, internode length on the main stem, canopy diameter and yield for three consecutive years (2019 to 2021) per hectare basis. The results revealed the existence of statistically significant variations among the growth characters. Total plant height (1.99-2.45m), stem diameter (2.82–3.45cm), canopy diameter (199– 221.77cm), number of main stem nodes (27.96 – 30.66), number of primary branches (52.08 – 58.83), number of secondary branches (148.23 – 179.25), average ...

ABSTRACT
Coffee is one of the commercial crops grown in many countries including Ethiopia. It contributes for 60% of total GDP in the country. Eight specialty coffee varieties with recommended packages were distributed among farmers in Sidama region and Gedeo zone. This study examines the status of these varieties managed by farmers on their field. Status was investigated against seedling survival rate and varietal uniformity with the objective of establishing specialty coffee seed source. A multistage sampling technique was applied from zonal to kebele levels of administration. Samples were taken purposively at zonal and Woreda levels. Since all Kebeles in the selected Woredas grow specialty coffee, random sampling of these units was done including specific farmer sites. Semi structured questionnaire was applied to generate quantitative data while field level observation and group discussions were conducted to elicit qualitative data. For data analysis, SPSS version 20 was used. Survival rates of the coffee seedlings were 93 and 94.5% for Gedeo and Sidama zones, respectively. Only 5.04% of the respondents planted the distributed seedlings between existing coffee varieties. Hence, 94.96% specialty coffee uniformity was achieved. Finally, it is concluded that nearly 95% of the coffee growers have met the target to serve as specialty coffee seed source in both zones. However, more studies are needed for precise judgment of the surveyed farmers as specialty coffee seed sources of a uniform variety.

ABSTRACT
Agriculture and its products are being negatively impacted by climate change, which is concerning the entire world. The production of coffee is heavily reliant on a predictable series of meteorological conditions. Coffee quality and productivity levels are directly impacted by changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, storms, strong winds, and other extreme weather occurrences. This study evaluated coffee production, growth requirements, climate change factors, and the effects of climate change on coffee yields and quality. There is also discussion of potential ways to lessen the impact of climate change on coffee quality and productivity.

ABSTRACT
An experiment was carried out to determination of different effects of hot water and immersion on Total Soluble Solids (TSS) of Different Banana Varieties. The experiment comprised three factors, namely hot water treatments (control, 45°C, 50°C, and 55°C), times of immersion (five minutes and ten minutes) and varieties (Mehersagar and Sabri). The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with three replications. Main effect of hot water treatments, immersion periods and varieties were showed significant on percent total soluble solid. An increasing trend in TSS contents was observed in all treatments at all stages of ripening. Incase of main effect maximum TSS was found in Control temperature, Sabri variety and five minutes immersion periods respectively. Between two Banana varieties Sabri showed maximum TSS than Mehersagar in all treated conditions. The control treatments consistently showed higher TSS than the treated bananas, although none remained fresh by the 9th day. Five minutes immersed fruits showed maximum TSS than ten minutes in main and combined treatments. Longer immersion period had significantly effects and less increase TSS of the bananas than shorter immersion period. Among the treatments, both varieties showed lowest TSS in five minutes immersion at 50°C temperature than other treatments. Hot water treatment is better than untreated banana for storage and quality of banana.

ABSTRACT
Soil salinity problem is predominantly severe in developing countries, particularly in arid and semiarid regions, resulting in short-term damage to people's livelihoods and long-term repercussions on the country's food security. It is also a major challenge in Ethiopia and west Hararghe in particular where small-scale irrigated agriculture is practiced. Against this backdrop, this study was conducted to assess irrigation water quality in dry season wheat production in Dhungeta, Hule Mandhera, and Kinteri irrigation sites in west Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia. Based on an in-situ field survey, 9 composite irrigation water samples were collected by mixing several sub-samples. The mean water pH at Dhungeta (7.00), Hule Mandhera (7.94), and Kinteri (7.45) fields were grouped in the normal range for irrigation water. The salinity hazard of irrigation water at Dhungeta was medium (0.67 dSm-1), Hule Mandhera high (1.03 dSm-1) and Kinteri (0.99 dSm-1). The total mean of dissolved salt showed water has no restriction for use at Kinteri (153.6 mg L-1) and Dhungeta (426.67 mg L-1) while slight to moderate restriction of water for use was recorded at Hule Mandhera (708.27 mg L-1). The sodicity (alkalinity) hazard class of irrigation water was S1 (low sodium hazard). The mean of residual sodium carbonate was a marginal hazard at Hule Mandhera and safe at Dhungeta and Kinteri. Based on the permeability index, magnesium hazard water was found to be suitable for irrigation. Kelley’s index, Percentage sodium (Na+ %), and potential salinity specified that Hule Mandhera water is unsuitable whereas Dhungeta and Kinteri water were suitable for irrigation. Irrigation water is grouped as a low restriction (70-85) based on the irrigation water quality index. Generally, there is a prospect to decide that the irrigation water quality of the study sites is suitable for wheat production.