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Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Nutrient mining due to sub-optimal fertilizer use on one hand and unbalanced fertilizer use on the other have favored the emergence of multi-nutrient deficiency in Ethiopian soils. Therefore, the study was conducted on twenty-six farmers' fields in Dugda District of East Shewa Zone of Oromia, during the main cropping seasons of 2018-2020. These studies were conducted to determine the economically optimum rate of nitrogen fertilizer in the first year Phosphorus critical (Pc) and phosphorus requirement factor (Pf) in the second year respectively. The treatments consisted of factorial combinations of three levels of TSP (0, 100, and 200) kg ha-1 with six levels of nitrogen (0, 23, 46, 69 92, and 115) kg ha-1 that gave a total of eighteen treatments. However, in the second two consecutive years, the experiment was conducted to determine phosphorus critical (Pc) and phosphorus requirement factor (Pf), and the treatments consisted of six levels of phosphorus (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50) kg ha-1 combined with a single level of nitrogen (69 kg ha-1) that gave a total of seven treatments. The experiments were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two replications and the gross plot size was 4 m x 5 m (20 m2) were used to determine optimum nitrogen in the first year and 4m x 5m (20 m2) and phosphorus critical (Pc) and also harvested from 4m2 plot areas. The analysis of variance indicated that Plant height, spike length, number of seeds per spike, biomass yield, and grain yield were highly significantly (p <0.01) influenced by the main effect of nitrogen fertilizer rates. However except for the number of seed per spike, TSP fertilizer significantly (p<0.05) affect plant height and the number of seed per spike as well as highly significantly (p <0.01) biomass and grain yield of bread wheat. The highest (68.76 cm) plant height, the highest (41.02) seed per spike, the highest (8867 kg ha-1) biomass, and the highest (3293 kg ha-1) grain yield were recorded by 200
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
This research aimed to evaluate the impact of the FADAMA III Development Project on the productivity and food security of livestock farmers in Abuja, Nigeria. Using a multi-stage sampling approach, which included both purposive as well as simple random sampling techniques, 250 livestock farmers were selected. Primary data were collected and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics to meet the research objectives. The findings indicated that the average ages of livestock farmers who took part. in the project and the age of those who didn't was 40 and 41, respectively. Approximately 45.8% of participants and 52.3% of non-participants had 10-17 years of farming experience. Additionally, the majority—75.8% of participants and 66.2% of non-participants—had received some level of formal education, which includes elementary to tertiary. Extension agents were crucial, serving as the main source of information about the FADAMA III Development Project for 72% of the participants. Logit regression analysis identified gender, farm size, marital status, association membership, access to inputs, and awareness level as significant factors influencing participation in the project at a 1% significance level. Moreover, the analysis showed that FADAMA III project’s participants exhibited noticeably more productivity than non-participants, with a favorable effect of 234.971 kg/ha at a 1% significance level. Regarding food security, participants experienced lower levels of inadequate access to food compared to non-participants. Lastly, absence of capital was identified as the main challenge for livestock farmers in joining the project. According to the survey, farmers should diversify their sources of income by taking up non-farming endeavors to boost their income and overall productivity.
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Soybean [Glycine max L.] is a valuable crop, providing protein, oil, and income for farmers. Despite the significance of crop in study area, there was lack of knowledge on crop and response to B. japonicum. The study was conducted at Maale district of South omo zone southern Ethiopia to investigate the response of soybean varieties to B. japonicum. It was consisted of a factorial combination of seven soybean varieties namely, Awassa-95, Nyala, Nova, Awassa-04, Gozella, Afgat, and Pawe-2 with two levels of inoculation, with and without B. japonicum. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was used. Data were collected on phonological, nodule, growth, yield, and yield related parameters. The analysis of variance showed all measured parameters, except the number of seed pod-1 such as canopy spread, plant height, number of primary branches, number of nodules, number of effective nodules, above ground biomass yield, 1000 seed weight, harvest index, were significantly (p< 0.01) affected by B. japonicum. The interaction of varieties with B.japonicum were also significantly affected the number of pod plant-1 and grain yield ha-1.The maximum grain yield (2017.50 kg ha-1) was recorded from Awasssa-04 with B. japonicum. Based on the economic analysis, Awassa-95, Nova and Nyala variety with B. japonicum gave the higher value of economic return respectively, however, these varieties gave a lower grain yield. Therefore, a combination of Awassa-04 with B.japonicum is ideal for achieving maximum grain yield and Awassa-95, Nova and Nyala with B.japonicum was economically feasible options.
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Soil acidity is a serious land degradation problem and worldwide danger, impacting approximately 50% of the world's arable soils and limiting agricultural yield. Soil acidification is a complicated series of events that lead to the production of acidic soil. In its widest sense, it can be defined as the total of natural and human processes that reduce the pH of soil solutions. Soil acidity affects around 43% of agricultural land in Ethiopia's humid and sub humid highlands. The main objective of this seminar is to highlight different literatures on the concepts of soil acidity and to give a wealth of knowledge on the causes of soil acidity, the effects it has on agricultural production, and management strategies for reducing soil acidity and raising crop yield. Acid soils in western Ethiopia are mostly caused by topsoil erosion caused by heavy rains and high temperatures. This results in the loss of organic matter and the leaching of exchangeable basic cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+). Because ammonium-based fertilizers are easily converted to nitrate and hydrogen ions in the soil, they play a significant role in acidification. One of the reasons of soil acidity is inefficient nitrogen usage, which is followed by alkalinity exports in crops. Soil acidity in Ethiopian highlands is mostly caused by the clearance of crop residues, continuous crop harvest without sufficient fertilization, cation removal, and usage of acid-forming inorganic fertilizers. Acid soil reduces nutrient availability and produces Al and Mn toxicity. In addition to these effects, soil acidity may rapidly degrade soil physicochemical qualities such as organic carbon (OC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil structure, porosity, and texture. Liming, the use of organic materials as ISFM, and the adoption of crop types that are resistant to Al toxicity are all alternatives for correcting acid soils. Liming can minimize toxicity by lowering concentrations, improving the availability of plant ........
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
The optimal and appropriate fertilizer recommendation packages for all crops considering the improvement in productivity of small-scale farmers in the country. To evaluate the impact of blended fertilizer on wheat output, a field experiment using a five-treatment, three-replicate RCBD design was carried out during the 2020–2023 cropping season at Bale Highland southeastern Ethiopia to evaluate balanced fertilizer types and validation of soil fertility map-based fertilizer recommendation for Bread Wheat production The treatment 1Control (without fertilizer)2 (100 kg/ha-1 Urea )3 (100 kg /ha-1 NPS plus 100 kg of urea)4(100 kg /ha-1 NPSB plus 100 kg of urea) 5(100 kg /ha-1 NPSZnB plus 100 kg of urea). The plot size was 3m by 3 m (9 m2) and the spacing between plots and blocks was 1m and 1m, respectively in comparison to the control, The application of 100 kg ha-1 NPSZnB + 100 kg ha-1 urea in Bale Highland produced the highest and most significant yields of grains (5257.51 kg ha-1) the least amount of grain (3006.51 kg ha-1) in Bale Highland at the same time. To improve the production of wheat in the study area, farmers in Bale Highland must apply NPSZnB, with a similar agroecology.
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Soil erosion is among the most challenging and continuous environmental problems in the highlands of Bale particularly in Ilasa Watershed of Goba District. Soil erosion which emanates from both anthropogenic and natural causes currently results decline in agricultural productivity, crop production on the other hand increases downstream flooding and reservoir sedimentation, and loss of valuable plant nutrients. Soil and water conservation (SWC) practices have been carried out to solve land degradation and erosion severity problems in the Ilasa Watershed through participatory approaches the objective of this study was to implement integrated physical SWC practices through participatory approach in the Ilasa watersheds; to rehabilitate degraded watershed using different physical SWC measures and to minimize the risk of soil erosion and increasing soil depth by trapping sediment loss from Ilasa watershed. Hence, different participatory integrated watershed management practices were introduced in the Ilasa watershed for five consecutive years to avert the problem of soil erosion. Community participatory in integrated watershed management particularly soil and water conservation measures interventions for degraded rehabilitation and gulley treatment were capacitated through training, practical field works, and researchable materials support. Awareness creation, increasing knowledge and skill of farmers, providing technical and resource supports, and implementing slope based appropriate SWC structure could help sustainable land management that ensures environmental quality and food security in the study area as well as in the other areas having related biophysical and socioeconomic settings. Among the major types of physical SWC structures and gulley rehabilitation structures constructed in the study watershed were soil bund; stone bund; stone-faced soil bund and cut-off drains, gully reshaping and filling, brushwood check dam, loose stone check dame, sandbag check dam ...
ABSTRACT
The aim of this review is to give an overview of current modern beekeeping technologies in Ethiopia and to highlight once again the challenges of adopting beekeeping technology. Bee-keeping in Ethiopia is common and one of the agricultural activities. Ethiopia is the leading honey producer in Africa and is one of the ten largest producers in the world (with around 23.6% of the African and 2.1% of the world production. Despite the long tradition of beekeeping in Ethiopia having the highest bee density and being the leading honey producer as well as one of the largest bee waxes exporting country in Africa, the share of sub sector in the GDP has never been commensurate with huge number of honey colonies and the country’s potential for beekeeping. To increase production and productivity of honey and bee wax, different improved technologies have been used in the last 7-10 year. Backyard beekeeping can not only be conducted with traditional, but also with transitional or modern beehives. Lack of bee-keeping equipment (like modern beehives, wax molds, honey extractors, queen excluders) and accessories, training on beekeeping technology, awareness creation, extension contact and market problem were the major determinant factors of adoption of modern beekeeping technology. Despite variations in distribution and adoption levels, the utilization of beekeeping technology has now commenced across all regions of the nation hives, adding and reducing supper. The management of bee colonies constitutes a fundamental aspect of contemporary beekeeping practices within the country. Beekeeping equipment and accessories must be readily available to beekeepers, with a significant focus on enhancing productivity and implementing proper management techniques for contemporary beehives. Such measures have the potential to enhance the likelihood of beekeepers adopting and utilizing modern beehive technology.