Abstract: Vertisols cover large areas which are widely used for agriculture in Ethiopia. The chemical and physical properties of Vertisols are influenced by the type of clay minerals which appears to be mainly smectite, with different proportions of other clays such as kaolinite, illite and vermiculite. Potassium (K), a major plant nutrient with in the soil, exists in different forms. Assessing the fractions of K is important to have knowledge on the supplying power of soil K for plant nutri...
Abstract: This study assessed the impact of Lantana camara invasion on herbaceous species diversity and soil physio-chemical properties in Babile District, Eastern Ethiopia. To collect the vegetation data, 1mx1m plots were laid down in each 60 selected lantana individuals under and outside the cover in four directions. From each plot, a soil sample was taken from 0-15cm depth after removing litter from the soil surface for Soil physiochemical analysis. Three herbaceous species (Panicum color...
Abstract: Parthenium hysterophorus has become a major environmental, social, and economic threats in Ethiopia. Therefore, identification and mapping of suitable habitats and impacts on soil chemical properties are vital to design future management strategies. A total of 36 soil samples were collected from P. hysterophorus invaded and non-invaded sites. A total of 1,352 P. hysterophorus occurrence records and 19 bioclimatic variables were collected from different sources. ANOVA was conducted ...
Abstract: In Ethiopia about 93 percent of cultivated area is rain fed and crop production primarily depends on rainfall. Present study was conducted in rain fed Sofi-District of Harari Region. The objectives of the study were to identify factors affecting participation of farmers in irrigation scheme and impact of irrigation on cropping pattern, farm income and human labor employment. The study was based on 260 sample house holds (130 participants in irrigation schemes and 130 non-participan...
Abstract: Climate variability affects crop productivity at both global and local scales, and adaptation of agricultural practices against this variability helps to translate perception of the farmers to decision-making process. This study was initiated to analyze climate variability, examine its effect on maize productivity, and assess perception and adaptation strategies of smallholder farmers to climate variability in West Badawacho District. Climate and crop data from 2000-2019 were colle...
Abstract: Okra is considered a minor crop and has not given research attention in Ethiopia. Therefore, a key strategy to adapt to a changing climate is the development and promotion of underutilised crop species. Thus, this research was conducted to assess the genetic diversity, genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and association of traits of okra genotypes using morpho-agronomic traits and biochemical contents. A total of 36 okra genotypes (27 landraces and 9 introduced comme...
Abstract: This thesis was conducted in Furi forest in central of Ethiopia. Biodiversity is organized along altitudinal gradient in different layers as altitude determines climate distribution. Plant diversity is one of the major groups of biological diversity. Plant diversity can be affected by living and nonliving factors. The overall objective of this study was to assess composition, diversity and structure, regeneration status of woody species and total carbon stocks along an elevation gr...
Abstract: Knowledge about types of soils and the status of their quality is needed for developing sound land use planning and soil management decision for enhancing crop productivity. However, such information is lacking in Kersa sub-watershed in eastern Ethiopia where the current study was conducted. The objectives of this study were, therefore, to 1) characterize and classify soils of the study area, 2) determine soil quality indicators using minimum data set and calculate soil quality ind...
Abstract: Twenty five yearling male Begait sheep with initial body weight (BW) of 28.02± 1.49 (mean ± SD) were used to evaluate the effect of supplementation of cowpea (Vigna unguiculat) hay (CPH), wheat bran (WB) and their mixtures to sheep fed grass hay (GH) on feed intake, digestibility, average daily gain (ADG), carcass characteristics, skin quality and economic feasibility. Experimental sheep were blocked in to five blocks based on initial body weight and randomly assigned to the five...
Abstract: The objective of the study was to assess the cureent status on utilization practices of cereal straws, followed by development and evaluation of straw-based densified complete feed blocks (DCFBs) for enhancing the use of wheat straw as feed for dairy cattle. The study assessed the current status of cereal crop residue, management, utilization practices, challenges, and opportunities, and evaluated the effect of DCFBs on feed intake, digestibility, and productive performance of cros...
Abstract: This study analyzed production efficiency, post-harvest loss and marketing of sesame in Kafta Humera district of Tigray region, Ethiopia. It was specifically aimed to address the research gaps by measuring technical, allocative and economic efficiencies and their determinants, measuring post-harvest loss and analyzing its determinants and market performance of sesame in Kafta Humera District. For addressing these objectives the study used primary and secondary data obtained from fi...
Abstract: Dairy enterprises are one of the most important sources of economic growth. This makes enterprises a major area of concern for government and nongovernment organizations with varieties of development objectives. However, studies in both academic and policymaking circles on the production efficiency, financial performance and impact of dairy enterprises on employment creation and income generation were limited. This study sought findings on production efficiency, financial performan...
Abstract: This study was aimed at analyzing beef cattle value chain in Bora and Dugda districts, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The specific objectives of the study were to:- identify major beef cattle value chain actors and their roles in beef cattle value chain in the study areas; Identify the major constraints and opportunities in beef cattle value chain; analyzing the determinants of smallholders farmers' market participation decision and quantity of beef cattle supplied to the market ...
Abstract: As market exchange increases, there should be institutional set-ups that facilitate transaction of products especially products like milk and milk products that need immediate exchange due to their nature of being easily exposed to spoilage. Despite this importance of institutional environments and arrangements in dairy marketing, studies focusing on institutional analysis of dairy marketing have not been done in the study area. Thus, the study was conducted in Bahir Dar milk shed ...
Abstract: In Ethiopia, teff (Eragrostis tef) is an important cereal crop, particularly in Shashamane district as source of food and cash income for majority of the smallholder farmers. However, the supply of teff in the study area still cannot satisfy the existing market demand and also efforts to enhance smallholders’ participation in cereal market in general and teff in particular, through surplus production have been made, but there is dearth of information on the status of market parti...