Abstract: Acid soils research has been one of the main priorities of the government of Ethiopia. However, the pace of research and development efforts to improve the productivity of acid soils was not commensurate with the extent and severity of the problem. This is, especially, true in Arsi-Bale wheat-belt, where soil acidity is a real yield-limiting factor. Cognizant of this fact, the research was conducted with the main objective of generating quantified information and agricultural techn...
Abstract: Detailed characterization of agricultural landscapes and knowledge on soil spatial variability induced soil fertility differences are crucial for developing site specific, profitable and sustainable nutrient management. In view of this, landscape characterization and soil fertility assessment studies were conducted on the agricultural lands of the Amhara National Regional State, northwestern Ethiopia in the year 2014. Semi-structured questionnaire and personal observations were use...
Abstract: Soil salinity is an enormous problem for agriculture under irrigation as it affects the growth and development of plants in Ethiopia, the problem is widespread in the rift valley areas where middle Awash and Amibara irrigated farms are present. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the impact of depth of water table fluctuation on the occurrence of salt affected soil in Amibara irrigation scheme. Based on the existing piezometers points, additional ground water monitor...
Abstract: In highly weathered and leached soils, acid soil infertility is a major limitation to crop production. Three major experiments were conducted under laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions to assess soil acidity status of surface soils under three land use types (forest, cultivated, and grazing lands), evaluate the effects of lime, vermicompost (VC), and chemical phosphorus (P) fertilizer on selected soil properties, and investigate the effects of the three amendments on select...
Abstract: Phosphorus (P) limits plant growth particularly in very strongly acidic soils. P availability to plant is a functional concept rather than measurable quantity. This research work was intended to synthesize nanocomposite material that can monitor soil P desorption kinetics and dynamics and relate to P uptake by maize (Zea mays L.). The binary oxide Fe-Al composite system, both in a crystalline and amorphous form was synthesized by sol-gel evaporation method and characterized by XRD,...
Abstract: Declining soil fertility is the major challenge to boost crop production in Ethiopia. As a result, assessment of soil fertility status and mapping can help to design site specific soil fertility management techniques. Therefore, this study was conducted at Agamsa watershed in Habru District, Northeastern Ethiopia, with the objectives of assessing the soil fertility status of the watershed and mapping the spatial distribution of the selected soil fertility parameters. Field survey w...
Abstract: Lack of effective indigenous soil rhizobia and low soil fertility including potassium deficiency are the major production constraints that limit the potential yield of faba bean in the study area. Hence, field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Rhizobium inoculation and potassium fertilizer application on nodulation, yield components and yield of faba bean; to determine the potassium use efficiency; and to evaluate the economic feasibility of the treatments for faba...
Abstract: Acidic soils limit the production potential of crops because of low availability of basic cations and excess of hydrogen (H+) and aluminium (Al3+) in exchangeable forms. In the western part of the country such as Assosa and Wellega, soil acidity is a well-known problem limiting crop productivity. A field study was conducted to assess the effects of lime, vermicompost and their combinations on selected soil physic-chemical properties and responses of soybean grown on acidic Nitisols...
Abstract: ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL UNDER DIFFERENT LAND USE TYPES AT WUYE GOSE SUBWATERSHED, NORTH SHOs loamy sand while it was sandy loam in homestead land and forest land. The BD ranged from 1.51 (GL) to 1.13 g/cm3 (HL) and TP varied 57.25 (HL) to 43.04% (GL). Soil water content at FC was ranged from (45.18) in homestead to (36.35%v) in grazing land. Permanent wilting point, in %v, was high (16.99) in homestead and forest to low (8.49) in grazing and cultivated land...
Abstract: Soil quality is very much affected by land use and also soil depth. A study was conducted at Sumbe sub-watershed, located in the Toke Kutaye District of West Showa Zone of Oromia region, with the objective of evaluation of selected soil physicochemical properties under different land uses and soil depth. The results revealed the existence of spatial variation in soil properties among land use types and with soil depth in a given land use. Relatively higher silt content (47.50%) was...
Abstract: Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is considered to be an ancient oil seed crop to generate high quality edible oil having nutritional and health related value but still at an early stage in breeding. Its chromosome number is 2n=26 and it belongs to the Pedaliaceae family and having significant economic value globally as well as in Ethiopia.With the objective of broadening the gene pool of sesame an experiment was conducted in the genetics and molecular biology laboratory as well as agric...
Abstract: Land degradation by soil erosion is a wide spread and serious phenomenon throughout the Ethiopian highlands causing significant loss of soil fertility, loss of productivity and environmental degradation. Thus, estimation of soil loss and identification of critical area for implementation of best management practice is central to success of a soil and water conservation program. This research has, therefore, been carried out to evaluate soil erosion risk in the study area so as to e...
Abstract: Knowledge of spatial variability of soil properties assists in decision making towards selection of appropriate management options pertinent to specific contexts. Liming acid soils is one of the available intervention options to amend soil acidity which can increase soil pH and alleviate Al toxicity to plants and thus maintain a suitable condition for growth of a variety of crops. Appropriate rate of lime and P fertilizer are therefore an important strategy on improving crop growth...
Abstract: It is known that all soils contain a certain amount of soluble salts and exchangeable sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. However, when the concentration of either of them is excess, it will interfere with many soil processes including plant growth and the effects depend on the degree of concentration and type of plant. It is, therefore, with this understanding that a study was conducted with the objective to classify and characterize the salt affected soils of Ambo-coba in ...
Abstract: Information on the Effect of Slope Gradient and Management Practices in soil chemical and physical properties is key for predicting the relative response of soils to application of fertilizers and putting forward appropriate management practices. The present study was, thus, conducted to assess the selected chemical and physical properties of the soils as affected by slope gradient and management practices at the Dawja Watershed in Enebse Sar Midir District of East Gojjam Zone, Eth...