Abstract Seasonal rainfall variability, particularly the uncertainty with respect to the direction and extent that variability will assume in a given season, forms the greatest source of risk to crop production in semi-arid areas of Ethiopia. Equipping vulnerable communities, in advance, with the expected date of onset of a cropping season, is crucial for smallholder farmers to better prepare to respond and manage the uncertainties. Therefore, rainfall prediction, particularly development of...
Abstract Soil fertility decline is a major constraint to groundnut production in Uganda. Whereas options exist to address this constraint, many have not been adopted by smallholder farmers. This study was designed to demonstrate the profitability of different integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) technologies in light of smallholder farmer conditions. On-farm experiments were set up in Mbale, Tororo and Bukedea districts of Uganda, with different inorganic fertilizer and farmyard manur...
Abstract: Cactus pear [(Opuntia ficus-indica (L.)MILL] is a horticultural crop which is extensively used as food for humans and feed for animals in many countries of the world. The plant has widely adapted to different parts of Ethiopia and is an integral part of the culture and economy of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Although, Cactus pear can be sexually and asexually propagated, propagation has its own limitation such as genetic segregation, a long juvenile stage, and slow growth, material r...
Abstract Aims: Low and declining levels of crop and livestock productivities in the Kenyan agriculture have been attributed to the low application of the key farm inputs. Measures to encourage application of farm inputs with the highest effect on farm output in a given agro-ecological zone (AEZs) have been hampered by lack of adequate and reliable research-based information to guide the choices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the elasticity of farm output for some selected farm in...
Abstract This paper is based on the results of a study that was carried out to determine the impact of agro-ecological zones (AEZs) on the influence of the key factors that affect household food security through a case study in the Embu County of Kenya. The Embu County was chosen for a case study because it is endowed with most of the various types of AEZs found in Kenya. The three agro-ecological zones covered in the case study were the Sunflower-Zone (UM 4 and LM 3), the Coffee Zone (UM 1-...
Abstract: Shallot (Allium cepa var. ascalonicum Backer) is one of the most important and widely used vegetable crops propagated vegetatively in Ethiopia. The yield of bulbs and seed are often constrained with low and imbalanced nutrient supply in the soil mainly nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and potassium. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at Haramaya and Dire Dawa research stations of Haramaya University to assess the effect of NPS and potash fertilizers on seed yield and quality o...
Abstract: Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the most widely cultivated and globally traded tropical and subtropical fruit trees in the world. It is one of the most popular, widely cultivated and commonly consumed fruit in Ethiopia. However, the postharvest loss of mango is high in Ethiopia in general and in Harari regional state, eastern Ethiopia in particular. Identified ecotypes with better quality for growers as well as for consumers are not available in Harari region, eastern Ethiopi...
Abstract Land fragmentation is a common agricultural phenomenon in many countries where a single large farm is subdivided into a large number of separate small land plots. This paper is based on a study that was carried out to evaluate the impact of land fragmentation on food security in three agroecological zones (AEZs) of Embu County in Kenya from January to November 2016. The study used data collected from 384 farm-households that were randomly selected from three AEZs in the Embu County,...
Abstract: Establishment of seedling growing method(s) is priority activity to the distribution of newly introduced vegetable crops. Chaya is proposed as candidate vegetable crop to distribute in eastern Ethiopia. However, recommendation is lacking for rooting media and type of cutting to produce seedlings. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess effect of rooting media and number of nodes on rooting, seedling establishment and early growth of chaya at Dire Dawa from February 2018 to Ju...
Abstract: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important food security and cash crop in Central highlands of Ethiopia. However, its yield is constrained by problem of soil fertility and poor fertilizer management. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of poultry manure, mineral nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on yield and yield components of potato at Holeta, in 2012 growing season. The treatments consisted of factorial combination of 2 levels of poultry manure...
Abstract: The field experiment was conducted during 2015 main rainy season, at two locations, Haramaya University Rare research field and Hirna Research field to assess the effect of tuber planting depth and nitrogen fertilizer rate on the yield and yield related traits of potato. The experimental treatments were factorial combinations of four tuber planting depth (5, 10, 15, 20 cm) and five rates of N (0, 46, 92, 138 and 184 kg N kg ha-1), laid out as a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCB...
Abstract: Onion is an important crop both as a condiment and income generation for smallholder farmers in North western Zone of Tigray. However, Continuous use of inorganic fertilizers and inappropriate soil fertility management practices are among the major factors limiting onion productivity in the North Western Tigray. Therefore, a field experiment was undertaken in Selekleka district from October 2015 to June 2016 to assess the effects of integrated nutrient management on growth, bulb yi...
Abstract: Development of drought tolerant potato varieties for moisture stress areas is one of the strategic orientation and research priorities of the Ethiopian Potato Research Program. Estimation of variability is the first step in the process of variety development. This research was conducted at Simada research site of Adet Agricultural Research Center, a satellite site for drought experiments, in 2016 main rain season to estimate genetic variability, correlation among traits and to dete...
Abstract The Kenya Government prioritized the development of the agricultural sector to achieving the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of sustainable food production. Kenya’s strategic plan, Vision 2030 positions agriculture as a key driver for delivering a 10% annual economic growth and is expected to have an average growth rate of 7% by 2015. Agriculture contributes over 80% of all employment opportunities in the country, but Kenyan youths are not taking advantage of these opportu...
Abstract: Anchote is one of the most important but underutilized indigenous root tuber crops in Ethiopia. The scarcity of quality planting materials and improved varieties are the most important factors limiting production of the crop. Considering the huge importance of plant biotechnological tools in the improvement of anchote, experiments were conducted to develop in vitro protocols for somatic embryogenesis, meristem culture and anther culture of two anchote accessions (KUWE and accession...