Abstract: Environmental factors such as topography, climate, geology, biotic factors and land-use activities are largely responsible for creating local differences in soil characteristics. These in turn create variations in the agricultural potential and management options of the soils that need detailed study in order to have adequate and comprehensive information and be able to solve site specific problems related to their sustainable use. However, there exists still a dearth of data in th...
Abstract: Soil and water conservation practices in Tigray, northern highlands of Ethiopia are given special emphasis for the restoration of degraded lands. However, information on the effect of SWC practices on the dynamics of soil biota is limited. This study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the effect of two decades long community-based soil and water conservation (CBSWC) practices, viz, stone terraces, exclosure with and without stone terraces which were evaluated against no...
Abstract: The morphological, physical and chemical properties of soils in Lay Gayint district have never been studied and scientifically classified to provide soil resource information. Besides, the area receives high amount of annual rainfall, and the soils develop acidity which is a critical issue requiring urgent attention in most highlands of Ethiopia due to its impact on crop production and productivity. Therefore, characterization and classification of soils in Yikalo subwatershed of L...
Abstract: Cellulases are complex hydrolytic enzymes working synergistically on the hydrolysis of cellulose to produce smaller sugar components including glucose units. These enzymes have tremendous environmental, industrial and agricultural applications including enhancement of the degradability of lignocellulosic materials. In this research fungal isolates were isolated from forest and compost soil samples and allowed to produce cellulases; and the extent to which the cellulases enhance the...
Abstract: Soil-transmitted helminth parasitic infections constitute major public health challenges among school children in developing tropical and sub-tropical countries. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of soil transmitted helminth parasitic infections and their associations with anthropometric measurements at Tulu Nageso Primary School of Oromia Region, Ethiopia. The design was cross sectional survey, involving 348 participants (1...
Abstract: Homegardens are one of the most important niche in which farmers feel confident to plant and maintain tree and shrub species. Homegardens floristic composition and its indigenous tree species that are used for soil fertility improvement in western Harerghe in general and Habro district have not been given much research attention. The study investigated the floristic composition of the homegarden agroforestry system in 36 homegardens, and assessed the effect of indigenous tree speci...
Abstract: Potassium in soil system found in different forms in different soil types and land use systems. Information on the forms and characteristics of potassium in different soils under different land use types is vital for the management of potassium fertility of the soils. This study was aimed at investigate the forms of potassium and its adsorption characteristics in soils of Kafta Humera district under different land use types. The bulk soil samples were collected randomly from adjace...
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...