Abstract: In Ethiopia, wheat is being cultivated on about 1.51 million hectares, with about 3.3 million tons of grain yield. However, productivity of this crop is low compared to its genetic potential. Field study was conducted in 2015 cropping season at Fiche. The objectives of the study were determining the optimum rates of N and P fertilizers, their concentration in plant parts and their use efficiency by wheat. The treatments were four level of N (0, 32, 64 and 96 kg/ha) and four level o...
Abstract: Livestock are still the major vehicle to support pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods in terms of food security and income generation in eastern Ethiopia. However, climate variability is negatively affecting the livestock systems through reducing water and feed resources. In this context, failure to timely understanding and responding to this environmental influence under smallholder conditions would lead to worst scenarios on livestock production and thereby affecting the livest...
Abstract: The study was conducted to investigate the effects of Acacia tortilistree in farmland on some selected soil physicochemical properties, and maize grain yield in Gursumdistrict, Eastern Hararghe, Oromia, Ethiopia. For the experiment of soil physicochemical properties, two factors: distance from tree trunk with three levels (under canopy, edge of canopy and out of canopy) and soil depth with two levels (0-20cm and 20–40cm depth) with factorial arrangement in RCBD replicated six tim...
Abstract: Among several agroforestry practices in the east Hararghe of Ethiopia, Parkland agroforestry practices are common. However, the beneficial effect of tree species on soil properties is very scarce to be used for improved agricultural productivity in the eastern part of the country including study area. Therefore, the study was conducted with the objectives of investigating the impact of parkland trees on the soil physical and chemical properties within and outside the trees canopy; ...
Abstract: Agroforestry is the set of land-use practices involving the deliberate combination of trees, crops and/or animals on the same land management unit in some form of spatial arrangement or temporal sequence (Lundgren and Raintree, 1982). The trees have been used for fuel wood, charcoal, shade, fodder, soil fertility maintenance and fencing. This study was conducted to assess the effect of Faidherbia albida and Acacia tortilis on grain yield of wheat and above ground biomass and soil p...
ABSTRACT To determine the soil's primary potentials and constraints, soil characterization and pedological classification are crucial. However, much of Ethiopia’s documented soil information is scanty and inadequate relative to the large size of the country and the wide diversity of soils and landscapes. The aim of this work was to characterize and classify the morphological, physical, and chemical attributes of soils in Aregedif watershed, Northwestern Ethiopia. Samples were collected fro...
ABSTRACT Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 2011, to examine the effects of lime, poultry manure and NPK 15-15-15 on the soil nutrient content and yield of maize. The experiment was first carried out in the greenhouse and later evaluated in the field. The experimental designs used were 6 x 4 factorial in completely randomized design (CRD) and randomized complete block design (RCBD) for the greenhouse and field experiments respectively. Two...
ABSTRACT One mechanism by which plants can mobilize organic and inorganic forms of phosphorus (P) in soils is by exudation of low molecular weight organic acids. Laboratory and field trial were carried out during 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons to study the effects of additions of organic acids ( citric, oxalic and tartaric acids) on the mobilization of phosphate of soils from Minna and Mokwa, both in Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. For initial laboratory studies and prior to field cultiva...
ABSTRACT A two –year (2004/2005) field investigation was carried out on the runoff plots at the University of Nigeria Nsukka farm, to monitor the effects of cover management practices on physical properties, runoff and soil loss in Nkpologu sandy loam soil. The management practices were barefallow (BF), cocoyam (CY) sorghum (SG), legume (CP) and grass (PM), under no-till practice. There was no change in soil texture due to treatments. The treatments generally increased soil organic matter c...
Abstract Green house and field experiments were undertaken in this study. The green house study was done in International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, green house, while the field experiments were conducted in the Department of Soil Science, University of Nigeria, Teaching and Research Farm and Dominican Centre for Human Resources Development, Moniya-Ibadan Farm in 2008 and 2009 crop years. The green house study was a 2 x 3 x 2 factorial in completely randomized design (C...
Agricultural sector in Kenya, contributes with 25% on GDP, yet this sector is far to supply adequate food for an increasing population due to declining soil productivity. Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) is relatively new crop being introduced in smallholders farming system in the Central Highlands of Kenya as source of nutrition, income generation and soil fertility improvement. However, the crop yields are below the national average. Soil acidity and depletion of nutrients affect negatively...
Soil acidity is widespread globally, accounting for about 40% of total arable soils. In Kenya, acid soils cover about 13% of total land area and are distributed widely in the croplands of central and western Kenya regions, covering over one million hectares. The main limitation of crop productivity in Kavutiri, Embu, is soil acidity and more specifically aluminium toxicity. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of agricultural lime in combination with farmyard manure (FYM)...
Agriculture is the major engine of Rwandese economy, accounting for about 40% of the GDP, 85% of employment and 80% of exports. Known as “meat for the poor”, beans constitute a predominant source of proteins in Rwandese diet since they supply 65% of national dietary proteins compared to 4% from animal sources. However, the on-farm bean productivity is about 0.8 – 1.0 tons/ hectare which is quite low compared to 5 tons/hectare that is achieved under optimal management conditions. The...
Reduced farm productivity in smallholder farms is the principal cause of food insecurity in semi- arid parts of Kenya. This is mainly attributed to soil fertility depletion, land degradation, low soil moisture and climate change. Climate change due to increased carbon dioxideemission into the atmosphere has impacted negatively on the food productivity in Africa. The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine the effect of different organic residues on soil carbon accumulation in soil. 2)...
ABSTRACT As climate change continues to threaten ecosystems’ functions, agriculture remains one of the major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are responsible for global warming. The major GHG in agriculture are; carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4). Unfortunately, agriculture is also one of the most affected sectors by climate change. There is therefore need to reduce emissions by adopting agricultural practices with mitigation potential. This is by enha...