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: A study was conducted in Ades forest in Tullo Woreda, which is one of the dry afromontane forests with the objective of documenting species composition and assessing species diversity, dominance, population structure and regeneration status. Vegetation data were collected systematically from 67 quadrants of 20 x 20 m (400 m2) along transects. In each quadrat, parameters such as density and diameter at breast height (DBH) for those with DBH>2cm were measured for all live woody 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: Crop yield in most parts of western Ethiopia, where the study area is located, is generally low due to low soil fertility, particularly as a result of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deficiency, and soil acidity. Although field pea is capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen biologically in association with root nodule bacteria, the effectiveness of the bacteria under different host plants and environmental factors has not been evaluated in the study area. This study was initiated to...
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to estimate the extent of genetic variability of agronomic traits and their contribution to seed yield. Twelve quantitative characters including plant height, pods per plant, seeds per pod, days to flowering, seed yield per plots, harvest index and hundred seed weighted of twenty four genotypes of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was studied. The experiment was conducted at Ziway farmer’s field as randomized complete block design planted in three ...
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...