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This proposal was initiated to assess the response of potato varieties (Dagim, Belete, Gudenie, Jalenie, Zengena, and Ater Ababa) to phosphorus application and use efficiency under screen house with plastic pots. There were seven phosphorous levels (150% recommended (3.9 g P pot-), 125% recommended (3.3 g P pot-), recommended (2.6 g P pot-), 75% of the recommended (2.0 g P pot-), 50% of the recommended (1.3 g P pot-), 25% of the recommended (0.7 g P pot-) and the control) per variety. The experiment was conducted in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications with a total of 42 treatments at Adet Agricultural research center, Ethiopia. Most parameters studied significantly changed with varieties and P-rates. Belete variety and 2 g P pot-1 showed the highest values in soil available phosphorous (52.6 mg P kg-1 and 49.53 mg P kg-1, respectively,) and Belete variety and 3.9 g P pot1showed highest values in plant phosphorous concentration (3.48 mg g-1 and 3.98 mg g-1, respectively). The highest phosphorous uptake (PAE) (14.81 mg plant-1) was recorded in Belete variety. This variety could be considered as responsive cultivar. The highest phosphorous acquisition efficiency (PAE) (92.35 kg kg-1) was recorded in Belete variety, and phosphorous use efficiency (33.63 and 37.58 mg g-1) was recorded in Dagim and Ater Ababa varieties, respectively. Dagim variety can be used when external phosphorous applications become limited. Evaluation of the existing varieties of potato for their phosphorous use and uptake efficiency could potentially increase the future potato yield without excess P application

In breeding for drought tolerance, availability of precise, cheap and easy to apply selection tool is critical. The aim of the present study was to identify potential screening tools that are useful for selection of drought tolerant genotypes in potato and select drought resistant potato genotypes. The study assessed sixty clones arranged in a 10×6 alpha lattice design with two replicates in a managed stress experiment. Two irrigation treatments were applied: fully watered non-stress and terminal drought, where the irrigation water supply to the crop was withheld after 50 % flowering to induce post-flowering stress. Stress indices were calculated based on tuber yield of genotypes in both stressed and non-stressed conditions. Identification of drought tolerant genotypes based on a single index was less informative as different indices identified different genotypes as drought tolerant. Hence, to determine the most desirable drought tolerant clones rank sum of indices, correlation, and bi-plot display of the principal component analysis was employed. The indices modified stress tolerance index based on non-stressed yield, Men productivity, Geometric mean productivity, Stress tolerance index, Harmonic mean, modified stress tolerance index based on stressed yield and Yield index exhibited strong association with both yield under stressed and non-stressed yield. These indices discriminated drought tolerant genotypes with higher tuber yielding potential both under stress and non-stress conditions. Genotypes CIP-398180.612, CIP-397069.5, and CIP-304371.67 were identified as drought tolerant. These genotypes could be potentially grown both under drought prone and potential environments and these selection attributes could help to develop climate resilient potato varieties.

This study examined the nexus between cluster farming and household dietary diversity among smallholder wheat farmers in Oromia region, Ethiopia. Three-stage sampling procedures were employed to gather data from 384 household heads on a cross-sectional survey that was carried out in June 2022. Descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model were used for data analysis. The average, minimum, and maximum household dietary diversity scores were 7.10, 1, and 11, respectively. A significant difference was observed: participants in cluster farming had 14% more dietary diversity than their counterparts. Sex, marital status, participation in wheat cluster farming, home gardening, off-farm income, number of crops grown, cooperative membership, and access to training determined household dietary diversity. The study indicates that dietary diversity in households is influenced by a variety of factors. While wheat cluster-based farming is heavily promoted, household food and nutrition security also need to consider other elements like home gardening, off-farm income, cooperative membership, and training access.

In Ethiopia livestock feed shortage and soil acidity are serious problems. In recent years sweet lupins (white and blue species) were introduced as multipurpose crops in the country. However, there is no information about their nodulation potential. This study was conducted to evaluate nodulation potential of these sweet lupins and their effect on nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) content of the soil. Seven lupin varieties were evaluated using factorial arrangement (seven varieties * two inoculations) in a randomized complete block design in two locations for two years. The result showed that effect of inoculation and location was not significant (P > 0.05) on biomass, seed, nodule number and soil parameters. While the effect of variety was significant (P < 0.05) on nodule parameters. Its effect on dry biomass and seed yields was also significant in either of the years. Variety and year had no effect on soil N and P contents. In the first year, blue sweet lupin entries had the highest nodule number per plant, 222 nodules. In the second year similar nodulation performance was observed among species and varieties. Soil N and P were not affected by varieties and inoculation. In addition to their yield advantage, compared to the sweet white entries, blue sweet lupin varieties had high potential in nodulation. Therefore, these introduced sweet blue lupins can be used as multipurpose crops in acidic soils of Ethiopia.

Phosphorous is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development. Most of the soil is deficient in plant available phosphorous and due to economic limitations majority of Ethiopian farmers applied inadequate fertilizers. It is essential to stabilize a mechanism to access P for plants with an efficient, cheap, and eco-friendly approach for enhanced crop growth and production. The main objective of this study was to screen efficient phosphate solubilizing bacteria from tomato rhizosphere soil. Using halo zone formation on PVK agar medium, more than 400 PSB isolates were isolated from 13 rhizosphere soil samples. By evaluating SI, texture in the culture-re-culturing process, liquid medium pH change efficiency and growth rate, upmost three promising PSB isolates (K-1-29, K-10-27, and K-10-41) were selected. Incubation of the isolates in PVK broth for five days showed significant pH reduction. For instance, isolate K-10-41 showed significant pH change (4.02) which indicates the organic acid production. Isolation and evaluation of efficient phosphate solubilizing bacteria maintain soil fertility, promote plant growth, induce plant response to pathogens, reduce agrochemical consumption and promote sustainable agriculture. Therefore, these selected PSB isolates need further detailed study for taxonomic identification, plant growth promotion, host range, and phytopathogen response. Local isolation improves environmental adaptation and indigenous competition.

Promoting the agricultural sector with up-to-date technologies and inputs is convenient to enhance productivity. Production intervention is needed by introducing and adopting proper agronomic practices. Improved agricultural technologies increase production, quality, sustain food security, economic development and natural resource conservation. Koka, Meki and Ziway are known for their vegetable production as well as intensive agrochemicals consumption. Agrochemicals are applied on farm to enhance soil fertility, reduce pathogens, and induce plant growth. Tomato is one of the main commercial cash crops in these areas. Most commercially productive tomato varieties are highly sensitive to disease, vulnerable to nutrient deficiency, and other abiotic stress that requires rigorous agrochemical inputs. Ethiopian tomato production is very low due to various contributing factors including lack of improved varieties, diseases, pests, poor farming system, soil fertility maintenance as well as poor irrigation system. Farmers in the study areas applied inaccurate agrochemicals dose, rate, and application schedule that foster repeated spray. Intense agrochemical application leads to adverse environmental and health impacts due to deposit of toxic chemicals, residue leakage to water bodies and air pollution. It is important to practice proper agricultural inputs, reduce hazardous chemical residues, protect humans, other beneficial organisms and the environment. Moreover, developing IPM technology is recommended for better healthy agricultural production and sustainability.

This study was conducted on a total of 776 goats (part of Central highland goat breeds of Ethiopia), 306 from Boset district of Oromia region and 470 were from Minjar Shenkora district of Amhara region. A format developed by using food and agriculture organization discerption list was used for recording of morphological traits, bodyweight and linear body measurements. Both qualitative and quantitative traits were recorded from randomly sampled mature goats and the data were analyzed using SAS software. The goat type in the study area was characterized by a higher proportion of plain coat color patterns (62.5). Ingeneral, the majority (98.4%) of the studied goats were horned and characterized by backward orientation (67%) with a straight shape (49.3%). They presented a concave facial profile (73.8%), slop up toward the rump back profile (66.2%), no wattle (99.6%), no toggle (90.7%), no ruff (85.9%) and no beard (57.3%). The location had a significant effect on body weight and some other linear body measurements. Traits like body length, rump length, horn length, head length, head width and shin circumference were significantly higher in Boset district. In contrast, rump width and cannon bone length were significantly lower. The mean body weight of male goats in Boset and Minjar Shenkora district were 30.5±1.05 kg with a range of 16 to 47 and 27.5±0.56 with a range of 13 to 57, respectively. While for female counterpart mean body weights (kg) were 28.4±0.35 with a range of 17 to 45 for Boset and 27.5±0.33 with a range 15 to 57 for Minjar Shenkora district. Heart girth had the highest correlation with body weight in both sexes and shoulder width in Boset male goats. The wider variation in most quantitative measurement traits would open an opportunity for further improvement, conservation and utilization work.

In sub-Saharan Africa, multiple plant nutrients deficiency besides nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is a major growth-limiting factor for crop production. As a result, some soils become non-responsive for Rhizobium inoculation besides P application. Based on the soil test result, the soil of Experimental sites had low organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulphur (S) and zinc (Zn)[xy1]. Hence, an experiment was carried out on-farm at Gondar Zuria woreda in Tsion and Denzaz Kebeles to evaluate the effect of Rhizobium inoculation, S and Zn application on yield, nodulation, N and P uptake of chickpea. The experiment included twelve treatments developed via factorial combination of two level of inoculation (Rhizobium inoculated, un-inoculated), three level of S (0, 15, 30 kg Sulphur ha-1) and two levels of Zn (0, 1.5 kg Zinc ha-1). The treatment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that the highest mean nodule number (15.3) and nodule volume (1.3 ml plant-1) over locations were obtained with Rhizobium inoculation integrated with 15 kg S and 1.5 kg Zn ha-1 which resulted in 37.8% and 116.7% increment over the control check, respectively. It was also observed that combined application of Rhizobium and 30 kg S ha-1 caused the highest (6.7) mean nodulation rating and seed yield (1775.5 kg ha-1) over locations which resulted in 86.1% and 28 % increase over the control check, respectively. Moreover, this treatment improved P use efficiency of chickpea. On the bases of observed result, it can be concluded that the response of chickpea to Rhizobium and P application can be improved by S application and Rhizobium inoculation with application of 30 kg S ha-1 with recommended rate of P and starter N is recommended for chickpea production at the experimental locations in Gonder Zuria Woreda.