Abstract Maize and beans contribute significantly to food security in Kenya. Farming practices used in production of these crops may affect nematode community assemblages and influence agricultural productivity. Information on response of nematofauna, particularly free-living nematodes, under various agronomic practices in Kenyan maize-beans intercrop is scarce. This study reports on the effects of farming practices on nematode community dynamics, ecological and functional indices, nematode ...
Millet is cultivated and used as food for man and livestock in parts of of Africa and Asia. Drought is the principal abiotic stress reducing its productivity. Reduced transpiration can help in limiting excessive water loss to the atmosphere with the application of antitranspirants. Pot and field experiments were conducted at Nyankpala, Northern Ghana to evaluate the effect of Kaolin and Phenylmercuric acetate as antitranspirants on five genotypes and water regime at two levels in a Randomized...
Abstract: Loss of fertility in soil is the main limiting factor that affects production of crops in Kenya, especially in the Arid and Semi-arid regions. In the lower parts of Eastern Kenya, unreliable and low rainfall has led to the low yields in crop production. Lack of the use of commercial fertilizers is also a contributing factor to low crop yields. Amongst new solutions that can assist farmers facing this challenge of low yields includes the emerged potential role of rhizobia in crop pe...
Abstract: Climate variability and extreme events are some of the most pressing environmental challenges occurring in the contemporary world. Farming communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Kenya are more vulnerable to climate variability and extreme events due to high dependence on weather patterns in their farming activities. There is little understanding of the vulnerability to climate variability and extreme events among farmers in Kitui County based on the agro-ecological zone...
Abstract: Niger (Guizotia abyssinica) is an annual dicotyledonous oil crop and the only species cultivated in different countries throughout tropical and temperate zones. This study presents growth performance, seed yield and yield related traits of Guizotia abyssinica variety Kuyyu in different Nitrogen:Phosphorus fertilization rates of 0:0, 10.25:23, 20.5:23, 41:23 kg/ha and seeding rates of 7.5, 10 and 12.5 kg/ha in Gudane sirba Kebele of Guduru district, Horo Guduru Zone, Oromia regional...
Abstract: Potato is an important cash and food security crop in mid and highlands areas of eastern Ethiopia. However, the yield of the crop is constrained by many factors including improper application of irrigation amount and intervals. The field experiment was conducted at Haramaya University (Raare) research station during 2020 cropping season to assess the effects of furrow irrigation methods and intervals on tuber yield and quality of potato genotypes and to estimate water productivity ...
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: Faba bean production is a common practice in Limu Bilbilo areas. However, its productivity is affected and limited by poor soil fertility and lack of alternative technologies such as application of optimum phosphorus fertilizer for different faba bean varieties. Limited studies on the role of P on faba bean varietal yield and yield components are reported in Ethiopia, especially in the case of Limu Bilbilo conditions. Studies on the effect of phosphorus (P) fertilization are genera...
Abstract: Tomato is an important cash crop grown by smallholder farmers as well as private investors in Raya Valley, Northern Ethiopia. However, the yield of the crop has been low due to poor soil fertility status and use of improper rates of fertilizers. Three independent field experiments were conducted to investigate the response of tomato to fertilizers at Raya Valley for two consecutive seasons during 2016/17 using drip irrigation. The first field experiment was carried out to investiga...
Abstract: In Ethiopia, salt affected soils are prevalent in the Rift Valley and lowland areas. Beans, which grow in different parts of Ethiopia, are salt sensitive. This experiment was conducted with the objective of screening bean varieties: namely Tumsa, Gora and Gachena for salt tolerance by the use of some agronomic traits such as days to seed germination, seedling shoot and root length, seedling shoot and root fresh weight, seedling shoot and root dry weight were measured in the laborat...
Abstract: Production and productivity of common bean is decreased mainly by soil fertility depletion, inappropriate rate of poor nutrients availability and application without soil test, and inefficient crop response. Crop specific fertilizer recommendation is necessary for sustainable crop production. Accordingly, a field experiment was conducted during the main rainy season of 2019 to evaluate the effects of types and rates of blended fertilizers on selected soil chemical properties and yi...
Abstract: Soil resource inventory through characterization provides an insight into the potentials and limitations of soils for agricultral production. Soil fertility, on the other hand, is one of the most important factors controlling the yield of crops. However, a detailed study on soil resources characterization and soil fertility assessment based on the understanding of the soil system are not available for the most part of Ethiopia. With the cognizance of this fact, the present study wa...
Abstract: Salt affected soils are known to occur in vast areas of the arid and semi arid regions of the world. Reports indicated that nearly 11million hectare of soils in Ethiopia is salt affected and Abundance of soil with saline sodic property in Amibara irrigated farms is becoming a threat to crop productivity. As part of the solution to such problem soils, combine application of gypsum and farmyard manure has not been investigated well in the area. Therefore study was conducted at Werer ...
Abstract: Production and productivity of common bean is decreased mainly by soil fertility depletion, inappropriate rate of poor nutrients availability and application without soil test, and inefficient crop response. Crop specific fertilizer recommendation is necessary for sustainable crop production. Accordingly, a field experiment was conducted during the main rainy season of 2019 to evaluate the effects of types and rates of blended fertilizers on selected soil chemical properties and yi...
Abstract: Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops produced in Ethiopia. However, its production is low mainly due to low soil fertility and poor soil fertility management practices. Field experiment was conducted during 2019 cropping season in Chencha district, Southern Ethiopia to determine the effect of NPSB rates on wheat yield and yield parameters and assessing the effect of the aforementioned fertilizer on selected soil properties. Treatments used for the field experiment were; ...