Abstract: The study evaluated the effects of soil organic matter amendments on temporal dynamics of populations of A. flavus and antagonistic microbes, and on aflatoxin contamination in groundnut under field conditions in Malawi. The study also investigated the implications of rainfall on populations of the microbes. Treatments included commercial organic fertilizer applied at the rates of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 t ha-1; and farmyard manure at rates of 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 t ha-1, while an untreated pl...
Abstract: Soil fertility depletion in smallholder farms is the fundamental biophysical root cause for declining per capita food production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Climate change exacerbates the problem of poor soil health. The combined use of mineral and organic fertilizers in ways that are adaptable to local conditions has the potential to achieve efficient nutrient use and result in improved yields for staple food crops. Despite multiple efforts made by the government of Kenya and internati...
Abstract: Vertisols cover large areas which are widely used for agriculture in Ethiopia. The chemical and physical properties of Vertisols are influenced by the type of clay minerals which appears to be mainly smectite, with different proportions of other clays such as kaolinite, illite and vermiculite. Potassium (K), a major plant nutrient with in the soil, exists in different forms. Assessing the fractions of K is important to have knowledge on the supplying power of soil K for plant nutri...
Abstract: This study assessed the impact of Lantana camara invasion on herbaceous species diversity and soil physio-chemical properties in Babile District, Eastern Ethiopia. To collect the vegetation data, 1mx1m plots were laid down in each 60 selected lantana individuals under and outside the cover in four directions. From each plot, a soil sample was taken from 0-15cm depth after removing litter from the soil surface for Soil physiochemical analysis. Three herbaceous species (Panicum color...
Abstract: Parthenium hysterophorus has become a major environmental, social, and economic threats in Ethiopia. Therefore, identification and mapping of suitable habitats and impacts on soil chemical properties are vital to design future management strategies. A total of 36 soil samples were collected from P. hysterophorus invaded and non-invaded sites. A total of 1,352 P. hysterophorus occurrence records and 19 bioclimatic variables were collected from different sources. ANOVA was conducted ...
Abstract: Knowledge about types of soils and the status of their quality is needed for developing sound land use planning and soil management decision for enhancing crop productivity. However, such information is lacking in Kersa sub-watershed in eastern Ethiopia where the current study was conducted. The objectives of this study were, therefore, to 1) characterize and classify soils of the study area, 2) determine soil quality indicators using minimum data set and calculate soil quality ind...
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: Soil characterization, classification and land suitability evaluation are the main information sources for precision agriculture, land use planning and management. However, the fertility status of the soil and sustainable soil management practices that are based on the understanding of soil system are not available for most part of Ethiopia. On the basis of this fact, a study was conducted in Muger sub-watershed, North Shoa zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia to (i) characterize and cl...
Abstract: Coffee plantation with shade trees is important to improve soil health, increase coffee production, sustain and restore agroecology and nature based agroforestry practices. The study was conducted on farmers’ fields in Golelcha District of East Arsi Zone, Ethiopia. The study was intended to evaluate the influence of coffee shade trees on growth performance, yield and quality of coffee (Coffea arabica L.), to characterize selected soil physicochemical ix properties under the canop...
Abstract: Soil acidity, which is associated directly with deficiency of nutrients like phosphorus (P); nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) and is accompanied by toxicity of aluminium (Al), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) appear to be the major constraint to crop production in western parts of Ethiopia in particular. Therefore, three field experiments were carried out in the acidic soil of Assosa, western Ethiopia, for two years in 2014 and 2015 main growing seasons. Thus, the first experiment was co...
Abstract: Ethnopedological and pedological investigations have been largely centred on agricultural land uses and associated practices. However, indigenous peasants have also relied on soil resources to eke their livelihood in other activities including non-commercial pottery making. Clayey soils, weathered sandstone and other materials are traditionally used in the Kweneng District of Botswana for earthenware pottery. This study bridges the gap in the dearth of information on the pedologica...