Indigenous knowledge and nutritional and morphological characterization of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moecnh) varieties in Western Ethiopia.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moecnh) is a versatile crop that is widely grown in western Ethiopia, despite that it is less researched. This study, therefore, investigates the traditional knowledge, nutritional, and morphological characteristics of two commonly grown okra varieties (Kenketse and Sharma) in west Ethiopia. A semi-structured questionnaire, checklist, and observations were used to collect primary data from households, key informants, and farms. In addition, proximate composition parameters like moisture content, total ash, crude fat, crude protein, crude fiber, utilizable carbohydrates, and gross energy fruits were measured through laboratory analysis. Fruit morphological traits, including fruit dimensions such as length and width, were determined using a digital Vernier caliper. For data analysis, SPSS software was used. The results revealed that the entire plant is used for both food and ethnomedicinal purposes. Curing ailments such as stomach pain, constipation, wound/cut, heart discomfort, back pain, malaria, diarrhea, and amoebae were among the medical benefits of okra. The proximate composition (%) on a dry matter basis of okra fruits differed significantly (p < .05) by cultivar type and drying method. Moisture (3.69%-5.24%), total ash (6.60%-8.01%), crude fat (4.87%-8.58%), crude protein (4.06%-5.23%), crude fiber (12.85%-15.26%), utilizable carbohydrate (56.42%-67.63%), and gross energy contents (326-341 kcal) were the ranges of the various proximate and energy levels. Morphological characteristics of fruit and leaf length, width, and length-to-width ratio varied with cultivar type, where Sharma had more than double the length of Kenketse (70.1 vs. 187.1 mm). Despite being an undervalued native vegetable crop in Ethiopia, the study's findings show that okra is a multipurpose vegetable for promoting human health and ensuring food and nutritional security. Therefore, stepping up its production, marketing, and consumption could help alleviate the food shortage and improve human nutrition and health in the study areas.

Analysis of rainfall and temperature variabilities in Sidama regional state, Ethiopia.

The objective of the study was to examine local-scale fluctuation in precipitation and temperature in selected districts of Sidama regional state. Specifically, it focuses on three districts-Hawassa Zuriya, Wonsho, and Hula-using precipitation and temperature records obtained from the Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS) database which covers the period from 1981 to 2022. Various statistical measures such as mean, standard deviation, as well as coefficient of variation was employed to detect fluctuation. For trend detection, the Mann-Kendall (MK) and Sen's slope tests were also employed. Observations revealed that the average yearly precipitation spatially varied from 1331 mm in Hula, followed by 1275 mm in Wonsho, and 1013 mm at Hawassa Zuriya. Rainfall was bimodal which 53% rains in Kiremt and 33% in Belg season respectively. Annual rainfall show relatively low variability (<20%) for Hula and Wonsho districts, and moderate variability (CV˃20%) for Hawassa Zuriya respectively. The findings also revealed noticeable rising tendencies (p < 0.05) for average temperature across all three agroecosystems over the years under consideration with the highest slope at Hawassa Zuriya (0.038 °C/year), followed by Hula (0.031 °C/year), and Wonsho (0.022 °C/year) respectively. Moreover, both temperature and rainfall exhibited spatial and inter-annual variability. The results of this study necessitate farmers for systematic planning and implementing location specific crop calendar in the context of fluctuating climatic settings. Policy-makers as well as development practitioners can also utilize the finding to better devise and execute plans for adapting and minimizing the effects of climate change.

Growth and marketable yield of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) as affected by bio-slurry and chemical fertilizer application.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of bio-slurry (BS) and chemical fertilizer (CF) application on the growth and yield of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. Parris Iceland Cos). Field experiment consisting of six treatments (100 % BS, 75 % BS + 25 % CF, 50 % BS + 50 % CF, 25 % BS + 75 % CF, 100 % CF and the control) was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that the combined application of BS and CF significantly increased lettuce yield and its constituents at p < 0.05. More specifically, the maximum plant height (31.4 cm), leaf area (4914.5 cm2), and yield (38.34 ton ha-1) were obtained with the combined application of 75 % CF and 25 % BS. Aside from that, yield and its components showed a positive correlation. Using BS alone or in combination with CF could increase lettuce yield while also potentially saving money on CF purchases. Overall, combining CF and BS in a 3:1 ratio could be an optimum rate for growing lettuce in the study area.

Effects of land use types on the depth distribution of selected soil properties in two contrasting agro-climatic zones.

The depth distribution of soil properties are governed by several interacting factors including land use types (LUT) and agro-climate (AgC) factors. Yet, there is little information on the effects of LUT, AgC and their combination on soil properties along depth, which this study aimed to investigate. We collected a total of 36 composite soil samples using the manual percussion of a steel core tube layer by layer vertically up to 30 cm in sites representing both highland and lowlands, and analyzed for selected soil properties. A significant main effects of LUT on the depth distribution of bulk density (BD), Ca, Na, K and Cu, and AgC on soil texture, pH, EC, Ca, Na, K, P, Mn, Fe and Cu were noted. The two-way ANOVA analysis also revealed the significant effects of both LUT and AgC on the depth distribution of BD, Na, K, Cu and EC, reflecting their influences on the paths associated to bio-geo-recycling processes. Compared to crop and forestlands, the average SOC and Fe were lower while EC, CEC, Ca, Na, K, P, Mn and Zn were higher in homegarden located in highland than lowland, possibly the acid nature of the highland soil may make the extractable cations available. SOC was not significantly influenced by AgC, LUT and their interaction effect. Based on the Elemental Enrichment Ratio (EER), the SOC was concentrated in the upper surface soil in forest and cropland located both in highland (1.79, 1.33) and lowland (1.80, 1.57), respectively. The reverse propagation pattern SOC depth distribution in soils under homegarden with EER of 0.7 (highland) ad 0.8 (lowland) showed that implementing such system can accelerate carbon sinking and safely store it in subsoil. Also, diversified species composition associated with respective root architectures in the homegarden system, make it an efficient soil nutrient management, which should be widely promoted.

Effect of bioslurry and chemical fertilizer on the agronomic performances of maize.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of bioslurry (BS) and chemical fertilizer (CF), as a sole BS and CF and their mixed application, on the agronomic performances of maize (Zea mays var. BH- 546). Field experiment was conducted at Hawassa University Research Farm, in the Sidama Region in Ethiopia. The experiment consisted of six treatments, arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Relevant agronomic characteristics were recorded for each plot, from planting to harvest. Results show yield and yield characteristics of maize increased by both sole and combined application of fertilizers compared to no fertilizer application. The combined BS and CF application at the dose of 25% BS +75% CF gave the highest plant height (251.3 cm), grain yield (7.09 t ha-1), biomass yield (24.4 t ha-1) and stover yield (11.5 t ha-1). The agronomic performances generally increased with increasing proportion of chemical fertilizer in the combined application until the proportion of bio-slurry reaches 75%. Moreover, the combined application generally tended to increase the agronomic performance better than the sole application of both BS and CF. In addition to improving the agronomic performances; both sole BS and its combination with CF reduce the cost of chemical fertilizers. In conclusion, the combined BS and CF application at the dose of 25% BS +75% CF appears an optimal combination and rate for the production of maize in the study area. Yet, as this finding is only one season, further studies determining the optimum dose of sole BS, sole CF, and combined CF and BS for improved maize agronomic performance is commendable in future research.

Technical Potential of Biogas Technology to Substitute Traditional Fuel Sources and Chemical Fertilizers and Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The Case of Arba-Minch Area, South Ethiopia.

A study was conducted in South Ethiopia with the aim of assessing the technical potential of biogas energy in replacing traditional bioenergy and chemical fertilizers and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. A household survey with both a quantitative and qualitative approach was employed for data collection. Primary data were gathered from 182 biogas adopters as well as 10 key informants and three group discussions. Secondary data were also collected from different sources. The average biogas production potential of installed biogas plants was 205 m3 per day. The average reduction in use of firewood, charcoal, dung cakes, and crop residues due to biogas adoption was 66%, 72%, 68%, and 89%, respectively. The use of bio-slurry as an organic fertilizer reduced the quantity of chemical fertilizers used by more than 50% per household per year. The reduction in the quantity of biofuel consumption reduced the volume of greenhouse gas emissions by 418 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per household per year. If the reduced firewood and charcoal use reduced the felling of live trees, this could potentially conserve 45 ha of forest per household per year. Therefore, biogas energy could help reduce the anthropogenic pressure on forest resources by addressing the major drivers of deforestation and forest degradation.

Biogas technology in fuelwood saving and carbon emission reduction in southern Ethiopia.

Most rural communities in developing countries, rely heavily on traditional biomass for cooking and lighting. Furthermore, a large area of forest land has been changed to other land-use types like agricultural land is becoming a serious problem in Wondo Genet district. This situation largely contributed to deforestation and forest degradation. Hence, assessing the efficiency of adopting an alternative source of energy was found to be very important. This study was carried out to examine the role of biogas technology in fuelwood saving and carbon emission reduction in Wondo Genet district, southern Ethiopia. The multi-stage sampling procedure was followed to select sample households. A total of 152 households (54 adopters and 98 non-adopters) were involved in the household survey. Moreover, 25 test subjects were taken randomly from both adoption categories to conduct Kitchen Performance Test. Descriptive statistics and independent-sample t-test were used to analyze the data. Results showed that the major fuel sources for domestic use were plantation forest, natural forest, crop residue, and animal dung, accounting 46.71 %, 30.92 %, 15.13 %, and 7.24 %, respectively. Among the 54 sampled biogas plants, 32 (59.26 %) were a digester size of 6 m3 whereas the remaining 22 (40.74 %) were of 8 m3. The annual fuelwood saving potential of the technology was found to be 1423.06 kg with an emission reduction potential of 2.1 tons of CO2 e per biogas plant annually. Accordingly, all functional biogas plants were estimated to reduce about 91.63 tons of carbon emission annually. Generally, the biogas was found to be a promising technology in combating the pressure on forest resources and mitigating climate change. Therefore, the energy sector of the country should encourage households to adopt biogas plants that have more than 8 m3 digester size to improve the fuelwood and carbon emission reduction potential.