Agricultural Production In Ethiopia Research Articles

Assessing the Spatial Distribution, Condition, and Intensity of Soil Acidity for Informed Management Decisions in the Semen Aari District of Ari Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia

Soil acidity poses a significant challenge to agricultural productivity in Ethiopia's highlands, particularly affecting the Semen Ari district in the Ari zone. The common practice of applying agricultural lime to mitigate soil acidity is hampered by a lack of detailed information on the extent, severity, and spatial distribution of acidic soils. This study aims to determine how soil acidity varies spatially by identifying and mapping the specific geographic patterns of soil acidity levels in the Semen Ari district. Seventy-one composite soil samples from the 0–20 cm layer were geo-referenced and analyzed. Using statistical analysis and ArcGIS software for spatial interpolation through ordinary kriging, soil pH ranged from 3.29 to 5.68, classifying 99% of the soils as strongly acidic. The root mean squared error (RMSE) of the interpolation was 0.30. Soil pH showed a significant negative correlation with exchangeable acidity but a non-significant negative correlation with organic carbon and total nitrogen. The results highlight the need for targeted soil management strategies, such as appropriate lime application rates and the cultivation of acid-tolerant crops, to enhance crop yields. Further research is recommended to include comprehensive soil property datasets to better understand the factors influencing soil pH variability, thus supporting more precise management of acidic soils in the region. The generated high-resolution soil acidity map serves as a valuable tool for agricultural planning and decision-making.

Small-scale farmers perception, adaptation choices to climate change and existing barriers: Evidence from northern Ethiopia

Climate change continues to significantly impact agricultural production in Ethiopia that have encountered several environmental problems in recent decades. The study site is one of the areas vulnerable to climate change and influenced by climate variability. This study intends to identify small-scale farmers’ adaptation options, their perception and existing barriers in northern Ethiopia. It is based on an analysis of cross-sectional data collected from 193 randomly selected farm household heads. A multivariate probit model was employed to analyze the factors influencing farmers’ climate change adaptation choices. Constraint Facing Index (CFI) technique was also constructed to identify the existing barriers. The findings indicate that a significant number of farmers (91.2%) reported a trend toward rising temperatures. Similarly, 86.01% of the farmers indicated that the perceived rainfall trend has decreased. Adjusting planting dates (56.5%), integrated soil fertility management practices (47.7%), early maturing crop varieties (53.4%), terracing for soil and water conservation (54.9%), and income diversification (55.4%) were the most common climate change adaptation options practiced by farm households in the study area. Some of these adaptation options have significant and complementary relationships. The farmer’s choice of adaptation option was highly constrained by institutional factors and all these identified factors can be possibly addressed through a better institutional service provision system, for a better farm-level adaptation while considering demographic characteristics as well.

Soil properties and nutrient uptake of maize (Zea mays) as influenced by mixed manure and blended inorganic fertilizer in Haramaya district, eastern Ethiopia

The deteriorating state of soil fertility and low agricultural productivity in Ethiopia can be traced to the lack of equivalent consideration given to the soil's biological, chemical, and physical properties. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of mixed manure and blended nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and boron (NPSB) fertilizer on phosphorus adsorption, and other properties of Vertisols, nutrient uptake, and growth performance of maize. The study findings indicate that the combined application of mixed manure and blended NPSB significantly reduced soil pH from 7.87 to 7.68, phosphorus adsorption efficiency from 93 to 88.5 %, and Freundlich adsorption capacity from 194 to 100.75 mg kg−1 , intensity from 1.96 to 1.27 compared to control. However, combined application of these two treatments significantly increased the organic carbon from 0.81 to 1.64 %, total nitrogen from 0.04 to 0.13 %, and available phosphorus from 6.96 to 73.82 g kg−1. The study further revealed that mixed manure and blended NPSB resulted in significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher contents of nitrogen and phosphorus in the maize leaves as well as their uptake compared to their sole application and control. The highest values of these parameters were observed in plots treated with a combined application of 15 t ha−1 mixed manure with each rate of 100 and 150 kg ha−1 blended NPSB. Additionally, the maize plant height (p ≤ 0.05) and above-ground biomass (p ≤ 0.01) also exhibited significant increase. Compared to the control and full dose of NPSB, all the treatments that received a combined application of 15 t ha−1 mixed manure with blended NPSB ranging from 50 to 150 kg ha−1 resulted in significantly higher above-ground biomass of maize. The results suggest that the combined use of mixed manure and blended NPSB could be a practical and effective approach to improve soil properties and maize above-ground biomass yield.

Spatial assessment of soil resources on different land uses and slope gradient as a planning tool, in Ferenjua watershed, Ethiopia

Soil erosion, land degradation and climate change are the major environmental threats attributed to low agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. To reduce soil erosion and restore degraded lands, integrated soil and water conservation interventions have been implemented. However, the impacts of the intervention measures were not sufficiently studied due to the lack of baseline information. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate and understand the current conditions of biophysical resources in Ferenjua watershed, which is located in Gondar zuria district. In this study, more emphasis was given to the levels of total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorous (P), organic matter (OM), bulk density (BD), pH, moisture, texture and soil erosion. To collect the biophysical data, the watershed was divided into 144 grid-based sampling points with a resolution of 250 m by 250 m. In addition, the data were collected in 8 representative profile pits. Three primary land uses were identified from supervised land use and land cover classification and described as cultivated land (55.08 %), forestland (30.80 %), and grassland (14.12 %). Erosion hotspot map shows that >40 % of the watershed is moderately and highly susceptible to soil erosion. The highest BD (1.36 gm cm−3) was observed at Vertisols-dominated cultivated lands located in the flatlands, whereas, the lowest BD (1.28 gm cm−3) was observed under forestland. Regarding the results of TN, P, and OM, >60 % of the watershed was classified as having low to very low soil nutrient levels. Consequently, development interventions should be considered to restore degraded lands for the sustained use of resources in the watershed.

How agricultural credit and subsidies impact agricultural productivity in Ethiopia: Empirical evidence using ardl model

How agricultural credit and subsidies impact agricultural productivity in Ethiopia: Empirical evidence using ardl model

Agricultural lime value chain efficiency for reducing soil acidity in Ethiopia

Soil acidity is challenging agricultural production in Ethiopia. Above 43% of the farmland is under soil acidity problem and it leads to low crop yields and production losses. Ag-lime is widely considered as an effective remedy for amending soil acidity. This study assesses the current structure of ag-lime value chain and its functionality focusing on central parts of Ethiopia where lime is produced and channeled to acidity affected areas. The study uses Ethiopia as a case study and applies qualitative methods such as key informant interviews and focus group discussions to collect data from different actors in the ag-lime value chain. Key findings indicate that both public and private ag-lime producing factories are operating below their capacity. Due to limited enabling environments, the engagement of private sector in ag-lime value chain is minimal. In addition, farmers have a good awareness of soil acidity problem on their farms, and its causes and mitigation strategies in all regions. However, the adoption of ag-lime by smallholders was minimal. Overall, the current structure of the ag-lime value chain appears fragmented and needs improvement. Addressing soil acidity challenge through efficient ag-lime value chain could narrow lime supply-demand mismatches and increase widespread adoption by farmers to enhance crop productivity and food security in acidity-prone areas of the country.

Effect of lime rates and method of application on soil properties of acidic Luvisols and wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) yields in northwest Ethiopia

Soil acidity has become a major constraint that threatens sustainable agricultural production in Ethiopia. This study was conducted to evaluate effects of lime rates and application methods on selected soil properties and wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) yields on acidic Luvisols of northwestern Ethiopia. The treatments included control, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 t ha−1 lime drilled along the seed rows and 2, 3, 6 and 12 t ha−1 lime applied in broadcasting method. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Lime rates applied for this experiment were quantified using exchangeable acidity and Buffer pH methods. To analyze selected soil properties, composite soil samples were collected immediately before sowing and after harvest. Results revealed that liming significantly increased soil pH, available phosphorus, and exchangeable bases but markedly reduced exchangeable Al3+ contents. The lime rates determined by buffer pH method were greater in ameliorating soil acidity, increasing soil nutrients status and crop yields than exchangeable acidity. Besides, lime application along the row was better in overcoming soil acidity constraints and increasing crop yields compared to broadcast application. Application of 12 t ha−1 lime in the broadcasting method, 3 t ha−1 and 2 t ha−1 lime drilling along the row increased wheat grain yield by 65.10, 49.80 and 27.05%, respectively, compared to the control. Likewise, partial budget analysis showed that the highest net benefit (51,537 Birr ha−1) was obtained from plots amended with 3 t ha−1 lime while the lowest economic profit (31,627.5 Birr ha−1) was recorded from treatments that received 12 t ha−1 lime. Thus, we concluded that application of 3 t ha−1 lime in row is a promising practice to mitigate soil acidity and increase available nutrients, exchangeable bases and crop yields in the study area and similar soil types elsewhere.

Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria, Forskl) distribution, biology, management and its impact on agricultural production in Ethiopia: A review

Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria, Forskl) is considered to be one of the most serious pests that cause a devastating amount of damage to crops and other agricultural products during the invasion. It is considered as the most dangerous migratory pest among the locust species because of its ability to reproduce rapidly, migrate long distances and devastate crops. Desert Locust has the largest distribution area, which extends from West Africa through the Middle East to East Asia. Eastern Africa has seen an upsurge of Desert locusts, spreading across several countries at rates not seen in decades. The consequences of Desert locust invasions can be disastrous for both the food security and livelihoods of the rural populations in affected areas. The invasions can result in the abandoning of crops and rural migrations. Damage can be considerable on all types of crops: annual rain-fed crops as well as perennial crops, tree cultivation, and irrigated crops which are even more sensitive since they are exposed throughout the year. Desert locusts invaded major areas in the Somali, Afar, Oromiya, Tigray and Amhara regions of Ethiopia regularly. The swarms of Desert locust also moved south across the Shebelle River in southeastern Ethiopia into the Juba River basin. Despite the recent and further possible Desert locust invasion in Ethiopia, there are no more systematic reviews conducted to assess the details on the invasion, impact on crop production and its possible control measures. Therefore the objective of this review is to highlight the invasion, Ecology, Biology, impact on crop production and control measures of Desert locusts.

Neki aspekti političkih i ekonomskih odnosa Jugoslavije i Etiopije od 1975. do 1990.

The Non-Aligned Movement formed the backbone of Yugoslavia’s foreign policy during the Cold War. As one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement, Yugoslavia sought to maintain, as much as possible, a balance within the Movement, which encompassed countries with differing political affiliations and systems, some of which had close relations with the opposing blocs led by the USA or USSR. After the Ethiopian revolution of 1974, which overthrew Emperor Haile Sellasie, the country was led by the Derg, a junta officially known as the Provisional Military Administrative Council, which was in 1977 taken over by a Marxist-ideological current led by Mengistu Haile Meriam, who openly showed sympathy for the Soviet bloc. The Ogaden War between Ethiopia and Somalia in 1977-1978 would prove to be a turning point in Ethiopia’s foreign policy, which moved toward closer political and economic cooperation with the USSR and Cuba. Closer ties to Cuba was a particular concern for Yugoslavia, due to Cuba’s desire to impose itself as the leader of the Non-Aligned Movement and thus turn the balance of political forces within the Movement to its advantage. In this paper we want to explore political and economic relations between Ethiopia and Yugoslavia, including economic relations between the Socialist Republic of Croatia and Ethiopia, from 1975, when a new revolutionary Ethiopian diplomatic delegation came to Yugoslavia to continue Ethiopian-Yugoslavian relations, and ending in 1990, with the disintegration of Yugoslavia and socialist systems in general, when the Yugoslav role in the Non-Aligned Movement slowly eroded. The paper will also present the joint Yugoslav-Ethiopian project Nekemte, which was implemented during the 1980s and aimed at showcasing methods to increase agricultural production in Ethiopia.

Review on the role of soil and water conservation practices on soil properties improvement in Ethiopia

Soil erosion is one of several major deterioration processes which result in soil degradation and declining agricultural productivity in Ethiopia due to the dense population, high livestock density, and intensive crop production in the area. Soil and water conservation practices are one of the mechanisms used to reduce erosion and associated nutrient loss, reducing the risk of production. Therefore, the review focuses on the importance of soil and water conservation practices on soil properties in Ethiopia. Several studies conducted in various parts of the country showed that the implemented soil bund reduced annual runoff and soil loss at different rates. Soil and water conservation have improved the soil Physico-chemical properties on conserved cropland (BD, SMC, pH, CEC, av. K, av. P, SOC, and TN) compared to the adjacent cropland without soil and water conservation measures. Soil and water conservation, reduce the removal of fertile topsoil and improves soil moisture, which favors crop growth as a result grain yield of the crops was increased. In general, the use of soil and water conservation strategies had clearly shown a positive impact on soil physico-chemical properties and crop yields. Therefore, to reduce soil erosion sustainably, different soil and water conservation options should be introduced and used considering agroecology, socio-economic profile, and climatic condition of the intervention area.

Soil and Water Conservation Nexus Agricultural Productivity in Ethiopia

Soil and water conservation practices contribute to long-term agricultural sustainability and sustainable agriculture. This review examines the primary agronomic practices and their role in soil and water conservation. The review revealed that Ethiopia's significant agronomic soil and water conservation practices are strip cropping, mixed cropping, intercropping, fallowing, mulching, contour plowing, crop rotation, preservation of tillage, and agroforestry. A significant difference was found between conserved and nonconserved land in terms of soil chemical and physical properties, soil organic matter, total N, available phosphorous (P), bulk density, infiltration rate, and soil texture. The non-conserved land had lower soil organic matter, total N, and infiltration rate with higher bulk density, clay content, and available P. Soil organic matter content positively correlated with infiltration rate and total N, and it negatively correlated with soil bulk density. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) positively correlated with soil pH and available P. The undulating lands were moderately suitable for rain fed agriculture. The plant canopies, litter, and mulching intercept rain by decreasing the amount, intensity, and spatial distribution of the precipitation reaching the soil surface, protecting the soil surface from the direct impact of raindrops that can cause splash and sheet erosion. In soil and water conservation, this practice is higher than others because crops and leguminous woody perennials improve and enrich soil conditions through atmospheric nitrogen fixation, organic matter through litterfall and dead and decaying roots, nutrient cycles, modification of soil porosity, and contribution to infiltration rates. It also relieves and maintains salinity, alkalinity, acid, and water retention problems. To increase the water table and increase soil moisture, water conservation is based on trapping as much of this water as possible and storing it on the surface (intanks) or allowing it to sink into the soil. Even where storage pans are dug, they are small and cannot keep the premises afloat when the drought lasts for days, as they have done recently. It is strongly recommended that the productivity of soil and water conservation measures is promoted through an integrated approach in which farmers are intensively involved in every implementation stage.

Vertisols in the Ethiopian Highlands: Interaction between Land Use Systems, Soil Properties, and Different Types of Fertilizer Applied to Teff and Wheat

Vertisols are among the most extensive soil types in the Ethiopian highlands, occurring in a wide range of agro-ecological zones where complex crop–livestock-based farming systems are practiced. Sustainable soil management on vertisols always meets with physical characteristics that are driven by clay mineralogy, swelling, shrinking, and risk of temporary waterlogging. The latter causes substantial spatial variability and turns vertisols into obnoxious study material, when compared to other soil classification orders. In this study, we have explored soil properties across different farming systems using soil profile and analytical data generated by the CASCAPE project; an action research project funded by the Dutch government for capacity building on the scaling up of evidence-based best practices for increased agricultural production in Ethiopia. In addition, the effects of variations in vertisol properties on crop yield and fertilizer response were examined through fertilizer trials in different locations. Teff (Eragrostis teff Zucc.) and wheat (Triticum aestivium), the two cereal crops commonly grown on vertisols, were used as test crops. Five treatments of NPSZnB—nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur, zinc and boron containing blend (50, 100, 150, 200 and 300 kg/ha)—and two treatments comparing NPS and diammonium phosphate (DAP) with the blend containing Zn and B were included in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results revealed that soil quality was generally poor under the highland cereal systems, i.e., sorghum–teff–livestock mixed system (FS1) and wheat–maize–teff–barley–livestock system (FS2) compared to the enset–coffee–cereal–livestock complex system (FS3), which cannot only be attributed to geological history, but also to the way the land use systems have shaped the soils. The emerging differences in soil properties significantly (p < 0.01) affected crop yields. The soil properties that had the largest influence on teff and wheat yield were soil pH, organic carbon (OC), available sulfur (S), exchangeable potassium (K) and some micronutrients (B, Fe, Mn and Cu). Teff grain and biomass yield were inversely related, unlike wheat. Regarding the rate of fertilizer application, wheat responded significantly up to the highest level (300 kg/ha), but teff yield leveled off earlier. The blend fertilizers did not perform any better than NPS or DAP alone. Given the extent and the importance of vertisols in Ethiopian agriculture, comprehensive future outlooks are needed, including the options for cluster farming and mechanization to realize economies of scale and more efficient use of capital and labor inputs.

Effects of Combined Application of Compost and Mineral Fertilizer on Soil Carbon and Nutrient Content, Yield, and Agronomic Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize-Potato Cropping Systems in Southern Ethiopia

Low nutrient input and low soil fertility are limiting agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. The main objectives were therefore to evaluate the effects of combined compost and mineral fertilizer (MF) application on soil properties, yield, agronomic nitrogen use efficiency, and adoption of compost application in maize (Zey mays L.)—potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cropping systems. Yield data were collected from 20 smallholders applying (i) compost and MF at a total rate of 110 kg N ha−1, with 6 Mg compost ha−1 + MF (6CF), 12 Mg compost ha−1 + MF (12CF), and 16 Mg compost ha−1 + MF (16CF; compost on a fresh weight basis), (ii) MF application of 108 kg N ha−1 (F), and (iii) zero fertilization. Soil from 0–20 and 20–40 cm depths was collected from 16 farms using compost and MF. Compost + MF treatments showed significantly lower soil bulk density and iron contents, while pH, electrical conductivity, and cation exchange capacity were higher compared to F treatments. The 6CF, 12CF, and 16CF showed 22, 43, and 54% higher maize grain yield and 8, 16, and 18% higher potato tuber yield compared to F, respectively. The scarcity of organic material was a major socioeconomic constraint for smallholders for producing and applying compost.

Maize Output Supply Response to Climatic and other Input Variables in Ethiopia

Climate change is among the major challenges to sustainable agricultural production in Ethiopia. Production of cereal crops, especially maize, is very responsive to changes in rainfall and temperature, as climatic parameters influencing productivity. This paper analyzes how climatic and other variables affect the supply of maize in Ethiopia. The data were obtained from secondary sources and cover the period 1981–2018. Data were analyzed using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach. The Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Schwarz Information Criterion (SIC), and Hannan-Quinn Information Criterion (HQ) were used to select the optimum number of lags. In order to detect whether unit root is present in the series, Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and Philips-Perron (PP) tests were carried out. The presence of long-run equilibrium was found between maize output and temperature, rainfall, and other included variables. The results show that, in both the long and shortrun, all included climatic variables had a negative relationship with maize output supply, although temperature showed statistical insignificance (P>0.10). The result showed that maize crops are highly sensitive to extremes of rainfall – both shortage in the initial growing period and excessin the vegetative and fruiting stages. It was concluded that farmers face climate-related risk due to variations, particularly in rainfall. Therefore, farmers should adapt by using short-duration and climate-tolerant varieties of maize, along with engagement with eco-friendly production systems.

Soil and Water Conservation Measures in Ethiopia: Importance and Adoption Challenges

Soil and water are under immense pressure due to ever increasing population thereby ensuing growing demand for food, fiber and shelter. Soil erosion is one of the several major deteriorative processes which results in soil degradation and declining agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. Thus, several efforts to control soil erosion through introduced soil and water conservation measures had been conducted in different time and location in the country. A number of soil and water conservation methods were introduced to combat land degradation, but adoption of these practices did not achieve the target. Different soil and water conservation measures and farmer’s adoption barriers on these conservation measures had been reviewed here. Literature indicated that soil and water conservation measures have promising effects on reducing soil loss, retaining nutrient and soil moisture, improving soil physical and chemical properties. But an intensive labour requirement, poor design, reduced land size and other biophysical and socioeconomic factors discourage farmer’s adoption of soil and water conservation structures. The involvement of Farmers and strengthen extension workers as well as mainstreaming soil and water conservation activity in any agricultural development project has a vital role in these resource conservations.

Soil and Water Conservation Measures in Ethiopia: Importance and Adoption Challenges: Review

Soil and water are under immense pressure due to ever increasing population thereby ensuing growing demand for food, fiber and shelter . Soil erosion is one of the several major deteriorative processes which results in soil degradation and declining agricultural productivity in Ethiopia . Thus, several efforts to control soil erosion through introduced soil and water conservation measures had been conducted in different time and location in the country. A number of soil and water conservation methods were introduced to combat land degradation but adoption of these practices did not achieve the target. Different soil and water conservation measures and farmer's adoption barriers on these conservation measures had been reviewed here. Literature indicated that soil and water conservation measures have promising effects on reducing soil loss, retaining nutrient and soil moisture, improving soil physical and chemical properties. But an intensive labour requirement, poor design, reduced land size and other biophysical and socioeconomic factors discourage farmer's adoption of soil and water conservation structures. The involvement of Farmers and strengthen extension workers as well as mainstreaming soil and water conservation activity in any agricultural development project has a vital role in these resource conservations. Keywords : Agricultural production, farmers adoption, moisture and nutrient retention DOI: 10.7176/JNSR12-2-01 Publication date: January 31 st 2021

Soil Acidity Challenges to Crop Production in Ethiopian Highlands and Management Strategic Options for Mitigating Soil Acidity for Enhancing Crop Productivity

Soil degradation is the primary restriction affecting many developing countries' agricultural systems. Ethiopia is a developing country in horn Africa that is severely challenged by soil degradation issues. The main processes of soil deterioration are acidification and salinization. Furthermore, soil acidity is one of the primary reasons obstructing and preventing lucrative and sustainable agricultural productivity in many African countries as well as many other regions of the world. Soil acidity problems have hampered sustainable agricultural productivity in practically all productive areas in Ethiopia. The main goal of the seminar is to highlight the problems of soil acidity to agricultural production in Ethiopia's highlands, as well as management strategies for alleviating soil acidity and increasing crop output. Soil acidity affects over half of Ethiopia's arable land. Strong acid soils cover more than half of the arable land affected by soil acidity. Researchers discovered two primary reasons that limit acidic soil fertility: the presence of phytotoxicity substances and nutrient shortage. Numerous strategic soil acid management plans have been created to address these issues in the country's highlands.. Several studies have been undertaken on soil management, which influences the physiochemical qualities of the soil and crop productivity in various ways. Thus, the primary goal of this seminar is to emphasize various literatures on the ideas of soil acidity, its causes and extents in highland areas of the country, as well as its impacts on soil and crop productivity through strategic management strategies. Many findings suggested that liming and ISFM improved soil physiochemical parameters such as soil texture, pH, accessible P, exchangeable acidity, organic carbon, exchangeable cation, cation exchange capacity, and crop yield and productivity.

Review of Soil Erosion Risk For Soil and Water Conservation Planning Under Ethiopian Condition

Soil erosion is one of the major factors affecting sustainability of agricultural production in Ethiopia. This paper reviews Ethiopia’s experience and research progress in soil erosion risk for Soil and Water Conservation planning. In most findings conducted at Ethiopian watershed possibilities of high soil lose and risk was reported. Their findings revealed that the study areas are facing different problems such that forest transformation, which is very likely intensified by the demand for subsistence agricultural land. Most of the parts of these watersheds have experienced intensive soil erosion behavior, which is beyond the tolerable soil loss level. This threatens the annual crop production and the productivity of the land impacting the local farmers’ food security. Analysis of a compilation of soil loss rates due to sheet and rill erosion at plot and catchment scales indicates that this soil degradation process varies strongly spatially, with a mean soil loss 29.9 t ha −1 yr −1.The highest rates were observed in Anjeni (110 t ha −1 yr −1) and Chemoga (102 t ha −1 yr −1) of the Upper Blue Nile Basin. Studies in the northern Ethiopian highlands and the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia reported larger erosive power of rainfall as compared to elsewhere in the world.FAO (1986) estimated of gross annual soil loss nationwide of 1.9 × 10 9 t of which 80% originates from croplands. Hurni (1988) estimated a nationwide annual gross soil loss of 1.5 × 109 t, extrapolating data obtained from six SCRP research stations in which the highest loss is from croplands (42 t ha −1 yr −1 ). Sonneveld et al. (2011) provided a tentative nationwide mean annual soil loss map combining the results of different model estimates. They stated that soil loss varies remarkably from 0 t ha −1 yr −1 in the eastern and southeastern parts of Ethiopia to more than 100 t ha −1 yr −1 in the northwestern part of the country. Hence, review on identifying and prioritizing erosion susceptible areas for soil conservation measures are quite essential. Reviewing or quantifying the effects of the soil loss helps to substantiate investment in sustainable land management for the benefits to land users. Appropriate soil conservation measures bring economic advantages to the land users. Review on amount of soil loss and the status of the existing soil conservation measures can be realistic for farmers and policy makers if expressed in terms of understandable value.

Modelling spatial and temporal soil organic carbon dynamics under climate and land management change scenarios, northern Ethiopia

AbstractSoil organic carbon (SOC) depletion is a threat for the present and future agricultural production in Ethiopia. Hence, investigation of the influence of land management and climate change on SOC is required to facilitate climate change mitigation practices. For this study, croplands of the Atsela‐Sesat and Ayba sites from the Alaje district and the Tsigea site from the Raya Azebo district in northern Ethiopia were selected. The RothC model was used to predict future SOC trends and evaluate impacts of climate and land‐management change scenarios on SOC stocks. The RothC model was run for two scenarios, (i) business as usual (scenario 1) and (ii) improved crop residue and manure management (scenario 2), to predict SOC stock changes in the cropland under current and future climate change. The current SOC content and SOC stock of the croplands are 14.4 g kg−1 and 26.7 t ha−1 in Atsela‐Sesat, 14.8 g kg−1 and 27.9 t ha−1 in Ayba and 14.8 g kg−1 and 26.9 t ha−1 in Tsigea, respectively. The RothC model‐predicted SOC accumulation for this century in scenario 1 was 0.26 t C ha−1 in Alaje and 0.18 t C ha−1 in Raya Azebo, whereas in scenario 2 it was 0.52 t C ha−1 in Alaje and 0.36 t C ha−1 in Raya Azebo. Although the predicted SOC accumulation in scenario 2 is higher than in scenario 1 and the baseline scenario, it still has a decreasing trend due to climate change. However, the organic carbon return into the soil is generally small and thus it will not be possible to improve soil productivity and attain food security. Therefore, future soil fertility strategies need to include both organic and inorganic fertilizer application. These findings will help to assist land managers to make informed decisions during land‐management practices to mitigate the impacts of climate change.Highlights Land management and climate changes influence cropland SOC stocks in northern Ethiopia RothC model predicts future SOC trends and dynamics Appropriate land management increased SOC accumulation and reduced impacts of climate change Findings help to assist land managers to make informed decisions to mitigate climate change impacts

Technical Efficiency of Agricultural Production in Ethiopia

Farmers faced low productivity due to lack of knowledge on maximizing level of output at the given level of inputs. Technical efficiency of agricultural production in the Ethiopia were assessed by using cross-sectional secondary data collected from Ethiopia socioeconomic survey in 2015/16 production year. Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production function model was used to estimate technology and determinants of technical inefficiency simultaneously using the maximum likelihood estimator (MLN). MLN estimation results showed that increasing input use like area, seed, oxen, fertilizer and labor would increase yield of agricultural production. The coefficients of elasticity for area, seed, oxen, fertilizer and labor were 0.21, 0.29, 0.38, 0.12 and 0.10 respectively. Consequently, agricultural production exhibits increasing return to scale because the sums of input elasticity’s were greater than one which is 1.1. The mean technical efficiency of farmers in the agricultural production was about 36%. The implication is that there is an opportunity to increase output on average by 64% through efficient use of inputs given the current input use and technology. The discrepancy ratio gamma (γ) which measures the relative deviation of output from the frontier due to inefficiency was about 86 percent indicating that about 86% of variation in agricultural production among the farmers was attributed to technical inefficiency effects. Thus, it is possible to improve technical efficiency through better use of these factors. Keywords: Technical efficiency, Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier and Smallholders. DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/10-5-05 Publication date: March 31 st 2020