Bale Highlands Research Articles

Economic Analysis of Potato Production in Bale Highlands, South-eastern Ethiopia

The study was initiated to identify the costs and benefits of economic profitability of potato production and factors affecting potato production at the small-scale farmer's level. This study was conducted in three districts. Purposive and random sampling techniques were applied to select 113 respondents. Primary data was collected directly from the respondent, through interview schedules, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Both descriptive statistics and the econometric model, the Cobb-Douglas production function model were used to analyze collected data. The average age of the sample respondent was 42.75 years, while the average household size was found to be 7 family members. The cost-benefit analysis results imply that potato production is profitable in the study area and farmers produce potatoes to improve their livelihood. The model result shows that amount of seed, fertilizer, and fungicide affect potato output significantly at 1%, 1%, and 5% respectively, while human labor was insignificant. The model result depicts that, 56% of the variations in output of potato production could be explained by the explanatory variables included in the model. The biggest problem or constraint faced by potato producer farmers in the area was the lack of improved variety. Therefore, Agricultural Research Centers should have to release improved variety that is relevant to the needs and desires of smallholder farmers.

Multivariate analysis of morphometric traits of the horse ecotypes reared in highlands of Bale Zone, Ethiopia

This study was conducted to evaluate morphometric traits of horse ecotypes reared in four districts of the Bale highlands, southeastern Ethiopia. Twenty-seven morphometric traits were measured from 500 horses (294 males and 206 females) of both sexes. Data were analyzed using SAS 2012. This study revealed that certain traits, such as head length, loin length, bi-ischial width, and sternum height of horses were similar. However, significant differences (p < 0.0001, p < 0.01, p < 0.05) were observed in other traits across the districts. All traits were affected by age (p < 0.05) except rump width and canon perimeter. All 27 morphometric traits were subjected to STEPDISC analysis, of which 21 had the best discriminating power. The uppermost distances of 32.2 and, 28.8 were reported between the Agarfa and Dinsho and, Agarfa and Sinana horse populations, respectively. Mean separation distance among districts ranges from -1.75 to 3.57, -2.42 to 2.43, and -1.61 to 0.92 for CAN1, CAN2 and CAN3, respectively. The quadratic discriminate function classified 95.2, 94.4, 96.0, and 96.8 % of the sampled horses into source populations of the Dinsho, Agarfa, Sinana, and Goba districts, respectively. In addition, the cross-validation summary revealed reduced consistency of membership among each districts with 5 % average success rates and 4, 8, 4, and 4 % for the Dinsho, Agarfa, Sinana, and Goba districts, respectively. Therefore, the presence of variation in morphometric traits within the Bale Highland horse ecotypes has the potential for selection and further genetic interventions.

Evaluation of Balanced Fertilizer Types and Validation of Soil Fertility Map-Based Fertilizer Recommendation for Bread Wheat Production in Bale Highland Southeastern Ethiopia

The optimal and appropriate fertilizer recommendation packages for all crops considering the improvement in productivity of small-scale farmers in the country. To evaluate the impact of blended fertilizer on wheat output, a field experiment using a five-treatment, three-replicate RCBD design was carried out during the 2020–2023 cropping season at Bale Highland southeastern Ethiopia to evaluate balanced fertilizer types and validation of soil fertility map-based fertilizer recommendation for Bread Wheat production The treatment 1Control (without fertilizer)2 (100 kg/ha-1 Urea )3 (100 kg /ha-1 NPS plus 100 kg of urea)4(100 kg /ha-1 NPSB plus 100 kg of urea) 5(100 kg /ha-1 NPSZnB plus 100 kg of urea). The plot size was 3m by 3 m (9 m2) and the spacing between plots and blocks was 1m and 1m, respectively in comparison to the control, The application of 100 kg ha-1 NPSZnB + 100 kg ha-1 urea in Bale Highland produced the highest and most significant yields of grains (5257.51 kg ha-1) the least amount of grain (3006.51 kg ha-1) in Bale Highland at the same time. To improve the production of wheat in the study area, farmers in Bale Highland must apply NPSZnB, with a similar agroecology.

Watershed-Based Participatory Sustainable Land Management using Integrated physical SWC Measure in Ilasa Watershed of Goba District, Bale Highland South-Eastern Ethiopia

Soil erosion is among the most challenging and continuous environmental problems in the highlands of Bale particularly in Ilasa Watershed of Goba District. Soil erosion which emanates from both anthropogenic and natural causes currently results decline in agricultural productivity, crop production on the other hand increases downstream flooding and reservoir sedimentation, and loss of valuable plant nutrients. Soil and water conservation (SWC) practices have been carried out to solve land degradation and erosion severity problems in the Ilasa Watershed through participatory approaches the objective of this study was to implement integrated physical SWC practices through participatory approach in the Ilasa watersheds; to rehabilitate degraded watershed using different physical SWC measures and to minimize the risk of soil erosion and increasing soil depth by trapping sediment loss from Ilasa watershed. Hence, different participatory integrated watershed management practices were introduced in the Ilasa watershed for five consecutive years to avert the problem of soil erosion. Community participatory in integrated watershed management particularly soil and water conservation measures interventions for degraded rehabilitation and gulley treatment were capacitated through training, practical field works, and researchable materials support. Awareness creation, increasing knowledge and skill of farmers, providing technical and resource supports, and implementing slope based appropriate SWC structure could help sustainable land management that ensures environmental quality and food security in the study area as well as in the other areas having related biophysical and socioeconomic settings. Among the major types of physical SWC structures and gulley rehabilitation structures constructed in the study watershed were soil bund; stone bund; stone-faced soil bund and cut-off drains, gully reshaping and filling, brushwood check dam, loose stone check dame, sandbag check dam ...

Soil Fertility Assessment and Mapping under Different Land Use Types along Toposequence at Danka Watershed in Dinsho Districts of Bale Highland Oromia, Southeastern Ethiopia

Soil fertility assessment and mapping bases, to increase fertilizer usage efficiency, decision-makers, planners, and soil management in undulating slopes farming of Ethiopian highlands like Bale Highland. The study aimed to assess and map soil fertility status along toposequence under different land use types at the Danka watershed of Dinsho District Bale Highland, Southeastern Ethiopia. Following the initial reconnaissance field survey, 54 composite soil samples were prepared from the three land use types (natural forest, grazing, and cultivated) at three slope positions lower (0 - 10%), middle (10 - 15%), and upper (15 - 30%) at a soil depth of 0 to 20 cm. Finally, the laboratory results were interpolated using the IDW interpolation technique in ArcGIS software 10.5 for the soil fertility status map and further analyzed using R software 4.1.1 Version for mean separation. The study findings indicate that the soil texture class of the study was loam to clay loam, clay loam, and clay to clay loam at the upper, middle, and lower slope positions, respectively. The finding revealed that the values varied from 5.81 – 6.66, 2.07 – 6.25%, 0.13 – 0.71%, 2.83 – 17.56 gm/kg, and 14.04 -38.80 cmol (+)/kg) for the soil pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and CEC, respectively. In this study, most of the soil fertility status of the Danka watershed was as follows: natural forest &gt; grassland &gt; cultivated land use types and lower slope &gt; middle slope &gt; upper slope positions. In conclusion, the main factors contributing to the area's declining soil fertility status were monocropping, total crop residue removal, soil erosion, nutrient leaching, and inadequate soil management. The results of the current study offer the basis for the work of farmers, planners, decision-makers, and other agriculture-related stakeholders. Integrated soil fertility management with biophysical soil conservation measures is advisable for cultivated land at all slope positions. Further, a study on slope position-based crop response fertilizer rating for agricultural precision and ensuring food security is recommended in undulating fields of the Danka watershed.

Effects of Slope Position on Soil Physicochemical Properties of Cultivated Land Use Type in Danka Watershed of Dinsho District, Bale Highland, Oromia, Southeast Ethiopia

Quantify and understand soil nutrient loss under different undulating topography farming bases for site-specific management and targeted fertilizer application rates. The study aimed to assess the effect of slope positions on soil physicochemical properties at the Danka watershed of Dinsho District Bale Highland, Southeastern Ethiopia. Consequent to the reconnaissance survey, soil samples were taken from the cultivated land use type in three replications at three different soil depths (0-0, 20-40, and 40-60 cm) and three slope positions (upper, middle, and lower), analyzed follow standard laboratory procedure and further analyzed using R software 4.1.1 version. The results showed soil physicochemical properties were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) influenced by the interaction between slope positions and soil depth. The results of soil physical properties varied from 1.29 -1.73 g cm-3, 2.47 – 2.74 g cm-3, 47.80 - 36.75%, 10.78 – 15.11%, 12.76 – 18.16%, and 4.06 – 8.16% bulk density, particle density, total porosity, FC, PWP, and AWHC, respectively. Selected soil chemical properties varied from 5.91 - 6.45, 0.64 - 3.20%, 0.04 - 0.25%, 1.14 - 5.60 gm/kg, and 10.24 - 37.24 cmol (+)/kg) soil pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and CEC, respectively. The values of exchangeable bases were concentration increased from the upper slope position toward the lower slope position and with increased soil depth. Soil micronutrients were increased with increased slope and decreased with increased soil depth. The lowest slope position had relatively better soil nutrient contents than other slope positions. It is advised that integrated soil fertility management, biophysical soil and water conservation, and slope-based, site-specific fertilizer rating for advance agricultural precision and ensure food security.

Effect of Chemical and Hand weeding Control Methods on Growth Yield Components and Yield of Field Pea in Bale Highlands, Southeastern Ethiopia

Afield experiment was conducted during bona season of 2019/2020 and 2021/2022 at two location Agarfa sub-site and Sinana on station to evaluate the integrated effects of pre-emergence herbicides and hand-weeding on weed control, yield components, yield, and their economic feasibility for cost effective weed control in field pea. The treatments consisted of three dual gold rates (1, 2 and 3 liter per hectares) and three times (0, 1and 2 times hand weeding). The experiment was laid out in a factorial arrangement of RBCD with three replications. Results indicated that Dual-gold 2 liter per hectare supplemented with hand weeding at 25-30 days after crop emergence resulted in the highest grain yield and economic benefit. However, in case labor is constraint and Pre-emergence herbicide is timely available, pre emergence application of Dual-gold 2 liter per hectare should be the alternative to prevent the yield loss and to ensure maximum net benefit for the producers. Thus, the result of this study, it can be tentatively concluded that herbicides application is an integral part of farmer’s pulse crop management in modern agricultural systems.

Phenotypic characterization and seed viability test in ex-situ conserved Ethiopian cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) landraces

BackgroundNowadays, most of the Ethiopian barley landraces had been lost from farmer’s field and exclusively found ex-situ conserved at the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI). Those ex-situ conserved are generally believed to be representative of the original population and possess high genetic diversity and important unique genes that are useful for tackling the various biotic and abiotic stresses in the face of the current climate change. Thus, this research was aimed at testing the performance of 150 ex-situ conserved landraces that had been collected from Arsi and Bale highlands, Southeastern Ethiopia. The landraces were tested at multiple test locations over two years (2021 and 2022).ResultsAll the tested landraces showed a good germination rate regardless of their long storage duration. In addition, performance of all the qualitative traits revealed a varying frequency for each character state. For example, most of the accessions (51.3%) had six kernel row numbers (KRN). All the remaining accessions had two rows (28.7%) and irregular KRN with variable lateral florets (20%). Likewise, some of the quantitative traits considered showed a significant variation among the landraces. However, there observed a significant variation for all the interaction effects in some of the traits considered signifying the importance of considering environment effects while targeting genetic selection and improvement of ex-situ conserved germplasms. The phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) were considerably high to medium in most of the traits considered including seed yield per hectare (SYPH) but with no associated higher genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV). Moreover, all the traits showed a far greater phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) to that of genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV) once again suggesting the pronounced effect of environmental factors to the variation. This was far supported by the significantly higher absolute magnitudes in phenotypic correlation compared to their corresponding genotypic correlation in most of the traits. Low estimates of heritability and genetic advance observed in all the traits considered except seed yield per hectare indicate importance of the trait for selection in Ethiopian barley improvement programs. Clustering patterns of the accessions, in narrow sense, revealed the existence of low divergence among the samples.ConclusionEthiopian barley landraces are promising candidates for further yield improvement and conservation. However, further regular testing and screening should be conducted for the ex-situ conserved landraces because of the current erratic climate change. In addition, more robust molecular marker systems could be used to clearly reveal the extents of genetic diversity and to facilitate the breeding and conservation of Ethiopian barley landraces.

Adoption and intensity use of malt barley technology package by smallholder farmers in Ethiopia: A double hurdle model approach

Ethiopia has an enormous production potential for malted barley due to its ideal agroecology, notably in the central and Bale highlands. However, local production cannot meet the demand for both new and old malt and brewing plants. Millions of dollars have been invested to import malt at the national level. The objective of this study was to investigate the factors that influence smallholder farmers' adoption and level of use of the malt barley technology package. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to choose representative kebeles and households. The study relied on actual data collected from 201 randomly selected barley-producing households. Descriptive statistics and Double Hurdle economic models were used to analyze the data. The descriptive findings show that malt barley varieties and the malt barley technology package were adopted at rates of 0.3 and 0.9, respectively. The Double Hurdle model results reveal that factors such as the household head's age, the total area under cultivation, the availability of information on malt barley production, distance from the main road, participation in the field day program, and membership in the agricultural cooperative all had an effect on smallholder farmers' decisions to adopt and use the malt barley technology package. The recommendation made by this research was to boost farmers' knowledge of malt barley production through training and field trip programs. Organizing smallholder farmers in nearby agricultural cooperatives, as well as ensuring access to roads and public transit for easy access to agricultural inputs and output markets.

Performance Evaluation of Potato Genotypes for Yield, Yield Related Traits in Bale High Lands South Eastern Ethiopia

Potato is an important food security crop in the world spacially for Africa, specifically Ethiopia which ranked 9^th in potato production in Africa. Bale Zone South Eastern Ethiopia is known for potato production both in irrigation and rainfed. Howevere, the productivity of the crop is low due to many factors among which lack of improved potato varieties which were high yeilder and tolerance to potato disease is major. This study was conducted to evaluate potato genotypes for high-yielding, stability and resistance to late blight. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications at three locations (Sinana, Goba and Dinsho districts) for three years. The highest total tuber yield was recorded from genotypes CIP-392640-524 (45.75t/ha^-1) followed by CIP-395114.5 (40.01t/ha^-1) while the lowest total tuber yield was obtained from local checks (25.27t/ha^-1). Result from stability papameters indicated the stability of tested genotypes over the tested environment. The yield performance of genotypes (CIP-392640-524) across environments and yield advantage of genotype over standard checks (Moti) 11.45% with less disease (late blight reaction) and the result from AMMI analysis of variance and stability parameter also indicated the stability of genotype over tested environments. This suggested that the genotypes are promoted to a variety of verification trials for Bale highlands and similar agro-ecologies.

On-farm demonstration of improved field pea varieties in selected districts of bale highlands, Oromiya national regional state, Ethiopia

On-farm demonstration of improved field pea varieties was conducted in Goba, Sinana and Agarfa districts of Bale zone. The main objective of the study was to demonstrate and evaluate recently released Hortu variety along with standard check. The demonstration was under taken on single plot of 10m x 10m area for each variety with row planting, recommended seed rate of 75 kg ha-1 and fertilizer rate of 100 kg ha-1 NPS. Mini-field day involving different stakeholders was organized at each respective site. Yield data per plot was recorded and analysed using descriptive statistics, while farmers’ preference to the demonstrated varieties was identified using focused group discussion and summarized using pair wise ranking methods. The demonstration result revealed that Hortu variety performed better than the standard check Harena variety with an average yield of 36.30 qt ha-1 and 31.42 qt ha-1, respectively. Hortu variety had 15.53% yield advantage over the standard check. Furthermore, farmers selected this variety. Thus, Hortu variety was recommended for further scaling up. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 12(1): 4-7, June 2022

Worm Collection and Characterization of Vermicompost produced using different worm species and waste feeds materials at Sinana on – Station of Bale highland southeastern Ethiopia

Worm Collection and Characterization of Vermicompost produced using different worm species and waste feeds materials at Sinana on – Station of Bale highland southeastern Ethiopia

Pre-extension demonstration of field pea varieties in selected districts of Bale highlands, Oromiya national regional state, Ethiopia

Pre extension demonstration of improved field pea varieties was conducted in Goba, Sinana and Agarfa districts of Bale zone. The main objective of the study was to demonstrate and evaluate recently released (Weyib) variety along with standard check. The demonstration was under taken on single plot of 10mx10m area for each variety with the spacing of 30cm between rows and recommended seed rate of 75kg/ha and fertilizer rate of 100kg/ha NPS. Mini-field day involving different stakeholders was organized at each respective site. Yield data per plot was recorded and analysed using descriptive statistics, while farmers’ preference to the demonstrated varieties was identified using focused group discussion and summarized using pair wise ranking methods. The demonstration result revealed that Weyib variety performed better than the standard check (Tulu shanan variety) with an average yield of 34.47qt/ha, while that of the standard check was27.26qt/ha. Weyib variety had 17.27% yield advantage over the standard check. Thus, Weyib variety was recommended for further scaling up.&#x0D; Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.8(3): 267-271, December 2021

Agro-morphological traits-based genetic diversity assessment in Ethiopian barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) landrace collections from Bale highlands, Southeast Ethiopia

BackgroundCultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the world’s important cereal crops. Ethiopia is claimed to be the centre of origin due to its high phenotypic diversity and flavonoid patterns. It is widely cultivated on subsistence bases and important in supporting the livelihood of local poor. However, the local landraces are currently under threat of severing genetic erosion. Hence, assessing the extents of its genetic diversity is timely in improvement and conservation.Methodology120 representative cultivated barley landraces have been collected from Bale highlands, Ethiopia, and tested at two locations using alpha lattice design. Data were collected on 21 agro-morphometric traits and analysed using MINITAB 19, SAS 9.4 and FigTree v1.4.3.ResultsMost morphotypes in each of the qualitative traits considered and mean performance values in most of the quantitative traits revealed wide range of variations suggesting existence of phenotypic diversity among the landraces. Analysis of variance also showed significant variations among the landraces. All the traits, except days to maturity and plant height showed a significant variation for location and treatment-location interactions revealing the high impact of environmental conditions on the variations. Estimates of the variance components also revealed a wider range of variations in most of the traits considered with eventual medium to low genotypic (GCV), phenotypic (PCV) and genotype–environment coefficients of variation (GECV). Estimates of heritability in broad sense (H2) is low (< 40%) in all the traits except in days to maturity. Grouping of the landraces showed poor geographic areas of collection-based pattern suggesting extensive gene flow among the areas.ConclusionThe landraces evaluated in the present study showed high morphological diversity. However, the effect of environment factor is pronounced and thus, multiple locations and years with large number of samples must be considered to exploit the available genetic-based variations for breeding and conservation of the crop.

Assessment on the Current State of On-Farm Diversity and Genetic Erosion in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Landraces from Bale Highlands, Southeast Ethiopia.

Barley landraces is among the major cereal crops grown in Ethiopian highlands including Bale highlands. However, in recent days, the crop is highly declining to the extents of total loss. This study was, therefore, aimed at assessing the extents of its on-farm diversity and genetic erosion from Bale highlands, Ethiopia. Data were generated from twelve administrative districts and analyzed considering important ecological and genetic erosion models. A total of 25 distinct (at least in naming) barley landraces with varying distribution patterns have been identified in the areas. Landrace richness (R) revealed higher magnitude among all the study districts, the smallest being 2.02 (DMg) and 1.41 (DMn) and considerable range of variations (DMg = 2.02 to 5.02, DMn = 1.41 to 3.17). Among the study districts, Dinsho consisted the highest on-farm diversity estimate (DMg = 5.02, DMn = 3.17) followed by Goba and Sinana (DMg = 4.50 and 3.97; DMn = 2.87 and 2.57 in that order). Estimate of the landrace evenness (E) also showed the highest magnitude (>0.95) except in Agarfa district (0.77). The result suggests potentiality of the areas and wide cultivation of majority of the landraces in the villages. However, nowadays, only 14 landraces are under cultivation and the remaining 11 are totally eroded from the district(s) constituting the highest (56.0%) combined genetic erosion suggesting loss of important agronomic traits and, thus, a major bottleneck for further improvement and conservation plans. Thus, attention should be payed to conserving the landraces for better further use.

Effect of Potassium Fertilizer Rate on Growth, Yield and Yield Related Parameters of ‘Irish Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) at Bale Highlands

Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) is one of the most important food security and cash crops in Ethiopia. However, its productivity is generally low. The low yields of the crop could be attributed to a number of factors among which low soil fertility is an important constraint and there is little information on the type and rates of fertilizers to be applied for optimum production of the crop under different agro-ecological conditions of the country. Therefore, an on-farm experiment was conducted at Dinsho and Sinja, south-eastern Ethiopia, to assess the effect of potassium fertilizer rate on yield and yield related parameters of ‘Irish potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) at Bale Highlands. Factorial combinations of two potato varieties (Ararsa and Moti) and five rates of potassium fertilizer (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 kg K ha-1) were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Analysis of variance showed that the main effects of potassium fertilizer significantly influenced (days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of tuber per plant, number of marketable tuber per plot, marketable tuber yield and total tuber yield) had highly significant (P &lt; 0.01) while non-significant for days to 90% maturity, number of unmarketable tuber per plant and unmarketable tuber yield. An improved varieties Ararsa and Moti were produce the highest marketable tuber yields of 21.23 t ha-1 and 19.50 t ha-1 respectively, with application of 100 kg KCl ha-1 and with the application of recommended rate of NP fertilizer while the lowest marketable yields of 15.01 t ha-1 and 14.96 t ha-1 from Ararsa and Moti Varieties, respectively, were obtained from unfertilized KCl fertilizers treatment, respectively. The economic analysis revealed that the highest net return of (187170 and 169620 ETB ha-1) with marginal rate of return (4764.29 and 1185.71%) were recorded for varieties of Ararsa and Moti respectively, at 100 kg KCl ha-1. Therefore, it can tentatively be concluded that application of 100kg KCl ha-1 and recommended rate of NP fertilizer best to optimum tuber production and economic returns for potato at Bale Highlands.

Effect of Participatory Forest Management (PFM) on Local Community Livelihood in Case of Bale Highlands, South East Ethiopia

Natural forests and their biodiversity have a high importance for the worldwide ecosystem goods and services for the support of livelihoods. Despite the great actual and potential socio-economic and ecological benefits derived from the forest resources in Ethiopia, PFM can sustain the natural resource and the livelihoods at once. FM stakeholders supposed to enjoy some benefits in terms of household opportunities to meet their basic needs. However the government devoted limited right as community does not supposed to make any decision about forest, not enjoying high value benefits and the voice of participants in terms of what to generate from the forest is dictated by experts. This study intended to examine the effect of PFM on local community livelihood. Exploratory and descriptive research methods were applied in selected areas and the roles of Participatory forest management contribution to local livelihood explored. Semi-structured questionnaire, key informant interview and focus group discussion were used for the purpose of socio economic study. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 304 household and one focus group discussion and key informant interview(KII) consisting 12 and 8 members respectively.The collected of livelho‑od contribution of PFM was analyzed using Microsoft excel software and SPSS 20version.The used Paired-t-test and chi-square test analysis of the incomes derived from different forest products before and after PFM as well as between members and non members of PFM revealed a significant difference (p&lt;0.05).Generally the study showed PFM have slightly contributed to the livelihoods of the forest adjacent community. From study result concepts Introduction of improved sheep breeds, Organizing or strengthen saving and credit scheme, use of improved plant and animal varieties of locally adaptable and Promotion of agroforestry and plantations in homesteads was recommended. Keywords: Forest Status, Effect, Livelihood and Participatory Forest Management DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/72-01 Publication date: January 31 st 2021

Characterization of Nutritional and Process Quality of Some Faba Bean Varieties and Advanced Lines Grown at Bale, South Eastern Oromia

Faba bean is said to be poor man’s meat as it is the most important protein source for most of world’s population. Field experiment was carried out at Sinana and sinja site if Goba districts of Bale highland to see the effect of faba bean genotypes and growing environment on some physico-chemical and nutritional qualities of faba bean genotypes. For this experiment, fifteen faba bean genotypes including released and promising lines were evaluated for their physico-chemical quality characterization. From the result it was seen that most quality characters measured have shown significant variation (p<0.05) due to faba bean genotypes. The nutrient contents of the grains of the test genotypes across two testing environments, crude protein vary from (22.43-24.34%), phosphorous (0.62-0.70%), sodium (405-262.31 ppm), potassium (1.77-1.40 gm/100gm), calcium (932.08-830.32 ppm) and hydration potential vary from (2.12 to 2.04%) which fall under high to sufficient nutrient content when compared to nutrient composition of plant material. Genotypes EH07006-51, EH070015-7, EH07006-1 and EH0773-8 have got better quality characters as compared to the released varieties Shallo, Mosisa and the local check. Genotype EH07006-1 is better in percent hydration, Na and K composition as compared to the other test genotypes. From the collected data it is possible to conclude that genotypes EH07006-1, EH07006-51, EH070015-7 and EH0773-8 are better to be selected for the variety verification.

Report on verification of Mogfeen 240EC efficacy on Garlic (Allium sativum L) weeds at Bale zone, South Eastern Ethiopia

Garlic Herbicide verification trial was conducted at Goba and Sinana districts of Bale highlands south eastern Ethiopia. CBD was used for this experiment. Mogfeen 240EC herbicide was verified by SARC at on station and Goba in 2018 Gena season.

POWDERY MILDEW (ODIUM LINI) AND PASMO (SEPTORIA LINICOLA) COMBINED EFFECT ON YIELD, YIELD COMPONENTS OF LINSEED (LINUM USITATISSIMUM L.)

Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) has been traditional oil crop of Ethiopia and it is the third most important oilseeds in the higher altitudes. It is the leading oil crop in Bale highlands in terms of its area of production and productivity. Regardless of the potential for linseed production; diseases are the major yield limiting factors in Ethiopia. Pasmo (Septoria linicola) and powdery mildew (Odium lini) are among the most important diseases associated with linseed production. This experiment is intended to develop an option for the management of these major diseases. The experiment was conducted for three years in two locations. An improved linseed variety ‘‘Dibene’’ and a local cultivar were planted in RCB design with three replications. At Sinana On-station, ANOVA has depicted that for pasmo disease there was statistically significant (P&lt;0.05) variation among treatments. The highest disease severity of 23.46% and the lowest 12.96% were recorded from local cultivar without fungicide spray and ‘Dibene’ variety sprayed at seven days interval, respectively. Similarly, statistically justifiable variations (P&lt;0.05) were observed for Powdery mildew. The highest and the lowest powdery mildew severities of 46.3% and 22.84 % were recorded from local cultivar without fungicide spray and ‘Dibene’ variety sprayed at seven days interval, respectively. Similarly, ANOVA have depicted that there are significant difference (P&lt;0.05) between treatments for thousand seed weigh (TSW) and grain yields. The highest and lowest TSW of 6.73g and 6.07g were recorded from ‘Dibene’ variety sprayed at twenty one days local cultivar without fungicide spray, respectively. Whereas, the highest and lowest grain yield of 2859.30kg/ha and 2316.8kg/ha was obtained from ‘Dibene’ variety sprayed at fourteen days (14) days and local cultivar without fungicide spray. Similarly, the result follows the same trend at welte’i berisa. ANAVA have shown that there application of a fungicide have made a significant difference (P&lt;0.05) between treatments for TSW and grain yield. The highest and lowest TSW of 5.87gand 5.27g was recorded from ‘Dibene’ variety sprayed at twenty one days interval and local cultivar without fungicide spray, respectively. In case of grain yield, the largest and smallest grain yield of 1733.6kg/ha and 1045.6kg/ha were obtained from ‘Dibene’ variety sprayed at fourteen days days interval and the local cultivar without fungicide spray, respectively. Therefore, One to two times spray of a fungicide Odeon (Chlorothalonil) at a rate of 2.5 kg/ha and at an interval of 14 days is recommended for the management of Powdery mildew and Pasmo diseases on linseed.