Northwestern Ethiopia Research Articles

Identifying Limiting Nutrients for Wheat Production Through Omission Plot Experiment on Nitisols of East Gojjam Zone, North Western Ethiopia

A field experiment was conducted to identify the most yield limiting nutrients for wheat yield on Nitisols of D/Eliase District North western Ethiopia during 2021/22 main cropping season. The experiments were laid out in a completely randomized block design (RCBD) each with three replications. The treatments were control, NP, PKSZnB (-N), NKSZnB (-P), NPSZnB (-K), NPKZnB (-S), NPKSZn (-B), NPKSB (-Zn) and full fertilization (+NPKSZnB). The available data were collected and subjected to ANOVA using SAS 9.3 software. The LSD test was used to separate means at 5% level of significance. According to the results obtained, considerable reduced in plant height, spike length, grain and biomass yield was recorded due to omission of N and P nutrients compared with fully fertilized plots. The highest yield reduction was recorded due to omission of N followed by P in the study district. The highest grain yield of wheat (2835.20kgha<sup>-1</sup>) was measured from recommended NP fertilized plots while the lowest grain yields (357.50kgha<sup>-1</sup> and 545.90kgha<sup>-1</sup>) were obtained from the control and N omitted plots respectively. Therefore, N and P were found to be the most yield limiting nutrients for wheat production indicating that the inherent N and P supplying capacity of soil is very low. Thus, N and P nutrients should be applied in optimum dose for efficient nutrient uptake which ultimately increases wheat productivity. The highest agronomic efficiency (19.08 kg grain/kg nutrient applied) was recorded from plots treated with recommended NP fertilizer. In addition the highest profits realized with application of recommended NP fertilizer compared with other treatments The economics of wheat cultivation therefore indicates that omission of (-N) and (-P) nutrients results in losses. Omission of nitrogen (-N) followed by omission of phosphorus (-P) has more impact on wheat yield and profits in the study area.

Factors Affecting Rainwater Harvesting Practices: In Case of Assosa Town, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Northwestern Ethiopia

In many parts of the world, conventional water supplies do not exist, are unreliable or prohibitively expensive. Many actual or potential water shortages can be alleviated if the practice of rainwater harvesting becomes widespread. A study was conducted to evaluate the factors affecting rainwater harvesting practices in Assosa city. The reason for starting the research is that the municipality of Assosa suffers from a severe water shortage, especially at the end of the dry season. The study involved 99 randomly selected respondents and purposively selected respondents using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were collected using a combination of data collection methods including survey interviews, key informant interviews, and direct observation. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency tables to draw conclusions and recommendations. The results showed that lack of funding played a key role in the adoption of rainwater harvesting and, furthermore, lack of information and poor technology contributed to the failure to adopt rainwater harvesting for domestic use. It was determined that roofing materials were not a problem in the area, but storage areas and gutters hindered rainwater collection. We therefore concluded that the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in Assosa town was hampered by the lack of resources required for the installation of rainwater harvesting systems. In addition, inadequate accesses to information, particularly for women, and lack of knowledge about the maintenance of rainwater harvesting technologies have contributed to the lack of widespread adoption of rainwater harvesting. We recommend making a conscious effort to subsidize rainwater harvesting in this area. The study also recommends strengthening municipal capacities in the area of rainwater harvesting technology, which is expected to be important for improving rainwater harvesting technology.

Evaluating Rural Land Administration Institutional Efficiency from Modern Land Administration Systems Perspective: In Case of Awi Zone, North-Western Ethiopia

This study is aimed to evaluate the institutional efficiency of rural land administration from the perspective of modern land administration systems in Awi zone Amhara region Ethiopia. The study employed a mixed research approach to evaluate the efficiency of rural land administration. Moreover, the study used various data collection tools such as questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussion, observation, and document review to acquire relevant data. The study pursued the influence of explanatory variables namely legal framework, digitalization, valuation and compensation, good governance, data quality, capacity building, and customer satisfaction on the efficiency of rural land administration. Furthermore, descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze quantitative data. Consequently, the study found that the legal framework and customer satisfaction are the most significant factors that affect the efficiency of rural land administration. However, the study finding revealed that lack of clear and uniform legislations and service delivery negatively affected the success of rural land administration. Thus, the prospects to assure efficient rural land administration are provision of unambiguous laws, delivering services impartially, and providing capacity-building training for experts are suggested as a vital to implement modern land administration systems to modern society.

Breakfast consumption and associated factors and barriers among school-aged children.

Breakfast provides the energy and nutrition we need to function at best, both mentally and physically. It is also plausible to propose that children's general development is impacted when they skip breakfast. To assess the prevalence of breakfast consumption and associated factors and predictors among public primary school children in Debremarkos Town, Northwestern Ethiopia, 2020. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among school-aged children in Debremarkos, Northwest Ethiopia. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 609 study participants. The children's parents were interviewed using a pretested, structured questionnaire. For the rest of the analysis, SPSS version 20 was used. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the factors associated with breakfast consumption. Statistical significance was determined at a p value <0.05. Out of the sampled children, 600 respondents participated in the study, for a response rate of 98.5%. The prevalence of regular breakfast consumption among school-aged children was 67.5%. Higher odds of regular breakfast consumption were found among respondents who were females (AOR = 1.72, 95% CI = 0.118-1.773), those who lived in high-income families (AOR = 7.33, 95% CI = 1.036-8.110), and those who had an educated family (AOR = 13.05, 95% CI = 0.019-13.1). However, lower odds of regular breakfast intake were found among respondents aged 9-12 years (AOR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.369-0.79). Breakfast is a major health concern for school-aged children in Debremarkos city. Breakfast eating is associated with several factors; the most notable factor is being female, having a high income, and having an uneducated family. Therefore, to prevent children from skipping breakfast, stakeholders must move swiftly.

Evaluation of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes for their reaction to wilt complex disease and yield performance in Jabi Tehena district, northwestern Ethiopia

Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production and productivity is highly hampered by biotic and abiotic factors in Ethiopia. Among biotic factors, wilt complex disease is the major production constraint both in the study area in particular and wherever hot pepper is grown in general. Field experiments were carried out during the 2020 and the 2021 main-rainy growing seasons to evaluate the reaction of 14 hot pepper genotypes to the wilt complex disease and their agronomic performance. Analysis of variance revealed differences among genotypes in disease reaction, growth and yield performance. The local check had the highest disease incidence (58.04%), severity (56.33%), area under the disease progression curve (1471.67% days), and faster disease progression rate (0.0157 units per day) as compared to the rest of the genotypes. The results categorize eight hot pepper genotypes as susceptible (Bako Local, local check, Marko Fana, Melka Awaze, Melka Dear, Melka Oli, Melka Shote and Melka Zala) and six hot pepper varieties as moderately susceptible (Chala, Deme, Dinisire, Kume, Oda Haro and Revival). There were no hot pepper genotypes categorized under the resistant reaction class to the wilt complex disease. Melka Zala produced the highest number of fruits per plant (133.80), marketable dry fruit yield (2.13 t ha−1) and total dry fruit yield (2.30 t ha−1). Out of the evaluated genotypes, the varieties Melka Zala, Melka Dera and Melka Oli were superior in their yield performance. Providing those high-yielding hot pepper varieties in the study area may serve as a short-term solution for sustainable production and productivity of the crop.

Spatiotemporal variability and trends of intra-seasonal rainfall and temperature in the drought-prone districts of Northwestern Ethiopia

Agriculture in Ethiopia is highly dictated by spatial patterns and temporal distributions of climate variables. The analysis of these climate variables is crucial for understanding the impacts on agricultural productivity. This study aimed to analyze spatiotemporal variability and trends of intra-seasonal rainfall and temperature using site-specific daily data from the Ethiopian Meteorology Institute (1992–2021). Standardized methods explore variability, while Mann–Kendall tests identify trends, using the Modified version for data with autocorrelation. Inverse Distance Weighted interpolation was employed for spatial analysis of rainfall, length of growing season, and temperature. The findings identified that Kiremt dominated the mono-modal rainfall pattern, contributing 72%-86% of total annual rainfall. The study found that the season typically begins early on June 13 in Adiszemen, and July 6 in Arbgebiya and ends between October 6 and October 26. The duration of the season varied across locations, averaging 95 days at Ebenat and 148 days at Adiszemen. The seasonal rainfall anomaly index shows identical patterns between ENSO episodes and seasonal rainfall. These findings inform decision-making and adaptation strategies for ENSO-driven rainfall variability. Temperatures showed predictable seasonal patterns, but have significantly increased over time, with maximum and minimum temperatures rising 0.014 °C to 0.421 °C and 0.027 °C to 0.485 °C per year respectively. This warming trend is negatively impacting water, crops, and livestock, requiring adaptation measures to build regional resilience. This study underscores the critical impact of climate variability on agriculture in the study area. The findings reveal shifts in rainfall patterns and temperature trends, providing essential insights for adapting agricultural practices.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of Cryptosporidium infection in calves and hospitalized humans in Libo Kemkem, North Western Ethiopia.

Cryptosporidium infection is one of the major causes of acute gastroenteritis and diarrhoea caused by a protozoan parasite affecting vertebrates and humans. The disease is prevalent in cases of immunocompromised individuals. Despite the impact of the diseases in calf and hospitalized humans, well-documented studies are not available in the study area. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in calves and hospitalized humans and assess the major associated risk factors associated with Cryptosporidium infection in calves and hospitalized humans. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 to March 2021 on calf and human Cryptosporidium infection in Libo Kemkem District, North West Ethiopia. A total of 193 calves and 122 human stool samples admitted to the hospital were used for this study. Three kebeles were selected purposely, and individual calves were selected using a simple random sampling method. A number of sampled calves were allocated proportionally to the selected kebeles. Human samples were collected using a systematic random sampling method. Faecal and stool samples were examined using a modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method. The overall prevalence of calf and human Cryptosporidium infection found in this study was 15.5% and 11.5%, respectively. Age of calf, breed, body condition, water source, faecal consistency and hygienic condition were found significantly (p<0.05) associated with Cryptosporidium infection in the calf. Similarly, the source of potable water, immunocompromisation and contact with domestic animals were found to be significantly (p<0.05) associated with Cryptosporidium infection in humans. There was a higher prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in calves and humans in Libo Kemkem District. Therefore, the implementation of proper prevention methods of zoonotic Cryptosporidium infection between calf and human beings through significant risk factors is mandatory. Furthermore, additional studies to investigate the levels of economic importance of the disease should be conducted.

Effect of Tillage, Crops Residues and Crops Management Practices on Runoff Erosion, Soil Loss and Soil Properties in Ethiopa: Review

The conducted investigations showed that tillage practices with crop residue and proper cropping systems protect loss of soil from runoff erosion which depletes soil nutrients and affects soil physical and chemical properties. The review was conducted with aim of reviewing the effect of tillage, crops residues and crops management practices on runoff, soil loss and soil properties in Ethiopia. The three years study conducted in the Upper Blue Nile basin of Northwestern Ethiopia showed that reduced tillage reduced soil loss over conventional tillage, row planting reduced soil loss over broadcast planting, without trampling reduced soil loss over with trampling planting, and the sediment concentration was ranged from 0.01 to 5.37g/L and total soil loss was 0.20 to 0.50t/ha. The study conducted in the humid highlands of Ethiopia showed that the lower average soil loss was 16 t/ha.yr under zero tillage with crop residue and maximum was 30 t/ha.yr in conventional tillage without crop residue. The investigation indicated that zero tillage with maize soya bean intercrop, maize rotation, continuous maize and continuous soya bean improved soil properties than conventional tillage system. The investigation which was carried out to evaluate the effects of tillage and cropping system on soil properties showed that enrichment ratio ≤1 under no tillage with intercropping and no tillage with mulch reduce nutrient losses and enrichment ratio. The study conducted at Derashe and Arba Minch Zuriya in Ethiopia showed that some selected properties were statistically significant (P&amp;lt;0.05) and conservation tillage is favored for soil management relative to conventional tillage. Therefore, tillage practices like zero tillage and minimum tillage with crop residue management like mulching and crop management such as intercropping and crop rotation reduce surface runoff erosion, soil loss and soil fertility depletion, but additional continual research is needed to reveal trends in tillage, crops residues and crops management.

A potential cause for extensive dieback of Acacia mearnsii plantation in highland districts of Awi zone, northwestern Ethiopia

Although Acacia mearnsii De Wild has rapidly expanded for economic and ecological purposes in the highland districts of the Awi zone, northwestern Ethiopia, recent plantations have suffered from severe defoliation, dieback, and stunted growth. We conducted this study in four districts that hold potential for A. mearnsii plantations. The study examined the identification of the causal agent, its occurrence, and local community perceptions of the plantation's significant dieback. Most respondents (75.8 %) indicated that the substantial dieback began in the rainy season of 2020 and spread rapidly. They also noted that close spacing of plantings and limited silvicultural measures exacerbated the damage. We discovered in this study that the wattle rust disease caused by the Uromycladium acacia fungus was the root cause of significant dieback for A. mearnsii plantations. The incidence and severity of this wattle rust varied significantly (p = 0.001) between districts, seasons, and plantation age groups. In Fegita-Lekuma district, the maximum disease severity was over 72 % in plantations up to two years after planting during the rainy season. The progression of the wattle rust disease caused by U. acacia has led to the loss of A. mearnsii plantations in the Awi zone, resulting in a severe economic and environmental crisis. Consequently, we should apply fungicides to seedlings at nursery sites in the short term. Eventually, however, the focus should shift towards prioritizing disease-resistant species and implementing proper forest management practices. This should be achieved through scientific initiatives that engage key stakeholders in areas where this tree species could potentially grow.

Optimum Seeding and Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Maximizing Yield and Sustaining Rain-Fed Lowland Rice (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Oryza Sativa &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;L.) in Fogera Plain North-western Ethiopia

Rice (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Oryza sativa&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; L.) is increasingly becoming an important food crop in Ethiopia. However, the average rice productivity in Ethiopia is estimated at 2.8 t ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; which is much lower than the world average, 4.6 t ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;. Its productivity is challenged due to a lack of appropriate and location-specific agronomic practices like the application of optimum doses of nitrogen fertilizer and the use of optimum seeding rates. Thus, a field experiment was conducted in Fogera district in South Gondar Zone, Northwestern Ethiopia during the 2021 main cropping season to determine the optimum dose of N level and seeding rate. The treatments comprised factorial combinations of four levels of N (134, 184, 234 and 284 kg ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;) and four different seeding rates (60, 80, 100, and 120 kg ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated thrice. All data on phenology, vegetative growth yield and yield-related parameters were collected and measured following scientific standards of each parameter. Those data were subjected to analysis of variance using the general linear model (GLM) procedures of SAS 9.0 version system. Economic analysis was also carried out by following CIMMYT partial budget analysis procedures. The analysis result showed the main effects of both, different levels of nitrogen and different rate of seeding, and their interactions showed highly significant effect on the number of both total and effective tillers, grain filling, panicle length, phonological parameters, totals spikelet’s, thousands seed weight, grain yield, biological yield and straw yield. Application of 184 kg N ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; level with a seeding rate 100 kg ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; gave the maximum grain yield (6,641 kg ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;), the highest number of effective tillers per m&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; (792) and filled grains per panicle (95.34). Furthermore, the highest net return of ETB 118,850 with acceptable marginal rate of return (2,313%) was also obtained from the application of 184 kg N ha-&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; level and a seeding rate 100 kg ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;. From the current research experiment, it is possible to conclude that increasing seeding rate beyond 100 kg ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1 &amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;and N above 184 kg N ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; is not economical yield of rice &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;“Selam’’ &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;variety in the study area. Rather, use of 184 kg N ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; and seeding rate of 100 kg ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; is promising for Lowland Rice (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Selam&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) variety production under the rain fed condition in Fogera Plains and similar agro-ecologies of rain-fed growing area of Ethiopia for better economic and agronomic advantage.

Development and validation of maternal social capital assessment tool in northwest Ethiopia

ObjectiveTo develop and validate a social capital assessment tool that considers the cultural and social realities of north-western Ethiopia. MethodsA mixed-methods approach was applied through rigorous phases. Existing measurement approaches for social capital are reviewed. Additionally, a qualitative study was conducted for domain and item identification. The domains and their items were given to panel experts and rated for content validity. Cognitive interviews were conducted with mothers who gave birth in the previous year. For psychometric validation of the tool, 400 mothers who lived in South Gondar zone participated from January 2 to 27, 2023. ResultsFive factors of structural social capital were extracted. These include group participation, emotional, social, financial, and informational support. The content validity index of the scale was 0.88, indicating that 88% of the experts rated the items of the scale as relevant. The loading of the items ranged from 0.505 to 0.858, exceeding the threshold of 0.50. For cognitive social capital, factor analysis grouped 43 items into four subscales: trust in social networks, trust in institutions, trust in the health care system, and social cohesion. The loadings of the items ranged from 0.507 to 0.913. The internal consistency reliability of the scale was excellent, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.901. ConclusionThe Maternal Social Capital Assessment Tool is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring social capital during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. The application of such a tool could allow us to decipher the influence of social capital on maternal health.

Contribution of agroforestry practices to income and poverty status of households in Northwestern Ethiopia

Agroforestry practices (AFPs) play a critical role in enhancing income and reducing poverty. This study assessed the effect of AFPs on income and poverty status of farmers in Lay Armachiho (LA), Bahir Dar Zuria (BDR), and Banja districts of Northwestern Ethiopia. 387 households, and 63 key informants were interviewed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, FGT index, Gini coefficient, and multiple linear regression. About 49.35% of the respondents are categorized poor with a poverty gap of 18.93 and a poverty severity level of 9.7. Banja was the greatest with persons below poverty level (59.2%), followed by BDR (49.72%). Agroforestry practices contribute 28.43% to household income. Income from AFPs lowered the poverty ratio, poverty gap index, and poverty severity level of households by 13%, 9%, and 7%, respectively. Income from AFPs lowered the area between the line of equality and the Lorenz curve, as well as the Gini coefficient, by 7.97%. AFPs also lowered the income disparity of households in all districts. Age, AFPs land size, road accessibility, irrigation, AFPs experience, and AFPs types affect households AFPs income positively. Family size and membership to credit institutions had a negative effect. Thus, in order to lower poverty and raise household income, labor productivity, the credit service system, the road and irrigation infrastructure, and AFPs all need to be improved and scaled up.

Smallholder Farmers' Demand for Rice Harvesting Technology: Analyzing Willingness to Pay Using One-and-One-Half Bounded Contingent Valuation Method in Northwestern Ethiopia

Background: This study was designed to measure farmers’ willingness to pay for mechanized rice harvesting technology rental service. Specifically, the study addresses how much they are willing to pay and what factors hinder farmers' WTP for mechanized rice harvesting technology by using a one and one-half bounded elicitation Contingent Valuation method and the Craggit econometric model. Methodology: Selecting representative samples for this study involved using a multi-stage sampling strategy. A total of 190 smallholder farmers were randomly selected to collect primary data. Results: The result revealed that nearly four-fifth of the sample respondents were willing to pay for mechanized rice harvesting technology rental service. Besides, smallholder farmers' willingness to pay for mechanized rice harvesting technology rental service varies between 200 and 1900 birr, with an average value of 890.46 birr per timad. Conclusion: Moreover, the model result indicated that sex of the respondent, family size, access to extension service, access to training, participation on field day, and livestock ownership had positive and statistically significant effect on mechanized rice harvesting technology rental service. Thus, in order to offer smallholder farmers with more access to technology at a reasonable rental cost, policymakers, development workers, researchers, and rental service providers should collaborate.

Poor visual outcome and associated factors among patients underwent cataract surgery at Debre Markos and Felege Hiwot comprehensive specialized hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023

ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the proportion of poor visual outcome and associated factors among adult patients who underwent cataract surgery at Debre Markos and Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals in northwestern Ethiopia in 2023.MethodsA hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted on 418 adult patients who had undergone cataract surgery from June 07 to August 07, 2023. Patients were recruited using systematic random sampling with an interval of 2. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire, medical record review, and ophthalmologic examination were used to collect data. The collected data was entered into Epi-info version 7 and exported to SPSS version 25 software for analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with poor visual outcomes of cataract surgery. Variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 in the multivariable binary logistic regression were considered statistically significant.ResultsA total of 408 study participants with a median age of 65 years and a response rate of 97.6% took part. The proportion of poor visual outcomes of cataract surgery from 4 weeks to one year was 25.7% (95%CI: 21.6%, 30.3%). Factors responsible for poor visual outcomes of cataract surgery were intraocular lens implantation without a posterior chamber (AOR = 2.91, 95%CI:1.46,5.80), per-existing central corneal opacity (AOR = 3.83, 95%CI:1.52,9.69), pseudoexfoliation (AOR = 3.91,95%CI:1.39,11.88), age-related macular degeneration(AOR = 3.75, 95%CI:1.22, 11.88), glaucoma (AOR = 3.11, 95%CI:1.06,9.17) and striate keratopathy(AOR = 3.4, 95%CI: 1.11, 10.88).ConclusionIn this study, the proportion of poor visual outcomes of cataract surgery is higher than the World Health Organization recommendation. The study found that implantation of an intraocular lens without a posterior chamber, pre-existing central corneal opacity, pre-existing age-related macular degeneration, pre-existing glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation, and striate keratopathy were significantly associated with poor visual outcomes of cataract surgery. We recommend that ophthalmologists and cataract surgeons prioritize the reduction of surgical complications and pre-existing ocular co-morbidities to enhance post-operative visual acuity. Improving pre-operative assessment and refining surgical techniques like phacoemulsification will aid in achieving this goal.

Quality of life among adults with scabies: A community-based cross-sectional study in north-western Ethiopia.

Scabies undermines quality of life through its highly disturbing disease symptoms, by distorting self-perception, and secondary to social stigma. Knowledge of its effect on quality of life in general and on specific aspects of day-to-day life is key to addressing the health needs of individual patients and to evaluating gains from community-based disease control interventions. To measure the effect of scabies on the quality of life of people with the infestation. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a scabies outbreak-affected district in north-western Ethiopia. The study involved 381 households and 86 adults with scabies. We used the ten-item Cardiff Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) tool to collect data. Cronbach's alpha value was used to determine the internal consistency of the Amharic version of the scale. Overall and Dermatology Life Quality (DLQ) domain specific mean scores were calculated. The association between sociodemographic characteristics and scabies-related life quality impairment was tested using Kruskal-Wallis test. Scabies moderately affected the quality of life of adults with scabies. The overall mean DLQI (mDLQI) score was 9.2 (SD = 7.6). 'Symptoms and feelings' and 'daily activity' DLQ domains had the highest mDLQI scores (3.5, SD = 1.9 and 2.2, SD = 2.5, respectively). 'Leisure activities' was the least affected domain 0.8 (SD = 1.1). In terms of severity, scabies had moderate or severe effect on DLQ of 54.7% of the participants and extremely severe effect was reported among 27% of the participants. However, no association was observed between sociodemographic characteristics and quality of life impairment. Quality of life was moderately impaired among people affected by scabies. Refocusing attention on management of disease symptoms, using standard scabies treatment, and providing psychosocial support to improve self-perception of people affected with scabies may help reduce quality of life impairment.

Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Soil Properties of Lowland Rice on Vertisols of Fogera District, Northwestern Ethiopia

Declining land productivity due to low soil fertility status as a result of continuous cultivation, inadequate use of organic and inorganic fertilizers is a major cause for decline crop productivity. Hence, a field experiment was conducted at Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center (FNRRTC) during the 2021 cropping season to determine the effects of integrated use of farmyard manure (FYM) and nitrogen fertilizer on soil properties and yield of lowland rice on the vertisols of Fogera district. The treatments were factorial combination of three levels of FYM (0, 5, and 7.5 t ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;) and four levels of Nitrogen (0, 46, 92, and 184 kg ha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;). The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Representative soil samples were collected at a depth of 0-20 cm before treatment application and after crop harvest, and analyzed following the standard laboratory procedures. All collected soil data were analyzed by using SAS software (version 9.4). After crop harvest the results showed that soil pH, OC, TN, CEC, Exc. K, Ca, Mg and Av.P were significantly (p&amp;lt;0.01) affected by the main effects of FYM. The combined applications of FYM and N fertilizer also significantly (p&amp;lt;0.01) affected CEC, OC and Exc.Mg. The highest soil CEC, OC and Exc.Mg were recorded from the combine effects of 7.5 t/kg with 92 kg/ha. From the results of this experiment, it could be concluded that combined application of FYM and inorganic N fertilizers improved the chemical and physical properties, which may lead to enhanced and sustainable production of rice in the study area.

The role of agroforestry systems for addressing climate change livelihood vulnerability of farmers of Northwestern Ethiopia

Farmers in Ethiopia have been vulnerable to climate change in recent decades. In the face of this change, farmers have managed agroforestry systems to maintain their livelihoods. However, studies exploring the role of agroforestry in reducing household vulnerability are lacking in Northwestern Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were to (i) investigate households’ livelihoods vulnerability to climate change in Northwestern Ethiopia; (iii) assess the role of agroforestry in mitigating the negative impacts of climate change on farmers livelihoods. Key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, household surveys (387), and focus group discussions were used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, the X2-test, and the t-test were run to analyze the data. The findings revealed that households are vulnerable to rising temperatures, rainfall variability, frost, disease and pests, erosion, hailstorms, price hikes, wildlife damage to crops, and health stress. Agroforestry non-practitioners had a higher livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) (0.42 ± 0.081) than practitioners (0.46 ± 0.079). The Livelihood Vulnerability-Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change Index (LVI-IPCC) showed that AF non-practitioners had a higher exposure (0.58), sensitivity (0.54) index, and a lower adaptive capacity index (0.44) than the exposure (0.34), sensitivity (0.38), and adaptive capacity index (0.51) of practitioners. Plant diversity, income level and diversity, livelihood activities, social network, and food security status of farmers were improved by agroforestry. Farmers were therefore less susceptible to adverse climate shocks. Thus, the AF system could be part of future adaptation and resilience programs that provide dependable tools to minimize households’ vulnerability to climate shocks. However, management guidelines, such as understanding local ecosystems, setting clear objectives, choosing suitable species, planning for diversity, considering the market, and regular maintenance and monitoring, are needed for agroforestry to improve its contribution.

Genetic Variability and Cluster Analysis of Faba Bean (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Vicia faba&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; L.) Genotypes in Debre Tabor, Northwestern Ethiopia

Faba bean, a globally important pulse, offers genetic variation for plant breeders, although information on this variability is scarce in Ethiopia. Therefore, the study was conducted to assess the genetic variability of genotypes using 49 genotypes with 7 × 7 simple lattice designs. The experiment was conducted at in Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center at Debre Tabor research site in north western Ethiopia. Analysis of variance revealed that there were highly significant differences among forty-nine genotypes for all studied traits (days to flowering, days to maturity, grain filling period, number of branch, plant height, pod per plant, biomass yield, harvest index, hundred seed weight, chocolate spot and seed yield). High GCV and PCV was observed in pod per plant and chocolate spot both at genotypic and phenotypic level including number of branch at phenotypic level. Moderate to high heritability estimates were observed in all studied traits. A high genetic advance in percent of mean was observed in the number of branches per plant, the number of pods per plant, grain yield, seed weight, and chocolate spot. In conclusion, the study found that the ET 07013-1 and ET 07005-1 genotypes are potential for future breeding programs, but further experimentation across locations and seasons is needed. It is recommended to give much attention to traits with high heritability and GAM, which include the number of branches per plant, the number of pods per plant, grain yield, hundred seed weight, and chocolate spot. The best genotypes should be included in future breeding programs to maximize yield even further. It is recommended to closely monitor traits with high heritability and high GAM.

Effects of Farmyard Manure and Nitrogen Fertilizers on Yield and Yield Components of Low Land Rice (Oryza sativa L.) on Vertisols of Fogera District, Northwestern Ethiopia

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a major cereal crop in Fogera district; however, the current yield is decreased due to low soil fertility status as a result of continuous cultivation, inadequate use of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Hence, a field experiment was conducted at Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center (FNRRTC) during the 2021 cropping season to determine the effects of farmyard manure and nitrogen fertilizer on yield and yield components of lowland rice on vertisols of Fogera district. The treatments were laid out as factorial combination of three levels of FYM (0, 5, and 7.5 t ha-1) and four levels of Nitrogen (0, 46, 92, and 184 kg ha-1). The experiment was arranged at (RCBD) with three replications. The phenological, yield and yield components of rice data were collected during the growth period. All collected phenological, yield and yield components of rice data were analyzed by using SAS software (version 9.4). Analysis of the results revealed that application of FYM at 7.5 t ha-1 combined with 92 kg N ha-1 increased grain yield by 218.25% compared to the negative controls. The highest rice grain yield (7533.1 kg ha-1), biomass yield (14553.1kg ha-1), number of grains per panicle (153.27) and harvest index (51.89%) were obtained from the application of 7.5 t ha-1 FYM with 92 kg ha-1 N. Therefore, combined applications of 7.5 t ha-1 FYM with 92 kg ha-1 N is the recommended treatment that economically feasible for rice production and soil fertility improvements on the Vertisols of the study area, which provided the net benefit of (166,838.02ETB ha-1) with an acceptable MRR of 3122.99%.

Landslide susceptibility mapping using modified frequancy ratio method in Correb area, South Wollo, North-Western Ethiopia

Correb area in Mekdela Woreda, South-Wollo Zone, North-Western Ethiopia is one of the most landslide affected region. The primary aim of this study was to assess the landslide susceptibility of the area and create a landslide susceptibility map. A bivariate statistical frequency ratio model was used to accomplish this goal. Using fieldwork and Google Earth picture interpretation, a map of landslides was made. A total of 524 landslides were identified and then classified in to training landslide (75%) for model development and validation landslide (25%) for model validation. Eight landslide causative factors slope, aspect, elevation, distance to drainage, distance to spring, slope material, distance to lineament, and vegetation cover were integrated with training landslides in order to determine frequency ratio value(weight) for each class of landslide causative factors. Furthermore, each causative factor’s prediction rate or weight was established. Relative frequency values were allocated to the appropriate factor classes and prediction rate values were allocated to the appropriate causative factors and summed using a raster calculator algorithm in order to produce the landslide susceptibility map. The final landslide susceptibility map revealed that 27.54% (31.52 km2) of the study area falls under very low susceptible, 30.35% (34.74 km2) low susceptible, 21.36% (24.44 km2) moderate susceptible, 14.74% (16.88 km2) high susceptible, and the rest 6.01% (6.88 km2) as very high susceptible. This shows that more than 20% of the area has probability and risk of landslide while about 80% has relatively low probability and risk of this natural hazard. The performance of modified frequency ratio model for landslide susceptibility mapping was validated using simply overlay, relative landslide density index, and receiver operating characteristics curve. Both training and validation landslides were rare in the very low and low susceptibility classes and strongly concentrated in the high and very high susceptibility classes, according to validation using simple overlay and the relative landslide density index. The implemented model performed exceptionally well, as seen by the receiver operating characteristics curve, which showed 82.6% success rate and an 83.1% prediction rate. In general, the model produced reasonable accuracy. The resultant map would be useful for general land use planning, site selection, and landslide prevention and mitigation programs.