Getachew Agegnehu

International Water Management Institute

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Gizaw Desta

International Water Management Institute

Gizachew Legesse

International Water Management Institute

Tilahun Amede

Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa

Kindu Mekonnen

International Livestock Research Institute

Tadesse Gashaw

Cranfield University

Michael I. Bird

James Cook University

Getahun Haile

Dilla University

Paul N. Nelson

James Cook University

André van Rooyen

International Water Management Institute

Tulu Degefu

International Water Management Institute

Cooperative Institutions

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research

Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute

Hawassa University

Agricultural Research Center

International Water Management Institute

Addis Ababa University

International Livestock Research Institute

Haramaya University

Wageningen University & Research

Bahir Dar University

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Evaluation of nutrient management strategies at farm level in Ethiopia for improved food production

C.L. Beek Getachew Agegnehu Tolessa Debele Y. Terano Hanneke Heesmans

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Citations (1)

Yield performance and land-use efficiency of barley and faba bean mixed cropping in Ethiopian highlands

European Journal of Agronomy (2006)

Getachew Agegnehu Amare Ghizaw Woldeyesus Sinebo

Intercropping

Cropping system

Monoculture

10.1016/j.eja.2006.05.002

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Citations (326)

Remediation of acid soils and soil property amelioration via Acacia decurrens-based agroforestry system

Agroforestry Systems (2022)

Tadele Amare Tilahun Amede Anteneh Abewa Asmare Woubet Getachew Agegnehu

10.1007/s10457-021-00721-8

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Citations (19)

Yield response of tef (Eragrostis tef) to nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur under balanced fertilization on Vertisols in different agroecological zones of Ethiopia

Experimental Agriculture (2022)

Girma Chala Sofia Kassa Tsadik Tadele Kefyalew Assefa Habtemariam Teshome

Summary Nutrient deficiency is a major constraint in tef ( Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) production in Ethiopia. In the past, a blanket recommendation of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers has been applied regardless of the diversity of agroecological zones and soil types. As crop responses declined with widespread deficiencies of nutrients, farmers have lost interest in applying the recommended fertilizer rates. The present study was conducted with the objective of quantifying the response of tef to different rates of N, P, potassium (K) and sulphur (S) fertilizers under balanced application of the nutrients other than the one under investigation. In each region, the same set of trials was implemented on farmers’ fields for three years. All trials were implemented on Vertisols across four agroecological zones (AEZs). The treatments were seven rates of N, six rates each of P and S and eight rates of K with a basal application of zinc (Zn) and boron (B). The results showed that the most limiting nutrient is N followed by P in each agroecological zone on the Vertisols. There was clear evidence of increases in grain yield with increasing rates of N and P, but the responses to K and S rates did not follow clear trends across AEZs. With balanced application of the other nutrients, 23–92 kg N ha −1 increased grain yield by 11–92%, while 10–40 kg P ha −1 increased yields by 12–33% over the control in the different AEZs. Based on results from dose–response models, it is concluded that the agronomic optimum rates for tef production are 69 kg N, 20 kg P, 30 kg K and 10 kg S ha −1 in the cool sub-moist mid-highlands and the tepid sub-humid mid highlands; 92 kg N, 30 kg P, 15 kg K and 10 kg S ha −1 in tepid moist mid highlands but 69 kg N, 10 kg P, 15 kg K and 10 kg S ha −1 in the tepid sub-moist mid highlands. On Vertisols not covered by this study, these recommendations should be subject to appropriate soil and plant analysis. We also recommend further studies on the nutrient requirement of tef on other soil types and AEZs.

Vertisol

Eragrostis

Agroecology

10.1017/s0014479722000114

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Citations (4)

Yield response of barley to the application of mineral fertilizers containing major nutrients on Cambisols and Vertisols in Ethiopia – CORRIGENDUM

Experimental Agriculture (2022)

Beza Shewangizaw Gebreyes Gurumu Getachew Agegnehu Mulugeta Eshetu Shawl Assefa

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Vertisol

10.1017/s0014479722000394

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The impact of water hyacinth biochar on maize growth and soil properties: The influence of pyrolysis temperature

Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment (2024)

Ashenafei Gezahegn Yihenew G. Selassie Getachew Agegnehu Solomon Addisu Fekremariam Asargew Mihretie

Abstract Introduction Options for managing water hyacinths (WHs) include converting the biomass into biochar for soil amendment. However, less has been known about the impact of WH‐based biochar developed in varying pyrolysis temperatures on plant growth and soil qualities. Materials and Methods A pot experiment was undertaken in a factorial combination of WH biochars (WHBs) developed at three temperatures (350°C, 550°C and 750°C) and two application rates (5 and 20 t ha −1 ), plus a control without biochar. Maize was grown as a test crop for 2 months under natural conditions. Results Our study showed that applying WHB developed between 350°C and 750°C at 20 t ha −1 increased maize shoot and root dry biomass by 47.7% to 17.6% and 78.4% to 54.1%, respectively. Nevertheless, raising the biochar pyrolysis temperature decreased maize growth, whereas increasing the application rate displayed a positive effect. The application of WHB generated at 350°C and 550°C at 20 t ha −1 resulted in significant improvements in soil total nitrogen (17.9% to 25%), cation exchange capacity (27.3% to 20.2%), and ammonium‐nitrogen (60.7% to 59.6%), respectively, over the control. Additionally, applying WHB produced from 350°C to 750°C at 20 t ha −1 enhanced soil carbon by 38.5%–56.3%, compared to the control. Conversely, applying biochar produced at 750°C resulted in higher soil pH (6.3 ± 0.103), electrical conductivity (0.23 ± 0.01 dS m −1 ) and available phosphorus (21.8 ± 2.53 mg kg −1 ). Conclusion WHBs developed at temperatures of 350°C and 550°C with an application rate of 20 t ha −1 were found to be optimal for growing maize and improving soil characteristics. Our study concludes that pyrolysis temperature significantly governs the effectiveness of biochar produced from a specific biomass source.

Amendment

Hyacinth

Soil conditioner

10.1002/sae2.12117

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Citations (2)

Soil test phosphorus calibration for malting barley Hordeum vulgare L production on Nitisols of Ethiopian highlands 177

Tropical Agriculture (2016)

Getachew Agegnehu Berhane Lakew

Delivery of suitable fertilizer recommendations to smallholder farmers is becoming increasingly important, for reasons of food security, economic sustainability and the need to maintain soil fertility. Phosphorus fertilizer trials with malting barley were conducted on Nitisols of selected sites in West Shewa, Ethiopia during the 2009 and 2011 cropping seasons. The treatments consisting of six levels of phosphorus (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 kg ha-1) were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that yield and yield components of malting barley were significantly affected by P fertilization. The application of phosphorus fertilizer at different rates increased grain yields of malting barley by 28-47 % compared to the control. Available soil P concentrations extracted three weeks after planting significantly responded to P fertilizer rate. Correlation of relative yields with Bray-2 soil test phosphorus values showed that the soil test phosphorus levels greater than 12 mg kg-1 (critical phosphorus concentration) was found to be sufficient for malting barley production. The average phosphorus requirement factor (Pf), calculated from soil test phosphorus values of all treatments for the study area was 7.2. To protect a potential loss of malting barley yield, at least a maintenance application of 10 kg P ha-1 is needed for responsive sites that had soil test phosphorus levels above the critical level.

Soil test

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Evaluation of Crop Residue Retention, Compost and Inorganic Fertilizer Application on Barley Productivity and Soil Chemical Properties in the Central Ethiopian Highlands

Ethiopian journal of agricultural sciences (2012)

Getachew Agegnehu Angaw Tsigie Agajie Tesfaye

Soil fertility depletion is a serious problem in the highlands of Ethiopia. A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive cropping seasons (2009-2010) on farmers’ fields in Degem Wereda, North Shewa, Oromiya Regional State. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of crop residue, compost, inorganic fertilizer and cropping system as a component of an integrated soil fertility and plant nutrient management system on barley productivity and soil chemical properties. The treatments included eight selected combinations of organic and inorganic nutrient sources, including retention of crop residues. The design was randomized complete block with three replications. Results showed that barley yield and some yield components significantly responded to the application of different soil fertility management practices. The highest barley grain yield (2575 kg/ha) and total biomass (5185 kg/ha) were obtained from the applications of the recommended nitrogen and phosphorus (NP) fertilizer followed by 2353 and 5148 kg/ha for grain yield and total biomass, respectively, due to the applications of half doses of the recommended NP fertilizer and 3 t/ha EM-compost. The grain yield of barley consistently increased as the total biomass increased. Although the highest yields were achieved from the application of the recommended NP fertilizer rate, the other integrated soil fertility management treatments also resulted in significant yield advantages compared to the control. Yields from the applications of three treatments 1/ half the recommended rate of NP fertilizer and 3 t/ha conventional compost; 2/ retention of 30% of crop residue plus half the recommended rate of NP fertilizer and faba bean mixed intercropping; and 3/ half doses of NP fertilizer plus 3 t/ha EM-compost were almost identical. Barley grain yield showed significantly positive correlations with the total biomass (r = 0.94), spike length (r = 0.43) and number of productive tillers (r = 0.42), respectively. Partitioning of treatments into single degrees of freedom orthogonal contrasts revealed that barley grain yield, total biomass, spike length and productive tillers significantly differed due to the different soil fertility management treatments. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that application of half the recommended rate of NP fertilizer with 50% of the recommended dose of compost (3 t/ha) can be an alternative best integrated soil fertility management measure instead of only inorganic fertilizers for sustainability. The results of this experiment can be reproducible in other similar agro-ecologies and farming systems of the country.

Crop Residue

Cropping system

Nutrient Management

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Citations (25)

Biochar and biochar-compost as soil amendments: Effects on peanut yield, soil properties and greenhouse gas emissions in tropical North Queensland, Australia

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment (2015)

Getachew Agegnehu Adrian M. Bass Paul N. Nelson Brian Muirhead Graeme C. Wright

Amendment

Soil conditioner

Soil carbon

Organic fertilizer

10.1016/j.agee.2015.07.027

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Citations (316)

Impact of biochar, compost and biochar-compost on crop yield, soil quality and greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural soils

Getachew Agegnehu Paul N. Nelson Michael I. Bird

Soil quality decline has been the major threat for the ecological and agricultural sustainability. This study investigated the effects of biochar and compost, applied individually or together, on soil fertility, crop yield and greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes in tropical agricultural Ferralsols of north Queensland, Australia. The treatments comprised 1) control; 2) 10 t ha-1 biochar; 3) 25 t compost ha-1; 4) 2.5 t biochar ha-1 + 25 t compost ha-1 mixed on site; and 5) 25 t ha-1 biochar and compost composted together (COMBI). Application of biochar, compost and their mixture increased maize grain yield by 10-29% compared to fertilizer alone. Significant organic amendment-induced improvements to plant growth and soil available nutrients were observed. Plant parameters such as leaf chlorophyll were significantly increased by the organic treatments. Soil physicochemical properties including soil water content (SWC), total soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), exchangeable cations and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were significantly increased by the organic amendments. Maize grain yield was correlated positively with total biomass, leaf chlorophyll, foliar N and P content, SOC and SWC. Emissions of CO2 and N2O were higher from the organic-amended soils than from the fertilizer-only control. However, N2O emissions generally decreased over time for all treatments and emission from the biochar was lower compared to other treatments. However, the amount of conventional fertilizer that could be reduced and the resultant economic benefit because of addition of these amendments need further study for longer-term economic and environmental sustainability.

Soil Quality

Soil carbon

Amendment

Slash-and-char

Cation-exchange capacity

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