Barley production in the Ethiopian highlands is constrained by soil acidity and the lack of acid‐tolerant genotypes. This study evaluated the effects of environment, genotype, and their interaction on barley performance and identified suitable genotypes for acidic soils. Ten barley genotypes, including eight accessions, one local variety, and one released cultivar, were tested under acidic and lime‐treated soil conditions using a randomized complete block design. The results on the additive main effects and multiplicative interactions (AMMI) analysis showed that environment explained 60.45% of the total variation, genotype 32.38%, and genotype by environment interaction accounted for 7.18%. The first and the second interaction principal component axes were significant and cumulatively accounted for 80.59% of the total interaction variance. Analysis of the first two principal components showed that E7 and E8 in the Gumer district, representing fully limed and unlimed soils, respectively, contributed most to the genotype by environment interaction. In contrast, E5 and E6 in the Hulla district, representing unlimed and fully limed soils, respectively, contributed least, while E1–E4 had moderate effects. Grain yields in limed environments consistently exceeded the grand mean of 2.79 t ha−1, whereas the unlimed environments produced substantially lower yields across. The first two AMMI components identified genotypes G1, G3, G9, and G10 as superior performers, combining high yield with stability. Therefore, expanding the cultivation of improved variety, G9, and further evaluating genotype G1, G3 and G10, and lime application could improve barley production and food security in the southern highlands of Ethiopia.
Chigign Mengiste, W. Worku, Berhanu Abate et al.· Plant-Environment Interactio...· 0 citations
In Ethiopia, the use of fertilizer is low due to high cost and limited availability, leading to low yields. Using organic amendment, such as biochar together with mineral fertilizers could be a more effective solution. A field experiment was conducted in clay‐textured soil with a slightly acidic pH of 5.82, located in southern Ethiopia to determine the effects of two different types of biochar, including coffee (Coffea Arabica) husk and maize (Zea mays L) straw biochars, at three application rates (0, 2.5, and 5 t per hectare) with and without mineral fertilizer on maize yields, nutrient uptake, and soil properties. The experimental design used was a randomized complete block design with 10 treatments and three replications. Three‐way analysis of variance was conducted to quantify the effects of biochar type, rate, and mineral fertilizer combinations on maize yields, nutrient uptake, and selected soil properties. Biochar application, alone or with fertilizer, improved maize yields, nutrient uptake (N and P), and soil properties (organic carbon, bulk density, and soil moisture content) significantly. Coffee husk biochar outperformed maize straw biochar by 44% in enhancing maize yield. Coffee husk biochar was also better in improving soil properties (4%, 5%, and 13% enhancement of organic carbon, soil moisture content, and soil bulk density, respectively, compared to maize straw biochar). Increasing the biochar application rate from 2.5 to 5 t ha−1 resulted in maize grain yield increase of 45.1%, irrespective of the biochar type. Combining coffee husk biochar at 5 t ha−1 with mineral fertilizer showed the best results in terms of nutrient uptake, maize yield, and soil improvement. This study suggests that using biochar from coffee husk and maize straw can boost maize productivity in similar environments by enhancing soil moisture and nutrient availability.
S. Raji, Werkinesh Kassa, Alemayehu Kiflu et al.· Vadose Zone Journal· 0 citations
