Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology

Evaluating the impact of different furrow irrigation methods on onion bulb yield and water productivity: The case of Hadero Tunto district, Southern Ethiopia

Markos Habtewold — 2025-01-24

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different furrow irrigation methods on bulb yield and water productivity. The experiment was conducted in farmers' fields using a Randomized Complete Block Design, with three treatment levels and five replications. The irrigation methods tested included Alternate Furrow Irrigation (AFI), Fixed Furrow Irrigation (FFI), and Conventional Furrow Irrigation (CFI). The results indicate that furrow irrigation methods significantly influence bulb diameter, yield, and water productivity. The harvested bulb yields were 10.26 t/ha for AFI, 10.32 t/ha for CFI, and 9.36 t/ha for FFI. The maximum water productivity values were 4.8 kg/m³ for AFI and 4.1 kg/m³ for FFI, both achieved with a consistent seasonal crop water requirement of 228.3 mm. In contrast, the CFI method yielded a minimum water productivity of 2.26 kg/m³, with a total applied water depth of 456.6 mm. A partial budget analysis revealed the following net returns: 682,020 ETB/ha for AFI, 560,500 ETB/ha for FFI, and 678,540 ETB/ha for CFI. The benefit-cost ratios were highest for AFI at 12.03, followed by CFI at 10.52, and FFI at 9.89. Based on these findings, we recommend the Alternate Furrow Irrigation method for enhancing onion bulb yield and water productivity, particularly in water-scarce regions with similar agroecological conditions.

Cardio skeletal muscle stress markers responses against two different intensity endurance training zones in novice athletes

Gashaw Tesema — 2025-01-24

This study aimed to investigate the effects of two different intensity endurance training zones on cardio skeletal stress markers in search of optimum training intensity. In this study, a completely randomized parallel-group study design was employed. Thirty healthy male young athletes aged between 18-25 years old were selected and randomly assigned to two intensity endurance exercise groups. Pre-training at the end of 1 week and 12-week endurance training cardio skeletal muscle stress markers were assessed for both intensity groups. The first group trained at 60-70% maximum heart rate of 45 min per session for the first week and 3-minute increments each week from the second to 12^th weeks. The second intensity training was done at 70-80% maximum heart rate 30 min per session for the first week and 2-minute increments each week and ANOVA to analyze the data. There was a significant difference between pre to 1 and 12-week post-training tests of LDH (p < .001), CTnI (p < .001), and Ckmb (p <.001) with medium effect size in all cardio skeletal muscle stress markers for both intensity zones. Our findings confirmed that endurance training at both intensities with gradual increments in training duration reduces exercise-induced cardio skeletal muscle stress markers. However, the reduction rate is less in 70-80% HRmax intensity level than in 60-70% HRmax indicating changes in cardio skeletal muscle stress markers are not easily adaptable in higher intensities.

Economic analysis of egg production in replacing essential amino acids and soybean seed with meat and bone meal in layer rations of exotic chickens

Berhane Mekete — 2025-02-21

The study was conducted to evaluate the economic analysis of egg production by replacing essential amino acids and soybean seed with meat and bone meal in layer rations of exotic chickens. Ninety Bovan-brown layer hens were randomly selected and allocated to three dietary treatments with two replications using completely randomized design; 15 layers were allocated per replicate. The three dietary treatments were as follows: T1 (control), in which chickens were fed commercial layer ration; T2, in which chickens were fed formulated layer ration with the inclusion of essential amino acids and roasted soybean seeds; and T3, in which chickens were fed formulated layer ration with the inclusion of 10% meat and bone meal. The chickens were fed ad libitum for 90 days and the data of feed intake and egg production were recorded for 3 months. Besides, prices of different feed ingredients and commercial layer rations and egg selling prices were taken in July 2020 and February 2024. The economics of egg production were determined using a partial budget analysis that took into account the link between feed intake and egg output. Data were analysed using SAS software package. The treatment means were separated using Tukey’s Studentized Range Test. According to the economic analysis of July 2020 and February 2024, T1 had the highest (p<0.001) total gross returns per hen per 90 days (Birr) and followed by T3 while it was the least (p < 0.001) in T2. Besides, both the control and T3 had higher net return (p < 0.001) per hen per 90 days (Birr) than treatment T2. Therefore, it is concluded that alternative and economical layer ration could be formulated with the inclusion of 10% meat and bone meal along with other feed ingredients in layer rations of exotic chickens without using essential amino acids and soybean seed.

The potential of water hyacinth vermicompost as a sustainable alternative to nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium fertilizer

Solomon Girmay Berhe — 2025-02-01

Excessive use of chemical fertilizers results in irreversible soil quality loss, food safety issues, and eutrophication concerns in aquatic ecosystems that promote the growth and spread of invasive weeds such as water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) (Pontederiaceae). However, less attention has been given to mitigating wetland pollution and the direct biomass disposal of water hyacinth towards biomass vermicomposting for weed control and sustainable agriculture through integrated fertilizer management. An open-field lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth experiment was conducted to enhance soil quality, promote growth, and manage aphid pests by substituting water hyacinth vermicompost (VC) for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPS) (19N-38P₂O₅-7S) fertilizer. A completely randomized block design (RCBD) with three replications was employed, utilizing the recommended NPS fertilizer dose (F1), 2.5 t ha⁻¹ VC (F2), 5 t ha⁻¹ VC (F3), 2.5 t ha⁻¹ VC + 50% NPS (F4), 5 t ha⁻¹ VC + 50% NPS (F5), and unfertilized soil (F6, control). Maximum fresh weight (215–227%), vitamin C (82.1–94.8%), reduced nitrate content (21.1–23.3%), the highest marginal rate of return (157%), the lowest aphid population (52.8–86.6%), and leaf damage (52.9–92.3%) were observed in plants treated with F4 relative to F6. Moreover, F4 and F5 improved the soil quality characteristics (pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, total available phosphorus, total potassium, total organic carbon, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio) compared to F6. Based on the findings of this study, the use of F4 in similar agro-ecological zones for improved soil quality, pest control, and enhanced lettuce development is recommended. This work demonstrates how VC can be used sustainably to replace the widespread use of chemical fertilizers to enhance soil fertility, promote lettuce growth, reduce pests, and address wetland eutrophication challenges.

Analysis of some heavy metals and estimation of pollution indexes in open solid waste disposal site: The case of Bahir Dar City, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Lijalem Belay — 2025-01-29

Urban areas with high population and expansions of industrial activities are subject to a vast generation of municipal solid waste (MSW). This study attempts to analyze heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cr) concentration in the soil of the open solid waste dumping sites of Bahir Dar city and estimate the pollution index. A 0.5 kg of 4 soil samples were collected from the MSW dumping site. The three samples were collected from three corners of an equilateral triangle of 30 m length of the open solid waste dumping site and one sample 50 m away from the dumping site for every 15 cm interval (5-20 cm, 20-35 cm, and 35-50 cm). The collected samples from each corner for the same depth were well mixed and digested by the wet digestion method and then subject to Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) for the determination of heavy metals. Finally, the concentrations of the heavy metals in the solid waste were compared with the reference soil to estimate the pollution indexes. The results of ICP-OES of heavy metals in the dumping site in mean concentrations of mg/kg were found: 465.37±27.5, 232.17±76.1, 46.27 ± 18.21, and 15.4 ± 14.09 for Cr, Pb, Ni, and Cd respectively. All the heavy metal concentrations were below the limit set by the Environmental Protection Authority of Victoria (EPA of Victoria) for the hazardous classification range for respective metals. The T-Test at p <0.05, showed a significant difference in the mean concentration of the metals (Pb and Cr) between the soil taken from the dumping site and the control site (reference soil). However, Ni and Cd did not show significant differences. So, Pb and Cr have a higher degree of dispersion to the nearby farmland than Ni and Cd. Finally, the PI (pollution index) value of Cr and Pb fall in slight pollution, whereas Ni and Cd fall in moderate and very severe pollution, respectively, and will pose a negative effect on the soil of the nearby farmland, plants, and the environment. Thus, the contamination of these bodies by heavy metals will become a risk to human health through food chain and groundwater resources contamination. So, the municipal city has to construct a proper incineration plant or landfill that considers the future population growth of the city.