Climate change and variability is affecting maize (Zea mays L.) production in eastern Ethiopia but how farmers perceive the challenge and respond to it is not well documented. A study was conducted to analyze smallholder maize farmers’ perception of climate change/variability and identify their adaptation approaches and barriers for adaptation in the eastern highlands of Ethiopia. Meteorological data were assessed to provide evidence of the perceived change. A survey was conducted in six major maize-producing kebeles with a total of 364 respondents. A multi-stage sampling method was employed for selecting the sample units for the study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a multinomial logit model. The results indicated that 78% of the sampled smallholder maize farmers perceived increasing temperatures while 83% perceived decreasing amounts of rainfall. About 75% of the farmers indicated that they became aware of climate change and variability from their own experience and perceived deforestation as the main cause. The farmers perceived that drought, diseases and pests, dwindling soil fertility, and declining crop yields were the major impacts of climate change that affected maize production. The farmers’ major adaptation practices include adjusting planting dates, using improved maize varieties, intercropping, recommended mineral fertilizers, supplementary irrigation, and soil and water conservation measures. Econometric analysis revealed that low educational level, shortage of land, large family sizes, age, lack of access to irrigation water, lack of access to credit, and lack of access to extension services were the most important barriers to climate change adaptation in the area. It is concluded that farmers cultivating maize in the study area have perceived climate change and use certain adaptation strategies to counter its negative impacts on maize production. This implies that policies should be geared towards strengthening farmers’ efforts to adapt to climate change and alleviate the existing barriers in promoting adaptation strategies for enhancing the productivity of maize.

Effect of combined application of organic and mineral nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer on soil physico-chemical properties and grain yield of food barley ( Hordeum vulgare L. ) in Kaffa Zone, South-western Ethiopia

Poor soil fertility is among the major factors that limit faba bean production in Wolaita Zone in southern Ethiopia. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted in the Kokate Marachare subdistrict of Sodo Zuria District of the zone during the 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons to determine the response of faba bean to different rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers under lime-treated soil conditions by using Tumsa faba bean variety. The treatments consisted of three rates of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 23, and 46kgNha⁻¹), three rates of phosphorus fertilizer (0, 46, and 92kgP₂O₅ ha⁻¹), and three rates of potassium fertilizer (0, 30, and 60kgK₂O ha⁻¹) that were laid out as RCBD and replicated three times per treatment. The results indicated that the N, P, and K fertilizer combination at 23:92:60kgha⁻¹ increased plant height, the number of branches per plant, and stem girth by 18, 62.6, and 55.6, respectively, compared with the control treatment. A significantly high aboveground dry biomass (11.8tha⁻¹), number of pods per plant (17 pods), number of seeds per pod (4 pods), stover yield (6.83tha⁻¹), and hundred seed weight (88g) were obtained from the N, P, and K fertilizer combination at 23:92:60kgha^–1. The highest grain yield (4.97tha⁻¹) was obtained from the N, P, and K combination at 23:92:60kgha⁻¹, which was 360 higher than the yield obtained from the control treatment. Moreover, the highest mean net benefit (USD 4,109.33ha⁻¹) with an acceptable marginal rate of return of 1,340 was obtained from the N, P, and K fertilizer combination at 23kgN, 92kgP₂O₅, and 60kgK₂Oha^–1, respectively. Thus, these rates are suggested for faba bean production in the acidic soils of the Wolaita Zone.

Low soil fertility and climate change-induced low soil moisture are major problems constraining potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production in the eastern highlands of Ethiopia. Climate events are projected to become more pervasive. Therefore, research was conducted with the objective of analyzing smallholder potato farmers’ adaptation strategies to cope with the issues of low soil fertility and low soil moisture that are exacerbated by climate change. The research involved surveying eight purposively selected peasant associations in four major potato-producing districts in east and west Hararghe zones. The survey employed a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected from 357 households using a standard questionnaire, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, index ranking, and analysis of variance for survey data. The observed climate data for the period of 1988 to 2017 were analyzed. The Mann-Kendall trend test, standard anomaly index, precipitation concentration index, and coefficient of variation were used to analyze the observed climate data. The survey results revealed the farmers, on average, applied 159 kg urea, 165 kg NPS (63 kg P₂O₅, 31 kg N and 12 kg S), and 1.8 ton of farmyard manure per hectare for producing potatoes. Most smallholder farmers (68.91%) used supplemental irrigation for potato production during the main growing season. The method of irrigation the farmers used was overwhelmingly the furrow method (92.72%). Analyzing the climate data showed that the mean annual temperature increased whereas the mean annual rainfall decreased during the 30-year period. It was concluded that climate change is markedly affecting potato production; in response to this, most of the farmers used supplemental irrigation to cope with moisture stress, all of them applied mineral fertilizers, and some of them additionally applied organic fertilizer to alleviate the problems of soil degradation and nutrient depletion. This implies that soil moisture and nutrient stresses are the major problems constraining potato production against which the farmers need policy and institutional supports to consolidate their coping strategies and build resilience against climate change.

Wonji-Shoa and Metahara sugarcane plantations experience reduced sucrose content (%) during the starting period of sugarcane crushing due to the combined influence of high (>27°C) temperature and the presence of high residual soil moisture. Studies elsewhere showed the potential of chemical ripeners in boosting the sucrose content (%), where natural ripening is deterred by these challenges. Accordingly, a field experiment was conducted to evaluate the responsiveness of selected sugarcane varieties to chemical ripeners at both plantations. The treatments consisted of a factorial combination of four sugarcane varieties (B52298, NCo334, C86-56, and SP70-1284) and six ripener treatments: (1) Ethephon^™(720 g ai ha⁻¹), (2) Fusilade Forte^™(25.6 g ai ha⁻¹), (3) Moddus^™ (250 g ai ha⁻¹), (4) Ethephon^™ (720 g ai ha⁻¹) + Fusilade Forte^™ (25.6 g ai ha⁻¹), (5) Moddus^™ (250 g ai ha⁻¹) + Fusilade Forte^™ (25.6 g ai ha⁻¹), and (6) Unsprayed (control). The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design in a factorial arrangement with three replications. The results showed a significant ( ) and highly significant ( ) variety by ripener interaction in stalk height and sucrose content, respectively, while the main effect ripener highly significantly affected stalk weight ( ) and sucrose yield ( ). The variety C86-56 sprayed with combinations of Ethephon^™ + Fusilade Forte^™ and Moddus^™ + Fusilade Forte^™ had the shortest stalk heights of 1.27 and 1.29 m, respectively, compared with the control. Ethephon^™ + Fusilade Forte^™ combination resulted in the highest reduction of stalk weight (8.36%), while the lowest was recorded in the sole Moddus^™ treatment (6.31%). From the ripener treatments, the Moddus^™ + Fusilade Forte^™ combination and Ethephon^™ + Fusilade Forte^™ combination improved sucrose yield by 1.42 and 1.34 t ha⁻¹, respectively, compared with the control. However, in economic terms, the Moddus^™ + Fusilade Forte^™ combination treatment resulted in the highest marginal rate of return of 1244%. Therefore, the Moddus^™ + Fusilade Forte^™ combination ripener treatment was found to be promising to be evaluated at a commercial scale on immature sugarcane varieties B52-298, NCo334, and SP70-1284.