Soil acidity is one of the major crop production constraints in the highlands of Ethiopia. Liming is becoming a common practice to amend soil acidity, but its effects on soil properties, crop yield, and farm income are not well studied. In this study, an on-farm liming experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2020-2021) on acidic Nitisols (pH<5.5) in Southern Ethiopia. The experiment consisted of six liming rates (control, 2.74, 4.11, 5.48, 6.85, and 8.22tha⁻¹) laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Soil, agronomic, and economic data were collected in 2020 and 2021 cropping seasons and analyzed. The application of lime in the ranges of 2.748.22tha⁻¹ increased soil pH by 0.461.25 units and reduced exchangeable acidity by 2.023.17 units. Higher lime rates of 6.858.22tha⁻¹ increased soil pH sharply from 5.22 to 5.99 and 6.46, respectively, but such a rise in soil pH was not proportionally reflected in the yield increment. Higher available phosphorus contents of 7.16 and 6.01mgkg⁻¹ were measured at the liming rates of 4.11 and 5.48tha⁻¹, respectively. Combined over the two years, 5.45tha⁻¹ lime application yielded the highest barley total biomass of 19,199kgha⁻¹ and a grain yield of 4,328kgha⁻¹, which are 46 and 30 higher than those of the control, respectively. It also yielded the highest marginal rate of return of 477 and a gross margin of 192,857.3ETB¹ha⁻¹, which is 53 higher than the control. Based on our results, 5.45tha⁻¹ of lime appears to have the optimal rate for economically viable barley production in the study area or similar environments.

Enset ( Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) is a monocarpic, perennial herbaceous plant in the Musaceae family. Ethiopia is the origin and center of enset diversity and is the only country to have domesticated and used enset for food. Enset‐based farming systems are widespread in the south, southwest, and central parts of Ethiopia. Variation in agroecology, continuous farmer selection, and varied agronomic practices have led to the development of diverse enset landraces (clones) in Ethiopia. The Gedeo zone in Southern Ethiopia, which is the focus of the current study, is known for its well‐established and diverse enset farming systems, shaped by long‐term farmer selection and management. However, the reported number of enset landraces in Gedeo, ranging from 20 to 26, is relatively low compared to other enset‐growing areas, where studies report between 44 and 86 landraces. This disparity in reported landraces number underscores the need for further research and investigation. The main objectives of this study are to: i) conduct an in‐depth assessment and survey of enset landraces in the Gedeo zone and ii) evaluate the conservation status and unique ethnobotanical use of enset clones in the area. A total of 120 households from 4 districts and 12 kebeles were interviewed for the study. Additionally, focus group discussion (FGD), key informant interview (KII), and literature review were applied. The study identified 37 previously undocumented landraces, each with unique vernacular names. Combined with landraces identified in earlier studies, this raises the total number of enset landraces in Gedeo to 57, which is over 100% greater than previously reported. Different landraces support different needs of the community. Nonetheless, only 4–6 enset landraces are frequently and widely used. Among the widely cultivated enset landraces, the most frequently used are ranked in the following order: Ganticho, Nifo, Qarase, Dimoye, Toracho, and Ado. Most landraces are rare, cultivated in restricted locations, and thus vulnerable to socio‐ecological changes. Enset and its diverse landraces are deeply intertwined with the culture of the people in Gedeo. It has shaped their livelihoods, culture, and environment, helping them thrive for millennia in a densely populated area naturally prone to degradation. Enset offers a wide range of food, medicinal, fiber, and environmental benefits. As no single landrace meets all these needs, conserving enset diversity is crucial to sustaining its full cultural, nutritional, and ecological value. However, recent socio‐ecological changes, such as pest and disease outbreaks, climate change, and rapid population growth leading to land use intensification, are threatening the diversity of enset landraces in the Gedeo zone. Despite some efforts made by various actors to conserve the enset landraces in the area, results so far are not encouraging. The findings underscore the significance of diversified enset landraces and their ethnobotanical implications, raising awareness of the need to support the conservation and sustainable use of enset landraces to maximize their socio‐ecological significance.

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the historical trajectory of deforestation in Ethiopia, spanning an extensive timeframe and exploring its major driving factors. Over the span of three millennia, Ethiopia has experienced persistent deforestation, resulting in a significant reduction of its once-large forest and woodland resources. Currently, small, degraded forests and woodlands exist in isolated patches, located in remote areas such as the southwest and southeast. Major deforestation in Ethiopia unfolded progressively, first along a north-south axis and more recently shifting from the highlands to the lowlands. The northern and central highlands lost most of their natural forests before the turn of the 20th century, while significant loss in the southern highlands occurred over the past 150 years, and in the lowlands over the past 50 years. This deforestation is primarily attributed to the expansion of ox-plow agriculture and population pressure resulting from natural birth and internal migration. Despite efforts to counter deforestation and promote restoration, mostly since the 1970s, successes remain limited. A noteworthy exception in this regard is the introduction of Eucalyptus during the turn of the 20th century and the subsequent expansion of it, mainly in the form of small-scale farmer-led farm forestry. Today, Eucalyptus become the most preferred, well-adapted, widely planted, and the major supplier of wood materials in Ethiopia. The limited success in restoration is attributed to the reliance on campaign-based strategy, lack of private sector involvement, the intertwining of restoration with political agenda, and poorly defined property rights on land, forests, and trees. The consequences of deforestation and resultant environmental degradation have profoundly influenced the socio-economic dynamics of Ethiopia, giving rise to issues such as food insecurity, poverty, migration, and political instability.