Understanding soil types of a given area is an important prerequisite to design optimum management strategies such as irrigation water management. The study was thus conducted on characterization and classification of Zamra irrigation scheme in Abergelle district of Amhara Region, which has an area of 196.16 ha. For this study, 53 auger observations, four profile pits, extensive visual observations, reconnaissance survey, and descriptions of soil profiles and laboratory analysis were used to study the morphological and physicochemical properties of the soils of the scheme. Twelve disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected from all profiles of each genetic horizon for laboratory analysis. The soils of the study area were identified based on Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations/World Reference Base for Soil Resources (FAO/WRB) 2015. The results revealed that the textural classes of all profiles of the study site ranged from sandy clay loam to sandy loam. The chemical properties of the soil in terms of total nitrogen, organic matter, and available phosphorus were in the very low and low categories as per the criteria developed by Tekalign and Olsen, respectively, whereas exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K, and Na), cation exchange capacity, and extractable micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) were medium to high. Based on morphological, physical, and chemical analyses, the soils were classified as Leptic Regosols (Eutric, Loamic; 21.99% of the area), Vertic Cambisols (Hypereutric; 17.87%), Haplic Regosols (Eutric; 36.69%), and Rhodic Nitisols (Eutric; 23.44%). Therefore, management techniques that enhance soil fertility (including crop rotations, manuring, fallow periods, proper management of crop residues, and leguminous cover crops) and water-saving technologies suitable to the terrain of the area are the best options to enhance land productivity in the area.

Background: Production and productivity of potato in Ethiopia is far below the world average because of soil fertility problem, pest, disease, and agronomic factors. Nutrient depletion because of soil erosion is a serious problem in Ethiopian highlands. Annually, 122 kg ha⁻¹nitrogen, 13 kg ha⁻¹phosphorous and 82 kg ha⁻¹potasium were estimated to deplete from Ethiopia (Haileslassie et al. 2005). From the essential nutrients especially, nitrogen and phosphorus are the most important influential elements for production of potato but they are deficient in most Ethiopian soils and thus an application of these nutrients could increase significantly the crop yields. Therefore, the experiment was conducted at Sekota and Lasta Lalibela districts (Woleh and Kechin Abeba irrigation command areas) of eastern Amhara, Ethiopia to investigate the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers for yield and yield component of potato under irrigation condition.Methods: Four rates of nitrogen (0, 46, 92, and 138 kg N kg ha⁻¹) and phosphorus (0, 23, 46, and 69 Kg P₂O₅kg ha⁻¹) were combined with factorial arrangement and laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications.Results: The result of the study revealed that nitrogen and phosphorus had a significant effect on plant height, marketable, and total yield of potato at Kechin Abeba. But phosphorus did not show a significant effect on plant height and unmarketable yield at Sekota district of Woleh irrigation command area. The highest yield 45.55 t ha⁻¹was obtained from combined application of 138 N and 23 P₂O₅in Lalibela 17.12 and 16.99 t ha⁻¹were found from application of 138 N with 46 P₂O₅kg ha⁻¹and 138 N with 23 P₂O₅kg ha⁻¹from Sekota district of Woleh irrigation command area respectively.Conclusions: The application of 138 kg ha⁻¹N with 23 kg ha⁻¹P₂O₅is the appropriate rates for optimum productivity of potato at Lalibela (Kechin Abeba) and Sekota (Woleh) irrigation command areas and the same agro-ecology.

Soil fertility management through inorganic fertilizer application in areas with moisture shortage needs due care. The fertilizer application fashion should vary from areas with ample moisture so that the plants can easily access and efficiently use it. Therefore, field experiment was conducted in 2014 and 2015 during the main cropping season under rain-fed condition to evaluate the effect of micro-dose application of N and P fertilizers on sorghum yield at Aybra and Shumshiha sites of Wag-Lasta areas in Amhara Region, Ethiopia where moisture shortage is acute. The treatments were comprised of a factorial combination of three levels of NP i.e. 1), 25% of the recommended NP = 10.25 kg N + 11.5 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹_, 2), 50% of the recommended NP = 20.5 kg N + 23 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ and 3), 75% of the recommended NP = 30.75 kg N + 34.75 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ and three N application times plus control (without fertilizer) and recommended NP (41 kg N ha⁻¹ and 46 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹). The experiment was laid down in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The fertilizers were applied to the spot where the seed was planted except for the recommended NP which was drilled to the planting rows right before planting. Phosphorus was applied at planting while nitrogen was applied in split as per the treatment setup. All soil and agronomic data were collected and analyzed following the standard procedures. The analysis of variance revealed that application of 30.75 kg N ha⁻¹ and 34.5 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ (N applied 1/3 at sowing, 1/3 at emergence and 1/3 at 45 days after emergence) increased the grain yield by 122% over the control and 28.4% over the recommended NP and saves 25% of the recommended fertilizer at Aybra. While at Shumshiha-Lasta Lalibela, application of 20.5 kg N ha⁻¹ and 23 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ (N applied 1/3 at sowing, 1/3 at emergence and 1/3 at 45 days after emergence) increased the grain yield by 174% over the control and 15% over the recommended NP and saves 50% of the recommended fertilizer. Therefore, micro-dosing application of 30.75 kg N ha⁻¹ and 34.5 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ for Aybra-Sekota and of 20.5 kg N ha⁻¹ and 23 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ for Shumshiha-Lasta Lalibela (N applied in three splits) are recommended for sorghum production.

Crop production under irrigation systems is under pronounced challenges resulted in low yield in Lasta district of Amhara region for many reasons among which no or inefficient application of the major nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) took considerable share. Hence, a field experiment was conducted to study the effect of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on the growth and bulb yield of garlic at Lasta district Kechin Abeba irrigation scheme in 2013 and 2015. The treatments were arranged in a factorial combination of three rates of N (0, 46, 92, kg ha(-1)) and four rates of P (0, 23, 46, 69, kg P2O5 ha(-1)) in a randomized complete block design in three replications. All triple supper phosphate (phosphorus source) was applied at transplanting whereas urea (nitrogen source) was applied in two splits (half at transplanting and the other half at 45 days after planting). Irrigation water was applied uniformly to all plots in furrow every 6 days. Agronomic data were collected and analyzed using SAS software and significant treatment means were separated using least significant difference at 5% level of significance. The effect of nitrogen and phosphorus was significant on plant height and bulb yield. Application of 92 and 46 kg P2O5 h(a)-(1) increased bulb yield by 48.3% compared to the control and the partial budget analysis shows applying nitrogen and phosphorus at rate of 92N and 46 P2O5 kg ha(-1) was economically dominant over the other treatments. Therefore, application of 92N and 46 P2O5 kg ha(-1) is an optimum rate for garlic production at Lasta District, Kechin Abeba irrigation scheme and similar agro-ecologies.

Background: Assessment of suitable lands for irrigation is indispensable to plan and implement different programs in a cost-effective approach for sustainable land use planning and efficient utilization of the land. Hence selecting proper land use based on land suitability evaluation will enhance the productivity per unit area and ensures the sustainable use of land resources. Therefore, the research was designed to evaluate the suitability of the soil properties of Zamra irrigation scheme for irrigation purposes. Method: For this study about 195.16 ha of land were evaluated for irrigation suitablity. Four soil profile pits were opened in the representative site of the scheme based on slope, texture, soil color and soil depth. Soil samples were collected from the soil mapping units for analysis of texture, electrical conductivity, and calcium carbonate content, whereas slope, drainage and soil depth were directly measured at the field. The evaluation was carried out using a parametric evaluation method. Results: The results of the study revealed that four types of soils were identified namely, Rehodic Nitisol(eutric), Haplic Regosol (eutric) Eutric Regosol, Leptic Regosol (eutric, loamic), and Vertic Cambisol (Hypereutric). The soil texture consists of sandy loam and sandy clay loam at the surface and subsurface soil and the soil depth of study area varied from shallow to very deep. The soil of the scheme was free from salinity and the status of calcium carbonate was at a low level. The slope of the study area was ranged from flat (0–3%) to slopping (8–15%). Generally, 80.64 ha (41.32%) of the scheme was moderately suitable whereas 71.68 ha (36.73%) of the land was marginally suitable for irrigation. Due to major limiting factors of soil depth and slope about 42.84 ha of the land (21.95%) were not currently suitable for irrigation. Conclusion: In the study area, the major limitations were slope and soil depth. Therefore, to increase production and productivity of the scheme, land improvement operations are suggested.