A field experiment was conducted in the central highlands of Ethiopia to evaluate the performance of potato varieties for tuber yield and to identify a superior variety in tuber yield and yield components. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications at two locations in the central highlands of Ethiopia during the 2017 main cropping season. The results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed the presence of highly significant (P<0.01) differences among varieties over all traits studied. The mean squares for location were also significant in indicating the influence of environments on the traits of the studied varieties. However, the interaction between variety and environment had no significant effect on the performances of the potato varieties to attain 50% flowering, specific gravity and dry matter content indicating a similar performance of these traits across all locations. The variety Belete produced the maximum total tuber yield of 32.8 t ha ^-1 and marketable tuber yield of 29.1 t ha^-1. Conversely, farmers` variety Nech Abeba produced the minimum total tuber yield of 13.8 t ha^-1 and marketable tuber yield of 8.4 t ha^-1. For most tuber quality traits, viz., tuber specific gravity, dry matter content, starch percentage and total starch yield, varieties Belete and Menagesha were the maximum and minimum producers, respectively. Thus, it could be concluded that varietal and environmental variations as well as their interaction had considerable influence on tuber yield and the potato’s attributes.

Information on the extent of genetic variability and association among quantitative traits are vital for any crop improvement program and the development of suitable selection strategies. Limited research has been carried out thus far on potato genetic variability and trait association. This study on genetic variability and association among quantitative traits was conducted to assess the extent of genetic variability among yield and agronomic traits to identify superior varieties for the breeding program. To this effect, 20 improved varieties and a local cultivar were planted at two locations in central Ethiopia during the main cropping season of 2017/18 in a randomized complete block design using three replications. Analysis of variance of tuber yield and yield traits at each location and over locations, revealed the existence of highly significant (P < 0.01) differences among varieties in all agronomic and yield traits. Phenotypic coefficient of variation values ranged from 0.75% (specific gravity) to 32.22% (total starch yield) while the genotypic coefficient of variation values ranged between 0.70% (specific gravity) to 30.22% (total starch yield). Maximum difference between phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation values were noted for stem number, average tuber number, average tuber weight, number of leaves per plant and tuber yield. Hence, these traits are substantially influenced by the physiological status of the seed tuber at planting and by the environment, post emergence. Range of variability for most of the traits was high, indicating ample scope for selection and improvement in these traits. The estimated values for broad sense heritability and genetic advance, as percent of mean, ranged from 33.52% to 98.66% and 1.35% to 58.26%, respectively. All the traits had high heritability values, except average tuber number per hill, days to physiological maturity, average tuber weight and number of leaves per plant with moderate heritability values.

In soilless culture like aeroponics, nutrient optimization is the most critical factor to produce high quality and high yield of clean potato seed. Each crop has an optimum nutritional requirement. Even each potato cultivar may require a specific nutrient solution in an aeroponics unit. A nutrient optimization experiment was conducted at Holetta agricultural research center to study the effect of different nutrient solution levels on the physical quality and yield of potato mini-tubers. The treatments were four different nutrient solutions of greenhouse grade macro nutrients measured in (g) for the preparation of 500 liter volume of nutrient solution that is to be restocked when the nutrient tank becomes empty. The nutrient EC and pH were adjusted as per the requirements. A=(118 g CaNO₃, 252 g KNO₃, 68 g KH₂PO₄and 100 g MgSO₄) ,B=(59 g CaNO₃, 126 g KNO₃, 68 g KH₂PO₄and 100 g MgSO₄), C=(118 g CaNO₃, 252 g KNO₃, 68 g KH₂PO₄and 100 g MgSO₄until flowering and reduced by half after flowering), and D=(118 g CaNO₃, 252 g KNO₃, 136 g KH₂PO₄and 100 g MgSO₄). All treatments included 2.2g of Fe EDTA and 6 g of Fetrilon combi. The potato variety, Belete, was used for the experiment. Acclimatized plantlets were planted randomly in each box of four treatments in CRD design with three replicates. The results showed that each treatment varied in nutrient consumption rate. Treatment A took the highest amount of nutrient (3.29 kg, 28%), treatments B and D consumed the same amount (3.1 kg, 27%), while treatment C consumed the smallest amount (2.02 kg). Roo length was significantly affected by nutrient solutions. Nutrient solution C resulted the maximum root length (300.8 cm), while nutrient solution A produced minimum root length (135.5 cm). Plant height was not significantly affected by nutrient solutions. Small size tubers (12 g) were significantly affected by nutrient solutions both in number and weight. The maximum tuber numbers was obtained from treatment B. Therefore, the experiment indicated that treatment B represents the optimum nutrient concentration rate to use in an aeroponics minituber production system under Holetta conditions.

In Ethiopia, the adoption of improved forage technology is low despite the fact that improved technology adoption can play a pivotal role in boosting livestock production and productivity in general and the dairy sub-sector in particular, thereby contributing to poverty reduction and food and nutrition security. This low adoption of improved forage technology is constrained by various socioeconomic, institutional, and biophysical factors. We conducted a literature search on the reputable journal database by searching for “improved forage technology”, “determinants of forage technology”, “adoption”, “status of forage production in Ethiopia”, and “forage production limitations”. Moreover, we conducted a literature search on key national-level research institutions, the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Proceedings, the Central Statistics Agency (CSA) of Ethiopia, and conference proceedings and abstracts of societies and other relevant databases related to our keywords. This review article, therefore, highlights important issues that potentially constrain farmers` improved forage technology adoption and implementation in Ethiopia. Previous empirical study findings, analyzing the determinants of forage production technology adoption underscored that economic, technological, sociocultural, demographic, and institutional factors are the most important determinants of improved forage technology adoption and diffusion. Generally, to intensify the likelihood of the adoption of improved forage technologies, policymakers and concerned stakeholders should focus on strengthening the research-extension-farmers (R-E-F) linkage, adult education, and capacity building, coaching farmers to access improved forage seeds, information on forage husbandry and feeding, strengthening extension systems as well as capabilities which can improve the livelihoods of smallholder dairy farmers. Finally, the technology developer should incorporate the needs and perceptions of farmers through technology design and development; and consider the key demand and supply side during technology development, which enhances the adoption of the technology more easily. Therefore, our empirical review highlights the importance of addressing the aforementioned technology adoption constraints to improve the adoption and diffusion of improved forage technologies. This in turn, would help to improve the livelihoods of rural smallholder dairy farmers.

Malnutrition is one of the global issues of public health concern, and iron and zinc deficiencies are at the top of the list. Iron deficiency affects more than 2 billion people in the world and is a major cause of anemia. Potato has the potential to be an important source of iron and zinc. This study assessed the nature and magnitude of genetic variability in Fe and Zn concentrations, tuber yield, and quality traits among biofortified tetraploid potato clones and their relationships through correlation and path analysis. A total of 45 potato genotypes, including the variety Gudanie, were grown in field trials in a 9 × 5 alpha lattice design with three replications. Significant differences in mineral, tuber quality, and yield traits were observed among the genotypes, and high broad-sense heritability was obtained for most traits, suggesting that progress through breeding can be achieved. However, negative correlations and direct effects on most of the traits with Fe and Zn contents are found both at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Therefore, attaining simultaneous genetic gain for yield and enhanced Fe and Zn concentrations will be challenging. Cluster analysis assembled them into five groups. Cluster II contained the most prominent genotypes, having better mean values compared to all other genotypes for micronutrient traits, viz., Fe (23.80 mg kg⁻¹) and Zn (17.07 mg kg⁻¹). The results of this study confirm the presence of sufficient genetic variation for iron and zinc mineral concentration and the possibility to make significant progress through breeding.

The availability of quality seed to smallholder farmers for most crops in sub‐Saharan Africa is a problem due to low production and availability of certified seed. Ethiopia has adopted quality declared seed (QDS) certification protocols for arable crops including potato. However, the procedure sets that only 10% of seed fields submitted to certification as QDS are inspected by external inspection. Consequently, a survey was conducted in Amhara, Oromia, and Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ (SNNP) regions in Ethiopia to determine the reliability of quality control in potato QDS done through only visual assessment by determining the incidence of latent Ralstonia solanacerum ( Rs ) infection among farmer seed group cooperatives (FSGCs) and individual decentralized seed multipliers (IDSM). Tuber samples were collected from 446 potato fields in selected districts for both seed and ware potato producers. Data revealed that all the varieties collected in the study were equally prone to latent Rs infection. The proportion of latent Rs infected fields was highest in SNNP (39.6%) and least in Amhara (10.8%) region. Latent Rs infection was as high in samples collected from fields of FSGCs as in home‐saved or local seed (20.5%) and lowest among IDSM (8.7%). These data reveal that certifying potato QDS visually as the current practice in Ethiopia is inadequate for seed health assurance and a recipe for disseminating Rs . To contain further spread of the disease, therefore, all seed classes including QDS in Ethiopia should be tested for latent Rs infection if they are to be formally distributed.