Effect of Blended Fertilizer and Lime Application Rates on Grain Yield and Yield Component of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Omo Nada District, Jimma Zone Southwestern, Ethiopia

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the important food security crops and play significant role in the livelihood of most Ethiopians. However, the productivity is hampered by several biotic and abiotic factors including low soil fertility. This study was therefore; conducted to determine optimum rates blended fertilizer under limed and unlimed condition of acid soil on Maize in Omo Nada District, Jimma Zone Southwestern, and Ethiopia during 2017 main cropping season. The amount of lime that was applied at each location was calculated on the basis of the exchangeable acidity. The experiment used seven treatments; Control, NPS, NPSB,NPSB plus Recommended rate of Lime, NPSB plus 0.75*recommended rate of Lime ,NPSB plus 0.50*recommended rate of Lime and NPSB plus 0.25* recommended rate of lime were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated across Seven farmers’ fields in each location. Application of lime was dramatically improved soil pH from 4.5 to 5.28. Yield and yield components of Maize were significantly affected by integrated use of blended fertilizer and lime. Accordingly, Plant height, Grain Yield, Biomass Yield, Harvest Index and thousand kernel weight of Maize were obtained with application of NPSB plus recommended rate of Lime. Higher net return 15914 Ethiopia birr/ha with marginal rate of return of 557 % of Maize was obtained with application of NPSB plus Recommended rate of Lime. Thus, integrated use of NPSB plus Recommended Lime is recommended for Maize production in acid soil of Omonada district and similar agro ecologies. Keywords: soil pH, soil test, fertilizer recommendation, Yield DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-11-03 Publication date:June 30th 202

Performance Evaluation of IrishPotato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Varieties for Tuber Yield in Buno Bedele, Southwestern, Ethiopia

In this study, adaptation trial of improved potato varieties was conducted in Buno Bedele Zone with the objective of recommending best-performing variety. Four potato varieties (Belete, Gudenie Jalanie and Horo) were evaluated for their vegetative growth performance and tuber yield under rain fed conditions. Combined analysis of data revealed that, varieties showed highly significant at (P <0.01) variations for days to maturity, number of tubers per plant, Marketable and tuber yield. The longest days to maturity (95.25 days) was recorded from Gudanie while the shortest days to maturity (87.25 days) was recorded from Horo. Besides, the tested potato varieties showed highly significant (P < 0.01) variations for the number of total tubers per hill. The highest tuber number per hill (22.37) was recorded from Belete variety where as the lowest tuber number per hill (13) was recorded from Jalanie. Variety Belete had also highest (24.24 t/ha) marketable tuber yield followed by Gudanie variety (19.14t/ha) as compared with other Varieties where as, Jalanie variety had the lowest (9.83 t/ha) marketable tuber yield. There was highly significant (p<0.01) difference in total tuber yield among the potato varieties evaluated. The highest total tuber yield (26.24 t/ha) was recorded from Belete variety followed by Gudanie variety (22.06 t/ha). On the other hand, the lowest total tuber yield (11.14 t/ha was recorded from Jalane variety which was found to be at par with Horo variety Belete and Gudenie varities were  also relatively resistant to late blight diseaseas compared to other varieties. On the other hand Jalanie and Horo varieties were moderately susceptible and moderately resistant, respectively. The result of the correlation analysis also revealed that tuber number and number of tubers per plant were significantly and positively correlated with marketable and total tuber yield. Likewise marketable tuber yield was also significantly and positively correlated with total tuber yield. Belete and Gudanie were varieties that showed better performance in terms of yield and yield component as well as disease resistance. Therefore, the two varieties are recommended to be demonstrated on farmer’s field for further scaling up. Keywords: Potato, Adaptation, Tuber yield, Marketable tuber yield DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/13-5-04 Publication date: April 30th 202

Explaining the continuing high prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis unknown to the health system in evaluation units: a mixed methods explanatory study in four trachoma-endemic countries

BACKGROUND: We explored reasons for continuing higher-than-anticipated prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) unknown to the health system in population-based prevalence surveys in evaluation units where full geographical coverage of TT case finding was reported. METHODS: A mixed-methods study in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania was conducted. We compared data from clinical examination, campaign documentation and interviews with original trachoma impact survey (TIS) results. RESULTS: Of 169 TT cases identified by TIS teams, 130 (77%) were examined in this study. Of those, 90 (69%) were a match (both TIS and study teams agreed on TT classification) and 40 (31%) were a mismatch. Of the 40 mismatches, 22 (55%) were identified as unknown to the health system by the study team but as known to the health system by the TIS team; 12 (30%) were identified as not having TT by the study team but as having TT by the TIS team; and six (15%) were identified as unknown to the health system in the TIS team but as known to the health system by the study team based on documentation reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Incorrectly reported geographical coverage of case-finding activities, and discrepancies in TT status between TIS results and more detailed assessments, are the key reasons identified for continuing high TT prevalence

Willingness to pay for forest conservation: Evidence from a contingent valuation survey analysis in Southwest Ethiopia

Forests are the major source of biodiversity and ecosystem services, on which millions of livelihoods depend. In Ethiopia, forests play a crucial role in the livelihoods of rural communities by providing various goods and ecosystem services such as timber, non-timber forest products, water resources, and environmental conservation. Despite these benefits, the forests of the country have been subject to continuous degradation, which calls for sustainable conservation. Effective public participation in conservation activities is an important intervention to consider for successful conservation efforts. This paper aims to estimate households’ mean willingness to pay (WTP) both in money/cash and labour time for the conservation of Belete-Gera forest in southwest Ethiopia and to identify determinants of WTP. To address the objectives, survey data was collected from 193 sample households using a double-bounded contingent valuation (CV) format followed by open-ended questions. A bivariate probit model estimation result indicates that the annual mean WTP in monetary values or cash was 167.23 Birr ($4.88) per household, while the annual mean willingness to contribute in labour (WTCL) was 49.66 man-days per household. The finding supports the contribution in labour as a payment vehicle for future CV studies, particularly when applied to low-income households. The result indicates that age of the household head, gender (male), education level, income, and training on forest conservation are statistically significant and have a positive effect on WTP in money, whereas bids offered have negative effects. For the labour bidding case, gender of the household head (male), land holding size, and training on forest conservation are statistically significant and increase households’ WTCL, while dependency ratio, a distance of the residential place from the forest, and bids in labour showed significant negative effects. The estimated results suggest that the local community supports the conservation of the forest, implying that, despite their low-income, rural households are willing to contribute considerable amounts of resources for the proposed conservation program in the study area. Thus, it is suggested that government and development partners need to consider the potential of labour contributions by local communities in conservation policies

Cervical cancer screening utilization and associated factors among women attending antenatal care at Asella Referral and Teaching Hospital, Arsi zone, South Central Ethiopia

Abstract Background Cervical cancer is a major public health problem affecting women worldwide. It is the second cause of mortality among women in Ethiopia. Early Cervical cancer screening has a tremendous impact on reducing morbidity and mortality related to cervical cancer infection. Therefore, this study aimed to assess cervical cancer screening utilization and associated factors among women attending Antenatal Care at Asella referral and teaching hospital, Arsi Zone, south-central Ethiopia. Method This study employed a facility-based cross-sectional study among 457 Antenatal Care mothers from December 2020 to February 2021. Data collection was performed using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires. Data were entered into EpiInfo Version 7 and transferred to SPSS V.21 for analysis. A logistic regression model was used to determine the factors associated with cervical cancer screening utilization and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval at p-value < 0.05 was computed to determine the level of statistical significance. Result The magnitude of cervical cancer screening utilization was found to be 7.2%(95% CI: 5.2, 10.6). Educational status of secondary and above (AOR = 2.92; 95%CI = 1.078–7.94), getting screened for any reproductive healthcare services(AOR = 4.95; 95%CI = 2.24–10.94), having multiple sexual partners(AOR = 4.55; 95%CI = 1.83–11.35), and satisfactory knowledge of cervical cancer screening(AOR = 3.89; 95%CI = 1.74–8.56) were significantly associated factors with cervical cancer screening utilization. Conclusion Utilization of cervical cancer screening was low among women attending Antenatal care at Asella Referral and Teaching hospital, Southcentral Ethiopia. Educational status, history of multiple sexual partners, getting screened for any reproductive healthcare services, and knowledge of cervical cancer screening were significant factors associated with the utilization of cervical cancer screening. Hence, to improve the utilization of Cervical cancer screening, there should be the implementation of programmed health education and awareness creation on the benefits of screening as well as the promotion of reproductive healthcare services at health facilities