Blended Fertilizers as Sources of Balanced Nutrients for Growth and Yield of Wheat at Hulla District in Southern Ethiopia

Although a number of blended fertilizers, which contain multi-nutrients, were formulated to be used in different areas of the country, they were not evaluated for their effectiveness in different soils and agro-ecologies. This study was conducted in Hulla district to evaluate two types of blended fertilizers for their effectiveness in boosting wheat yield in the area. The experiment consists of nine treatments including recommended NP (69 kg N + 40 kg P/ha), 200 kg BF1/ha, 200 kg BF2/ha, 200 kg BF1/ha + N adjusted to the recommended rate, 200 kg BF1/ha + P adjusted to the recommended rate, 200 kg BF1/ha + NP adjusted to the recommended rate, 200 kg BF2/ha + N adjusted to the recommended rate, 200 kg BF2/ha + P adjusted to the recommended rate and 200 kg BF2/ha + NP adjusted to the recommended rate. The experiment was laid out in RCB design replicated across five farmers. Wheat (variety Ogolcho), was drilled in rows spaced 20 cm apart. Data including plant height, spike length, total biomass and grain yields (kg ha-1) were collected and analyzed using the SAS statistical package program version 9.0 and means were separated with LSD. Economic analysis was performed to investigate the economic feasibility of the new blended fertilizers for wheat production. Results of data analyses showed that application of BFs alone or with recommended amounts of N and P produced higher results in all parameters as compared to the recommended N and P alone indicating the need for balanced nutrients for wheat production at Hulla. Application of balanced nutrients from blended fertilizers (BF1) by adjusting N and P to the recommended amounts could significantly improve wheat production at Hulla compared to the recommended N and P alone. However, the use of these fertilizers was not economical and as a result 200 kg BF-2 is recommended for wheat production at Hulla. Keywords: blended fertilizers, recommended NP, balanced nutrients, wheat production, nutrient conten

Evaluation of Soil Test Based Phosphorus Fertilizer Recommendations Under Balanced Nutrient Formulations for Teff and Wheat in Southern Ethiopia

Nutrient depletion through erosion and removal by crops over many years and limited capacity of farmers to invest in fertilizers or soil conservation measures has resulted in very low productivity.  A trial was conducted to evaluate soil test based fertilizer recommendation under balanced fertilization for teff (Eragrostis tef) and wheat production in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region of Ethiopia during the main cropping season of 2015. The treatments were based on soil test based phosphorus (P) fertilizer recommendation of teff (30 kg P ha-1) and wheat (40 kg P ha-1). Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated across five farms, including 100% P (30 kg ha-1) plus recommend N (64 kg ha-1), 100% P plus balanced fertilizers (NKSZnB), 66 % of P plus balanced fertilizers (NKSZnB), 133 % of P plus balanced fertilizers (NKSZnB) and the agronomic recommendation of  N and P fertilizers (64N + 20P kg ha-1). The proportion of NKSZnB was 63, 17.5, 7.6, 2.23, 0.37 and 69, 25, 11.2, 3.44, 0.5 kg ha-1 for teff and whest, respectively. Except number of tillers, grain yield and biomass of teff not showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05).  Significantly higher number of tillers was recorded when the critical P-value combined with balanced fertilizers (NKSZnB) in both locations at Bensa and Halaba. Similarly, statistical difference (P < 0.05) was observed between treatments on plant height and spike length of wheat.  Although grain and biomass yields of both crops were not showed statistical difference, but in all cases the trend indicated that high results were obtained from plots treated by the soil test based P recommendation plus the balanced fertilizers. The current study indicated that reconsidering the previous soil test based phosphorus fertilizer recommendation under balanced fertilization is required in order to determine P which can be   apposite with the new soil fertility maps of the region (SNNPRS) and nutrient combinations recommended for each woreda. Keywords: Phosphorus, teff, wheat, use of balanced fertilizers, low productivit

Magneto-Thermoelectric Coefficients of Heavily Doped N-Type Mg2Si Material

In contrast to parabolic band model typically used in understanding electronic properties in general, thermoelectric and magneto-thermoelectric in particular, this study confirms non-parabolic band model results in better understanding of Seebeck coefficient and Nernst coefficient in the presence of magnetic field for Mg2Si. The magneto Seebeck coefficient was found significantly enhanced from its zero-field value for different electron concentrations in the range 0.6 ‑ 12×1025/m3 and at room temperature due to the magnetic field in the range 0.2 – 1 T for non-parabolic model compared to parabolic band model. The result for Nernst coefficient shows increasing trend as function of magnetic field except for certain electron concentrations for parabolic band model while it is decreasing with magnetic field on average for non-parabolic band model

The impact of household wealth on soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks in enset (Ensete Ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) based farming systems in Southern Ethiopia

Acknowledgements This project was supported through the University of Aberdeen’s 2022/23 UKRI GCRF and Newton Institutional Consolidated Account Award (GNCA) (award reference No: ES/T003073/1). RALENTIR (Reducing land degradation and carbon loss from Ethiopia's soils to strengthen livelihoods and resilience) project also supported the field works in its project area (Haise) funded by GCRF (Global Challenges Research Fund) and University of Aberdeen (grant number ES/T003073/1). The authors thank South Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) for providing logistic for this work.Peer reviewe

Changes in soil properties with long-term organic inputs due to distance from homestead and farm characteristics in southern Ethiopian farmlands

Open access via the Elsevier Agreement This original data was collected as part of the project ‘Alternative Carbon Investments in Ecosystems for Poverty Alleviation –below ground versus above ground opportunities for restoration of ecosystem services’ (ALTER), funded with support from the Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) programme (grant no. NE/K010441/1). The analysis of the data and preparation of this paper was undertaken as part of the RALENTIR (Reducing land degradation and carbon loss from Ethiopia's soils to strengthen livelihoods and resilience) project, funded by GCRF (Global Challenges Research Fund) and University of Aberdeen (grant number ES/T003073/1).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Response of maize yield to nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur rates on Andosols and Nitisols in Ethiopia

The use of fertilizers in balanced and adequate amounts is a prerequisite for increasing crop productivity and production. Unbalanced plant nutrient management continues to be a major factor contributing to low maize (Zea mays L.) yields due to lack of information on the dose–responses to macronutrients on different soil types in Ethiopia. This study was carried out to quantify maize yield response and agronomic efficiency of varying application rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) under balanced application of other nutrients across two soil types in Ethiopia. Field trials were set up on 29 farmers’ fields in four districts of Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) for three consecutive cropping seasons (2014–2017). The treatments consisted of six rates of N, P and S each and eight rates of K combined with balanced application of the remaining macronutrients, zinc (Zn) and boron (B). The treatments were laid out in randomised complete blocks design with three replicates per farm. Using nutrient dose–response modelling, the agronomic optimum rates of N, P, K and S were estimated at 46, 40, 17 and 10 kg ha−1 on Nitisols, with balanced application of the other nutrients. On Andosols, the optimum rates of N, P and S were estimated at 184, 20 and 30 kg ha−1, respectively, but the optimum K rate could not be estimated. The predicted maximum yields obtained with balanced nutrient application were lower on Andosols (3397–3640 kg ha−1) than on Nitisols (4630–6094 kg ha−1). Using the Mitscherlich dose–response model, the percentage deficiencies of N, P, K and S were estimated to be 1.3–3.3 times more on Nitisols than Andosols. Consequently, agronomic efficiencies of N, P, K and S were significantly lower on Andosols than on Nitisols. It is concluded that balanced application of 46 kg N ha−1 , 40 kg P ha−1 , 17 kg K ha−1 , 10 kg ha−1 S, 2 kg Zn ha−1 and 0.5 kg B ha−1 could be recommended for maize on Nitisols in the study area. Although this recommendation may also apply to Andosol, further research is needed as the productivity of Andosols appears to be limited by constrains other than N, P, K, S, Zn and B. We also recommend a shift from the blanket fertilizer recommendations to site-specific nutrient management based on good understanding of the variations in crop response with soil type and agroecology and appropriate soil and plant analyses

A systems model describing the impact of organic resource use on farming households in low to middle income countries

We are grateful for support from the DFID-NERC El Niño programme in project NE P004830, “Building Resilience in Ethiopia’s Awassa region to Drought (BREAD)”, the ESRC NEXUS programme in project IEAS/POO2501/1, “Improving organic resource use in rural Ethiopia (IPORE)”, and the NERC ESPA programme in project NEK0104251 “Alternative carbon investments in ecosystems for poverty alleviation (ALTER)”. We are also grateful to Dr. V.U.M. Rao (Former Project Coordinator, AICRP on Agrometeorology, CRIDA, Hyderabad) and Dr. S.K. Chaudhari (DDG, NRM Division, KAB-II, ICAR, New Delhi) for their assistance in collecting meteorological data of Parbhani, Maharashtra.Peer reviewedPostprin

Treatment of organic resources before soil incorporation in semi-arid regions improves resilience to El Niño, and increases crop production and economic returns

We are grateful for support from the DFID-NERC El Niño programme in project NE P004830, “Building Resilience in Ethiopia’s Awassa region to Drought (BREAD)”, the ESRC NEXUS programme in project IEAS/POO2501/1, “Improving organic resource use in rural Ethiopia (IPORE)”, and the NERC ESPA programme in project NEK0104251 “Alternative carbon investments in ecosystems for poverty alleviation (ALTER)”. We are also grateful to Anke Fischer (James Hutton Insitute) for her comments on the paper.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022–2050: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Future trends in disease burden and drivers of health are of great interest to policy makers and the public at large. This information can be used for policy and long-term health investment, planning, and prioritisation. We have expanded and improved upon previous forecasts produced as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) and provide a reference forecast (the most likely future), and alternative scenarios assessing disease burden trajectories if selected sets of risk factors were eliminated from current levels by 2050. Methods: Using forecasts of major drivers of health such as the Socio-demographic Index (SDI; a composite measure of lag-distributed income per capita, mean years of education, and total fertility under 25 years of age) and the full set of risk factor exposures captured by GBD, we provide cause-specific forecasts of mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) by age and sex from 2022 to 2050 for 204 countries and territories, 21 GBD regions, seven super-regions, and the world. All analyses were done at the cause-specific level so that only risk factors deemed causal by the GBD comparative risk assessment influenced future trajectories of mortality for each disease. Cause-specific mortality was modelled using mixed-effects models with SDI and time as the main covariates, and the combined impact of causal risk factors as an offset in the model. At the all-cause mortality level, we captured unexplained variation by modelling residuals with an autoregressive integrated moving average model with drift attenuation. These all-cause forecasts constrained the cause-specific forecasts at successively deeper levels of the GBD cause hierarchy using cascading mortality models, thus ensuring a robust estimate of cause-specific mortality. For non-fatal measures (eg, low back pain), incidence and prevalence were forecasted from mixed-effects models with SDI as the main covariate, and YLDs were computed from the resulting prevalence forecasts and average disability weights from GBD. Alternative future scenarios were constructed by replacing appropriate reference trajectories for risk factors with hypothetical trajectories of gradual elimination of risk factor exposure from current levels to 2050. The scenarios were constructed from various sets of risk factors: environmental risks (Safer Environment scenario), risks associated with communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases (CMNNs; Improved Childhood Nutrition and Vaccination scenario), risks associated with major non-communicable diseases (NCDs; Improved Behavioural and Metabolic Risks scenario), and the combined effects of these three scenarios. Using the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways climate scenarios SSP2-4.5 as reference and SSP1-1.9 as an optimistic alternative in the Safer Environment scenario, we accounted for climate change impact on health by using the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change temperature forecasts and published trajectories of ambient air pollution for the same two scenarios. Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy were computed using standard methods. The forecasting framework includes computing the age-sex-specific future population for each location and separately for each scenario. 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for each individual future estimate were derived from the 2·5th and 97·5th percentiles of distributions generated from propagating 500 draws through the multistage computational pipeline. Findings: In the reference scenario forecast, global and super-regional life expectancy increased from 2022 to 2050, but improvement was at a slower pace than in the three decades preceding the COVID-19 pandemic (beginning in 2020). Gains in future life expectancy were forecasted to be greatest in super-regions with comparatively low life expectancies (such as sub-Saharan Africa) compared with super-regions with higher life expectancies (such as the high-income super-region), leading to a trend towards convergence in life expectancy across locations between now and 2050. At the super-region level, forecasted healthy life expectancy patterns were similar to those of life expectancies. Forecasts for the reference scenario found that health will improve in the coming decades, with all-cause age-standardised DALY rates decreasing in every GBD super-region. The total DALY burden measured in counts, however, will increase in every super-region, largely a function of population ageing and growth. We also forecasted that both DALY counts and age-standardised DALY rates will continue to shift from CMNNs to NCDs, with the most pronounced shifts occurring in sub-Saharan Africa (60·1% [95% UI 56·8–63·1] of DALYs were from CMNNs in 2022 compared with 35·8% [31·0–45·0] in 2050) and south Asia (31·7% [29·2–34·1] to 15·5% [13·7–17·5]). This shift is reflected in the leading global causes of DALYs, with the top four causes in 2050 being ischaemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, compared with 2022, with ischaemic heart disease, neonatal disorders, stroke, and lower respiratory infections at the top. The global proportion of DALYs due to YLDs likewise increased from 33·8% (27·4–40·3) to 41·1% (33·9–48·1) from 2022 to 2050, demonstrating an important shift in overall disease burden towards morbidity and away from premature death. The largest shift of this kind was forecasted for sub-Saharan Africa, from 20·1% (15·6–25·3) of DALYs due to YLDs in 2022 to 35·6% (26·5–43·0) in 2050. In the assessment of alternative future scenarios, the combined effects of the scenarios (Safer Environment, Improved Childhood Nutrition and Vaccination, and Improved Behavioural and Metabolic Risks scenarios) demonstrated an important decrease in the global burden of DALYs in 2050 of 15·4% (13·5–17·5) compared with the reference scenario, with decreases across super-regions ranging from 10·4% (9·7–11·3) in the high-income super-region to 23·9% (20·7–27·3) in north Africa and the Middle East. The Safer Environment scenario had its largest decrease in sub-Saharan Africa (5·2% [3·5–6·8]), the Improved Behavioural and Metabolic Risks scenario in north Africa and the Middle East (23·2% [20·2–26·5]), and the Improved Nutrition and Vaccination scenario in sub-Saharan Africa (2·0% [–0·6 to 3·6]). Interpretation: Globally, life expectancy and age-standardised disease burden were forecasted to improve between 2022 and 2050, with the majority of the burden continuing to shift from CMNNs to NCDs. That said, continued progress on reducing the CMNN disease burden will be dependent on maintaining investment in and policy emphasis on CMNN disease prevention and treatment. Mostly due to growth and ageing of populations, the number of deaths and DALYs due to all causes combined will generally increase. By constructing alternative future scenarios wherein certain risk exposures are eliminated by 2050, we have shown that opportunities exist to substantially improve health outcomes in the future through concerted efforts to prevent exposure to well established risk factors and to expand access to key health interventions

Effectiveness of Visualization on Problem Solving and Experimental Tasks in Learning Heat and Temperature for Grade Nine

This study examined the effectiveness of visualization on problem solving and experimentation tasks in learning heat and temperature. Quasi-experimental research design was used with 109 total number of ninth grade students. The instruments were achievement test, Questionnaire and interview. The overall results show that achievement scores of learners in experimental group were better than those in the control group (t-test, p < 0.05). Comparison of male and female students of experimental group, (M = 2.97, SD = .9) at t = .32, p= .005 and (M =3.4, SD =3.7) at t = 5.1, p = .000 respectively. There was significant improvement for male students of the experimental group compare to the female counterparts. Despite there was significance correlation between achievement score and performance assessment scores for problem solving tasks no significance correlation.Este estudio examinó la efectividad de la visualización en la resolución de problemas y las tareas de experimentación en el aprendizaje del calor y la temperatura. El diseño de investigación cuasiexperimental se utilizó con 109 número total de estudiantes de noveno grado. Los instrumentos fueron prueba de rendimiento, cuestionario y entrevista. Los resultados generales muestran que los puntajes de rendimiento de los alumnos en el grupo experimental fueron mejores que los del grupo de control (prueba t, p <0.05). Comparación de estudiantes masculinos y femeninos del grupo experimental, (M = 2.97, SD = .9) en t = .32, p = .005 y (M = 3.4, SD = 3.7) en t = 5.1, p = .000 respectivamente. Hubo una mejora significativa para los estudiantes varones del grupo experimental en comparación con las contrapartes femeninas. A pesar de que hubo una correlación significativa entre el puntaje de logro y los puntajes de evaluación de desempeño para las tareas de resolución de problemas, no existe una correlación significativa