Rural Resource Centre (RRC) business model: A new agri-based knowledge hub

Poster prepared for a share fair, Addis Ababa, May 201

Response of selected indigenous dryland agroforestry tree species to salinity and implications for soil fertility management

Salt tolerant plants are known to remove excess soluble salts from the soil and thus may be used in land reclamation. We studied the responses of the trees, Balinites aegyptiaca L. (Zygophyllaceae), as well as the Fabaceae, Acacia tortilis (Forssk) Hayne, and Tamarindus indica L. to salinity. Three experiments were conducted on: germination, in the laboratory; seedling performance in a lath house; and, the impact of the tree species on soil productivity in the field in Afar regional state along the Awash river, eastern Ethiopia. Mixtures of salts, composed of chlorides and sulfates were tested at different concentrations in both germination and lath house experiments in randomized complete block designs. Seedling root collar diameter and height were measured every two weeks. Soil samples were collected from randomly selected pots to examine the effect of salinity on soil properties. The effects of trees on in situ soil productivity was studied by collecting 72 soil samples at different distances from the tree and different soil depths. The soil productivity index was calculated. The study revealed that germination percentage and rate decreased significantly with increasing salt concentrations. The effects of the three tree species on soil properties were significantly different at 12.2 dS m -1 salinity level compared to the control. A. tortilis was the least salt-sensitive. Balancing the key requirements of adequate germination and growth and the ability to reduce the salt concentration of the soil solution, B. aegyptiaca is the species with the most potential. Therefore, the study suggests to use B. aegyptiaca as agroforestry trees in the form of parkland in arid and semi-arid areas where salinity problems are prominent

Adaptation and growth performance of five avocado cultivars in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has diverse agroecology with vast areas, suitable for growing subtropical and tropical fruits. Despite this potential, the avocado industry in Ethiopia is still in its infancy. This study assessed the adaptation of five avocado cultivars: Ettinger, Fuerte, Hass, Nabal, and Reed, survival rate, growth performances, fruit yield, and household contributions in Lemo district Ethiopia. The results revealed that there were significant differences in tree growth performance and yield among avocado cultivars (P < 0.05). The highest vegetative growth performance was demonstrated by Nabal, Fuerte, Ettinger, and Hass, while Reed was the lowest. In 2020, Nabal had the highest fruit yield (96 kg tree1), followed by Hass (47 kg tree1), while Fuerte had a relatively low fruit yield (39.43 kg tree1). Due to its larger fruit size, the Nabal was used for sale, while the Hass cultivar, which has a sweet taste, was mainly used for home consumption. The findings demonstrated that significant difference in management practices applied by male and female farmers. Overall, the study concluded that the Nabal, Hass, and Ettinger cultivars had a great potential for fruit production, which could improve smallholder farmers livelihood. As a result, it is necessary to scale up these avocado cultivars in the midland agroecological zone of the country