A Review on Coffee Farming, Production Potential and Constraints in Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Coffee based Agriculture is the cornerstone of Gedeo people’s economy. The authors review how was the coffee farming, production potential and its constraints in the study area. Coffee production potential covers around 49.74% of total cultivated arable land, and is grown mainly by smallholder farmers on plots of less/greater than one hectare. Gedeo (Yirgacheffe) produces high-quality specialty or fully washed coffee, which is intercropped with different agro-forestry practices indigenously due to land scarcity to enable farmers to achieve a better combination of food and cash crops. Coffee production in the area was organic with no inorganic fertilizer, due to this the coffees produced have unique flavor and taste which is accepted in world market as Yirgacheffe brand. Some of the Coffee productivity packages practiced in the area could be Mulching, Pruning, Composting all needed to boost yields. These practices will also help to improve the soils’ chemical and physical properties and control moisture loss during dry season, but farmers faces a lots of problem in coffee production, mainly lack of proper coffee extension, occurrences of disease and pests, lack of inputs for productivity package and undermined coffee prices . Based on the finding of the study farmers should be supported by government, nongovernmental organization and any concerned body for sustainable coffee production. Keywords: coffee productivity packages coffee farming, organic coffe

Phosphorus Sorption Characteristics and External Phosphorus Requirement of Bulle and Wonago Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

Determination of the P-sorption characteristics of soils is important for economic fertilizer application and to recommend appropriate management strategies for high P-fixing soils. Thus, the objectives of this study were to evaluate P-sorption characteristics of soils occurring in some areas of southern Ethiopia and identify factors contributing to P sorption. Composite surface (0-20 cm) soil samples from 6 sites of two locations were collected. The results revealed that the P-sorption data were fitted well with both Langmuir and Freundlich models with r2 values of 0.99. But later model was found to better in describing P-sorption data than the former model. The adsorption maxima (Xm) and distribution coefficient (Kf) values of soils ranged from 909-2000 mg PKg-1 and 245-487 mg PKg-1 based on Langmuir and Freundlich models respectively. The corresponding SPR values ranged between 57-196 mg P kg-1 and 71.8-211mg P kg-1 based on Langmuir and Freundlich models respectively. Bonding energy constant (K) of Langmuir model and Freundlich constant (b) ranged from 0.15-1.4 and 0.54-0.66 Lmg-1 respectively. The bonding energy constant (K) of Langmuir model was found to be more valuable than Xm in discriminating the study soils as high and low P sorbing soils.   Based on both models soils of Bulle had SPR values >150 mg PKg-1 and then were classified as high P-fixing soils while soils of Wonago had SPR values <150 mgPKg-1 were classified as low P-fixing. The result of path analysis revealed that exchangeable Al and Clay had direct effect on P-sorption parameters of both models. It is concluded that P-sorption models can effectively be used to discriminate soils based on P-fixation ability. However, validation of both models through real time experiments in greenhouse and field is recommended before the models used for large scale. Key Words:  P- sorption/fixation, Standard P requirement (EPR), Exchangeable Al, Fe, Langmuir Model, Freunlich mode

Evaluation of Alternate, Fixed and Conventional Furrow Irrigation Systems with Different Water Application Level on Onion Yield in Dubti, Afar, Ethiopia

Water scarcity is a major constraint for the production of food in arid and semi-arid areas. Therefore, deficit irrigation and application of irrigation systems are important concerns to improve water use efficiency without significant yield loss. The objective of an experiment was evaluating the performance of furrow irrigation systems under different water application levels on onion yield. The treatments were three deficit irrigation levels of 50%, 75% and 100% of ETC with three furrow irrigation systems and laid out a factorial RCB design with three replications. The highest bulb yield and water use efficiency were obtained from CFI 100% and AFI 100% respectively. Bulb yield of  CFI 100%, CFI 75%, and AFI 100% were not shown a significant difference which is 25.46 ton/ha, 24.88 ton/ha, and 24.54 ton/ha respectively, besides better water use efficiency of 8.39 kg/m3 was recorded from AFI 100%. In relative to the control, AFI 100% able to increase 0.868 ha net additional irrigable land per each hectare. Therefore, it can be decided that Alternative furrow irrigation with 100% ETC increased water use efficiency and can solve a problem of water shortage. Keywords: Alternate Furrow; Crop Water Requirement; Deficit Irrigation; Onion; Water Use Efficiency DOI: 10.7176/IEL/9-5-03 Publication date:June 30th 201

A Review on Evaluation of Soil Potassium Status and Crop Response to Potassium Fertilization

Potassium (K) is an essential nutrient for plant growth. Because large amounts are absorbed from the root zone in the production of most agronomic crops, it is classified as a macronutrient. Different  soils types can supply K for crop production, but when the supply from the soil is not adequate, K must be supplied in a fertilizer program. This review paper provides information important to the basic understanding of K soil status and nutrition of plants, its reaction in soils, its function in plants, and its role in efficient crop production. Keywords:  soil potassium status, potassium fertilization, crop response

Apartment Purchase Decision Variables in Real Estate Companies: Sales Teams Perspective in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

This study intended to assess factors affecting apartment purchase decision of consumers with respect to real estate sales team perspective in Addis Ababa using four major factors that would affect the purchase decision of a consumer viz., price, location, quality of apartment and corporate image. Accordingly, the study used both descriptive and explanatory research design. Self-administered structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data from a total sample size of 50 sales experts or sales/marketing manager of real estate companies who are drawn using convenient sampling. The relationships proposed in the framework were tested using Pearson correlation, and the causal relations were analyzed using regression analysis. Accordingly, it is found out that there is a strong significant relationship between purchase decision factors and purchase decision with Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.699 (r=0. 699) . In addition, purchase decision factors have an influence on purchase decision in which 52.20% of the variation in purchase decision is explained by the variation in price, location, quality of apartment and corporate image. Furthermore, corporate image is the most influencing apartment purchase decision factor followed by quality of apartment. Thus, it is recommended that real estate companies may give top priority in building their corporate image and developing quality apartments as these two factors are highly influencing real estate customers purchase decision. Keywords: Real estate, Apartment, Purchase decision, purchase decision factors DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/79-02 Publication date:May 31st 202

Review on the Current Status of Poverty and Its Determinants in Ethiopia

The study was mainly focused on assessing current poverty status and its determinants in Ethiopia. Specifically aims to review the level of poverty status, causes of poverty and determinants of poverty in Ethiopia. However, its total population is more than100 million; agriculture is the foundation of its economic growth. Poverty is still a big obstacle to overcome in Ethiopia. Poverty in Ethiopia is caused population pressure, illiteracies, and natural factors like drought, famine etc. Disease, shortage of land, poor use of technology, weak basic services, political instability, inflation, high unemployment rate and etc. Based on generalized results of we reviewed documents the major determinants of poverty were age of household heads, family size per adult equivalent, access to credit service, dependency ratio,  and access to health service. Hence, promoting equitable economic growth, family planning, increasing land productivity, increasing credit service, increasing health service, and promoting research extension farmer linkage are indispensable policy interventions to better reduce rural poverty. Key words: Poverty, Determinants, Ethiopia DOI: 10.7176/JPID/50-04 Publication date:June 30th 201

Ground Water Quality Determination of former Lake Haramaya, Haramaya District, Eastern Haranghe Zone, Oroma Regional State, Ethiopia

Assessment of the potential of available groundwater in a certain area is indispensable for further development of human being in every sector. This study assessed the current groundwater quality determination to check suitability of ground water for domestic purpose. Both primary and secondary data were collected to achieve the objective of the research. In order to determine the basic hydrologic parameters, meteorological data was collected from Haramaya meteorological station. The ground water quality analyses were conducted in Dire-Dawa Water Bureau laboratory and Haramaya University laboratory. Physical, chemical and biological analysis was carried out for seven triplicate samples from the former lake area and from its catchment. Based on TDS and hardness the samples were classified as fresh and very hard water. 33.3 percent of Fluoride (mg/l) and 66.67 percent of Nitrate (mg/l) results were higher than WHO recommended value with mean of 0.88 ± 0.18 and 17.6 ± 4.4 respectively. 66.7 percent of the turbidity was found to be above the WHO limit and 83.3 percent of the samples have total colifoms above the guideline value and it reveal the necessity of treatment before use.J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. Sept., 2012, Vol. 16 (3) 245 - 25

The chemical composition of the effluent from Awassa Textile Factory and its effects on aquatic biota

The chemical composition of the effluent from the Awassa textile factory was quantified and its effects on chlorophyll-a concentration and fish fry were examined. The effluent contained high concentrations of toxic heavy metals, and concentrations of about 70% of all the elements measured were higher (by 10 to 100 times) in effluent treated in ponds (biological lagoons) than straight from the factory, presumably due to concentration by evaporation. Chlorophyll-a concentration in lake water samples containing 10% and 20% textile effluent from the ponds increased by 5 to 1400% and 7 to 4000%, respectively, whereas the changes in the control were -24% to 433%. About 18% and 53% of the fish fry died within 12 hr in 10% and 20% pond effluent in lake water, respectively. The highest mean mortality level was about 64% in the 20% effluent treatment at 24 hr. It was concluded that the effluent treatment ponds of the factory do not efficiently reduce the chemicals in the discharge. The observed effects of the "treated effluent" on phytoplankton biomass and fish fry indicate the undesirable effects the effluent will have on Lake Awassa. It is recommended that an alternate waste disposal system for the textile factory be set up, with regular monitoring of its effectiveness, so as to avoid undesirable long-term changes to the lake. Key words/phrases: Chemical composition, chlorophyll-a, fish fry, effluent, textile factory SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol.25(2) 2002: 263-27

Feeding habits of the Nile perch, Lates niloticus (L.) (Pisces: Centropomidae) in Lake Chamo, Ethiopia

Diet composition and ontogenetic diet shift of the Nile perch, Lates niloticus (L.) were studied from 411 fish samples (1.9 cm to 192 cm TL) collected from February 1995 to May 1996. Most fish samples (n=221, 53.8%) had empty stomachs. Except the two smallest fry (1.9 cm and 2.3 cm TL) fish samples (n=188) that contained food in their stomachs consumed only fish. The cyprinid fish Labeo horie (Heckel) was the most important prey organism of juvenile and adult L. niloticus and occurred in 49.4% of the stomachs examined, constituted 38.02% of the total number and 70.44% of the total volume of the prey. Oreochromis niloticus (L.) occurred in 22.35% of the stomachs accounted for 19% of the total number and 24.82% of the total volume of food consumed. Hydrocynus forskahlii (Cuvier) occurred in 14.12% of the stomachs, constituted 9.92% of the total number and 2.72% of the total volume of prey consumed. Cannibalism was observed in 19.4% of juvenile fish (n=62, 48.5–73.2 cm TL) and smaller L. niloticus constituted 26.1% of the total volume of food consumed within this size range. H. forskahlii, O. niloticus and L. niloticus were the main prey of fish 90 cm TL. Based on index of relative importance (IRI) L. horie was the most important prey (5359) followed by O. niloticus (979), L. niloticus (392) and H. forskahlii (178.5). Fry and fingerlings of L. niloticus (n=20) ranging from 1.9 to 7.1 cm TL were caught using a beach seine of 6 mm mesh size. The two smallest fish (1.9 cm and 2.5 cm TL) had eaten insect larvae while the remaining 18 fish had all eaten 1–3 fry of O. niloticus that ranged from 0.8 to 1.9 cm TL.Key words/phrases: Cannibalism, diet composition, Lates niloticus, ontogenetic diet shift, predation SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol. 28 (1) 2005: 61-6

Determination of planting Season of Sugarcane at Kuraz Sugar Development project, Southern Ethiopia

The timing of planting, ratooning and harvesting influences the productivity of a sugarcane crop cycle. It is necessary to quantify these effects, both within and outside the current harvest season, to optimize crop cycle productivity and to optimize harvest season length. The effect of different planting times was examined in area depending on the weather condition of the study area. The results obtained show that there were high consecutive rainfall in the month of March, April, May as compared with other months of the area. There is also high rain on the month of September, October and November, which shows the consecutive existence of rainfall show the planting season should be out of this time. However, in the latter consecutive months there were dates receiving no rainfall, which indicate planting, are possible within this time. From this all it is concluded that the planting season of kuraz sugar plantation project were ranged from June to December.