N2Africa Putting nitrogen fixation to work for smallholder farmers in Africa

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/35453

Part of HumidTropics CRP

Funded by BMGF

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 63

Best practices of N2Africa can improve biomass and nutritional quality for animal feed: The case of common bean and soybean
(Brochure, 2019-04-30) Abebe, Z.; Abdulkadir, Birhan; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew
Increasing common bean productivity with N2Africa’s best-fit practices
(Brochure, 2019-04-30) Abebe, Z.; Abdulkadir, Birhan; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew
Soybean: N2Africa’s best-fit practices showcase an increased productivity of a high potential but unexploited legume
(Brochure, 2019-04-30) Abebe, Z.; Abdulkadir, Birhan; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew
N2Africa packages improves sustainable productivity of chickpea in Ethiopian Vertisols
(Brochure, 2019-04-30) Mnalku, A.; Abdulkadir, Birhan; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew
Maximizing sustainable productivity of faba bean with N2Africa packages in Ethiopia
(Brochure, 2019-04-30) Mnalku, A.; Abdulkadir, Birhan; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew
Overview of rhizobial inoculation: Techniques and on-farm efficacy determinants
(Brochure, 2019-04-30) Mnalku, A.; Abdulkadir, Birhan; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew
Landmarks of rhizobial inoculant technology in Ethiopia
(Brochure, 2019-04-30) Mnalku, A.; Abdulkadir, Birhan; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew
Maize-beans intensification as climate smart cropping: A means of nutrition and income diversification
(Brochure, 2019-04-30) Abebe, Z.; Abdulkadir, Birhan; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew
Highlights of N2Africa-Ethiopia achievements
(Brochure, 2019-04-30) Abebe, Z.; Abdulkadir, Birhan; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew
Inoculation and phosphorus fertilizer improve food-feed traits of grain legumes in mixed crop-livestock systems of Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2019-07) Belete, Sisay; Bezabih, Melkamu; Abdulkadir, Birhan; Tolera, Adugna; Mekonnen, Kindu; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew
Grain legumes play an important role as source of food and feed in smallholder mixed systems. They also contribute to soil fertility improvement through biological nitrogen fixation. Although rhizobium inoculation and phosphorus fertilizer are known to improve grain yield of legumes, information is limited on the effect of this practice on the yield and fodder quality of the haulm. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of rhizobium inoculation (I) and phosphorus fertilizer (P) on yield and nutritional quality of grains and haulms of grain legumes (faba bean, chickpea, common bean and soybean) on farm across diverse agroecological locations in the Ethiopian highlands. The crops were subjected to four treatments [+I, +P, −I + P and a negative control (-P-I)] at multiple locations on farm during the main cropping season in 2016. Yield data was recorded during grain harvesting, and subsequently representative samples of grains and haulms were collected and analyzed for quality variables. Effects of the treatments were significant (P < 0.05) with 30% increase on grain yield for all studied crops and 28% increase on haulm dry matter yield for faba bean, common bean and soybean. Crude protein (CP) and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) values of faba bean, common bean and soybean haulms were higher (P < 0.05); and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents were lower (P < 0.05) for the treatments than the control. The haulm CP content and IVOMD of chickpea also responded positively (P < 0.05) to the treatments. The current results demonstrated the possibility of improving both yield and quality of grains and haulms of grain legumes with the application of efficient rhizobium inocula and P fertilization. This practice offers an opportunity for smallholders in the crop-livestock system to improve the food-feed traits of grain legumes with minimal input and environmental footprint.
Assessment of forage production, feed resource utilization and substitution effect of oat-vetch forage for concentrate mix on performance of sheep fed desho grass as a basal diet in Damote Gale District of Wolaita Zone, SNNPR
(Thesis, 2018-04-15) Mengistu, S.
This study was comprised of field survey and animal performance evaluation. Questioner based survey was conducted in project intervention and non-intervention sites where a total of 160 households participated with objective of assessing the status of improved forage production, feed resource utilization and forage seed and feed marketing in Damot Gale district. Growth and digestion experiments were conducted on 32 yearling ram lambs with mean body weight of 21.08±2.29 kg using RCBD to evaluating the substitution effect of oat-vetch forage for concentrate mix on performance of sheep fed desho grass as a basal diet. The supplementary feed treatments used over the basal diet in the study were T1 (300 g concentrate), T2 (200 g concentrate + 100 g Oat-vetch hay), T3 (100 g concentrate + 200 g oat-vetch hay) and T4 (300 g oat-vetch hay). Feed intake and body weight gain were collected during the 75 feeding days and fecal output data during 7 days of digestion trial. Mean family size (6.56), land holding (0.64) and livestock holding (3.73TLU) were discovered by the field survey. The major feed resource were desho grass (index=0.22), Crop residue (index=0.21) and grazing (index=0.21). Desho grass split was the only marketable forage planting material. Feed shortage was the primary problem (index=0.33) for livestock production. Desho and elephant grass were the dominant forage species adopted in the area. The DM intake under T1 and T2 were similar (P>0.05) but higher (P<0.05) than T3 and T4, and that of T3 was higher (p<0.05) than T4. OM, CP and ME intake were highest (P<0.05) in sheep fed T1 followed by T2 which was higher (P<0.05) than T3 and T4. T4 had lower (P<0.05) OM, CP and ME intake. T2 had highest (P<0.05) DM, OM, and NDF digestibility.. T3 had higher (P<0.05) DM, OM, CP, NDF and ADF digestibility than T1 and T4. T2 had highest (P<0.05) ADG and FCE. For 1.0 Birr investment in sheep production, Birr 3.54 and 1.45 could be obtained in T3 and T2 respectively. Hence, sheep feeding on desho grass supplemented with 100g concentrate mix and 200g oat-vetch mixed forage is a profitable business at on-farm.
Effects of phosphorus fertilizer and inoculation on yield and nutritive values of grain and haulm of selected grain legumes in mixed crop-livestock production system of Ethiopia
(Thesis, 2018-02-15) Belete, S
A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of phosphorus fertilizer and inoculants application on yield and nutritional quality of grain and haulm of selected grain legumes and to assess farmers’ grain legumes haulm use practices and their perception on the effects of phosphorus fertilizer and inoculation on haulm yield and quality. The study involved field experiment and household survey. For the field experiment, four grain legumes (faba bean, chickpea, haricot bean and soybean) were subjected to four fertilizer treatments (inoculation + P fertilizer (+P+I), inoculation alone (-P+I), P fertilization alone (+P-I) and control i.e. no inoculation and no fertilizer (-P-I)) on individual farmer plots. Grain and haulm yield data were recorded and subsequently representative samples were collected for quality analysis in the laboratory. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to collect data on household characteristics. Analysis of variance was run in general linear model of SAS for experimental data in randomized complete block design and household data was analyzed using descriptive statistics of SPSS. Faba bean grain and haulm DM yield were significantly improved (P<0.05) due to the treatments and the highest mean grain yield (2.87 and 2.84 t/ha) were obtained from +P-I and +I+P treatments, while the maximum haulm DM yield (3.61 t/ha) was recorded in treatment +P+I. Faba bean haulm CP content, IVOMD and ME values of treatment +P+I, -P+I and +P-I were found to significantly (P<0.05) surpass the control, whereas treatment +P+I, -P+I and +P-I resulted the lowest mean haulm NDF, ADF and ADL content than the control. Application of rhizobium inoculants and P fertilizer had a highly significant effect (P<0.001) on grain yield but non-significant effect (P>0.05) on haulm DM yield of chickpea. The maximum mean grain yield (2.13 t/ha and 1.98 t/ha) of chickpea was recorded in treatment +I+P and +I-P, respectively. The haulm CP, IVOMD and ME contents of chickpea responded positively (P<0.05) to the treatments, but the responses of ash, NDF, ADF and ADL content were not significant (P>0.05). The highest mean grain (1.98 t/ha) and haulm DM (1.84 t/ha) yield of haricot bean was obtained from treatment +P+I. Treatment +P+I was also resulted into significantly high (P<0.05) haulm ash and CP contents, and IVOMD and ME values of haricot bean, while the same treatment (+P+I) had lower NDF and ADF contents than the others. In soybean, significantly maximum mean grain (2.56 and 2.46 t/ha) and haulm DM (3.07 and 3.23 t/ha) yield were recorded in treatments +P+I and -P+I, respectively. Except haulm ash content and ME value, all feed quality variables analyzed (CP, NDF, ADF, ADL and IVOMD) were significantly (P<0.05) affected due to the treatments in soybean. The maximum mean values of soybean haulm CP and IVOMD were obtained in the inoculated treatments (+P+I and –P+I), meanwhile treatment +P+I contained the lowest NDF, ADF and ADL. The result also showed that households used grain legume haulms as a source of feed (76.7%), fuel (11.4%), for mulching and compost making (8.8%) and income generation (3.1%). Majority of the respondents (62.2%) perceived that inoculation and P fertilization positively affects haulm biomass yield. The current results demonstrated the possibility of improving both grain and haulm yield and quality of faba bean, haricot bean and soybean by using rhizobium inoculants and P fertilizer. Moreover, regardless of haulm yield and haulm fiber contents; improvement of grain yield of chickpea is also possible by the use of combined rhizobium inoculants and P fertilizer.
Prospect for increasing grain legume crop production in East Africa
(Journal Article, 2018-11) Loon, Marloes P. van; Deng, N.; Grassini, P.; Edreira, J.I.R.; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew; Baijukya, Frederick P.; Marrou, H.; Ittersum, Martin K. van
Agricultural production in East Africa (E-Afr) has to increase drastically to meet future food demand. Yield gap assessment provides important information on the degree to which production can be increased on existing cropland. Most research on yield gap analysis has focussed on cereal crops, while legumes have received less attention despite of their relatively large area, and their importance as source of protein in smallholder farming systems in E-Afr. The objectives of this study were to (i) estimate water-limited yield potential (Yw) and yield gaps (Yg) for major grain legume crops in E-Afr, and (ii) estimate how narrowing the current legume Yg can contribute to food self-sufficiency by the year 2050. We focussed on Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, and five legumes crops including chickpea, common bean, cowpea, groundnut, and pigeonpea. A bottom-up approach which entails that local weather, soil and agronomic data was used as input for crop modelling (SSM-legumes) in a spatial framework, to estimate Yw, actual on-farm yield (Ya), and Yg from local to regional scale. Future legume self-sufficiency was assessed for 2050 demand assuming different Yg closure scenarios. On average, Ya was 25% of Yw across all legume-county combinations, being 15% for Kenya, 23% for Tanzania and 41% for Ethiopia. On average, common bean had the largest Yg of 2.6 Mg ha−1and chickpea the smallest (1.4 Mg ha−1). Closure of the exploitable Yg (i.e., 80% of Yw) can help to meet future legume demand in both Kenya and Tanzania, while it seems not to be sufficient in Ethiopia.
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) growing in Ethiopia are nodulated by diverse rhizobia
(Journal Article, 2018-03-07) Degefu, Tulu; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew; Ataro, Zikie; Fikre, Asnake; Amede, Tilahun; Ojiewo, Christopher Ochieng
A total of eighty one (81) rhizobial isolates were recovered from root nodules of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) grown in soils collected from eight different sites (Hawassa, Wondogenet, Chofa, Badawacho, Bodity, Gofa, Ziway, and Alemtena) in Ethiopia with no known history of inoculation. The test isolates together with seven reference strains belonging to five genera including Rhizobium, Ensifer, Mesorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium and Azorhizobium were characterized using ninety phenotypic traits. Thirty one isolates (38%) were found to be fast growers while fifty isolates (62%) were slow growers. The majority of the isolates showed an intrinsic resistance to antibiotics (µg/ml), Chloramphenicol (5 and 15), Lincomycin (100), Novobiocin (0.5 and 1.5), and Erythromycin (10 and 20) and to heavy metals manganese sulphate (500) and copper chloride (100). Most isolates did not tolerate NaCl concentration >3% (w/v) and high temperature (45°C). Dendrogram was constructed by applying the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic means (UPGMA) using NTSYSpc Version 2.1. They were grouped into seven clusters and eight unclustered positions, when 82% relative similarity was used as a cut point. Fifty eight percent of the test isolates were grouped with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii superclades, thus indicating that rhizobia nodulating cowpea and groundnut are delineated within a branch that defines Bradyrhizobium genus. To elucidate the precise taxonomic positions of the isolates, further genetic studies are required using modern molecular biological methods.
Variations in seed and post-harvest residue yields and residues quality of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as a ruminant feedstuff
(Journal Article, 2018-10) Dejene, Mesfin; Dixon, Rob M.; Duncan, Alan J.; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew; Walsh, Kerry B.; McNeill, David
Common bean is widely grown as a food legume and the post-harvest crop residues (CR) (i.e. haulm + pod wall (HPW)) are valuable as ruminant feedstuffs. The yields and constituents indicative of nutritive value for ruminants of the HPW from a wide range of common bean genotypes (G) were examined at 4 trial sites in Ethiopia during the 2013 main cropping season to assess the extent of genetic variation among G for simultaneous improvement of both HPW attributes and seed yield. Attributes measured were seed and HPW yields and the amounts of the morphological components, their concentrations of total nitrogen (N), neutral detergent fibre (aNDFom) and acid detergent fibre (ADFom), and the dry matter digestibility (DMD). The constituents were measured using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and calibrations based on a large set of reference tropical forages and CR (including common bean), and were validated against other CR reference samples. These CR quality attributes were very well predicted with R2v and RPDv ranging from 0.90 to 0.98 and 3.13–7.36, respectively. There was considerable variation in yields of HPW and seed, and in the proportions and attributes of the HPW fractions among the common bean G. Trial site means for yields of HPW and seed ranged from 0.74 to 2.54 t/ha and 0.79–2.62 t/ha, respectively while for N, aNDFom and ADFom concentrations and DMD of HPW ranged from 7.7 to 11.4 g/kg DM, 648–739 g/kg DM, 502–585 g/kg DM, and 467–570 g/kg DM, respectively. Environment (E), as represented by site, generally affected the yields of HPW and seed (P < 0.001) and nutritive value of the HPW fractions (P < 0.05) as feedstuffs. Seed yield was positively correlated with HPW yield both within and across trial sites (r = 0.92; P < 0.0001), but in general seed yield was not related to the N concentration. Across all sites, seed yield was positively correlated (r = 0.68; P < 0.0001) with haulm DMD. Although this correlation may be due to variation associated with E rather than G, it is nevertheless important in that selection for higher seed yield is likely to also increase metabolisable energy (ME) content of the HPW. There were G x E interaction effects on yields of HPW (P < 0.0001) and seed (P = 0.011), but these were generally less important than E effects which explained 52–58% of the variation. In conclusion the study demonstrated that it is possible to identify genotypes such as ECAB0081 which combine high yields of both seed and HPW, and with HPW attributes which improve their quality as ruminant feedstuffs.
Additive yield response of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to rhizobium inoculation and phosphorus fertilizer across smallholder farms in Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2018-07) Woldemeskel, Endalkachew; Heerwaarden, Joost van; Abdulkadir, Birhan; Kassa, S.; Aliyi, I.; Degefu, T.; Wakweya, K.; Kanampiu, F.K.; Giller, Kenneth E.
The impacts of rhizobium inoculation on growth and yield of chickpea have mainly been tested in experiments conducted in greenhouses or on research stations. We report the response of the crop to inoculation (I) and phosphorus fertilizer (P) application across a large number of smallholder’s farms over four regions of Ethiopia, covering diverse soil fertility and agro-ecological conditions. Increased grain yields due to the soil fertility treatments was evident for 99% target farmers. On average, I and P increased grain yield by 21% and 25% respectively, while the combined application of I and P resulted in a 38% increase. However, observed grain yields on control plots and responses to the treatments on individual farms varied greatly, and relative yield responses (%; yield of P and/I minus control yield, divided by control yield) ranged from 3% to 138%. With the exception of a few extremely poorly yielding locations, average responses to P and I were high across a wide range of control yields, indicating the possibility of boosting chickpea productivity for smallholders with P fertilizer and inoculant technology. Variation in response to rhizobium inoculation was mostly independent of agro-ecology and soil type although it was found to be low on a number of farms with extremely high N contents (%). Assuming that a relative yield increase of 10% due to treatment effects is required to be visible, 71%, 73% and 92% of the farmers observed a yield benefit by applying P, I, and P + I, respectively. The results are discussed with respect to the additive benefits of P fertilizers and rhizobial inoculation and their implications for wide scale promotion of inoculant technology to smallholders.
An assessment of plant growth and N2 fixation in soybean genotypes grown in uninoculated soils collected from different locations in Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2018-07) Beyan, S.M.; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew; Dakor, F.D.
Achieving food and nutritional security is a major challenge in Ethiopia, especially with increasing human population and low crop productivity. Legumes offer an alternative choice to chemical fertilizers for increasing crop yields. The aim of this study was to assess, under glasshouse conditions, plant growth and symbiotic performance of uninoculated soybean genotypes planted in soils collected from different locations in Ethiopia. The results showed significant differences in plant growth and symbiotic performance among the soybean genotypes planted in different soils. There was a location-specific effect of soil on plant growth and symbiotic N nutrition of soybean. Whole-plant biomass was highest in soil from Amaro, followed by Boricha, Dorebafano, Pawe, and Mambuk. The δ15N values ranged from +0.82‰ for Pawe to +5.11‰ at Dorebafano. However, %Ndfa of soybean was greater in plants grown in Mambuk soil, followed by Pawe with the lowest %Ndfa being in Amaro soil. The amount of N-fixed followed similar pattern as %Ndfa. The significant interaction found between soil type and soybean genotype for plant DM, shoot N concentration, δ15N, %Ndfa, N-fixed and soil N-uptake clearly indicated the effect of soil factors. This study revealed the presence of native rhizobia in Ethiopian soils that are compatible with soybean. The N contribution of the soybean genotypes was variable, and strongly influenced by the soil factors.
Morphophysiological diversity of rhizobia nodulating pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) growing in Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2018-02-15) Degefu, T.; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew; Adem, M.; Fikre, Asnake; Amede, Tilahun; Ojiewo, Christopher Ochieng
igeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) is an important protein source grown in several tropical and sub-tropical countries, and is considered a multi-purpose plant that is resistant to the conditions where drought and salinity is a common phenomenon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diversity of rhizobial isolates obtained from root nodules of pigeon pea plants grown in central and southern Ethiopia. A total of 116 nitrogen-fixing rhizobial strains were isolated. The bacterial isolates were characterized by 91 phenotypic traits including cultural characteristics, intrinsic antibiotic and heavy metal resistance, salt, pH and incubation temperature tolerance, and carbon and nitrogen sources utilization ability. Preliminary symbiotic properties of the isolates were also evaluated. The isolates were compared with seven reference strains of rhizobia by application of the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic means (UPGMA) using NTSYSpc Version 2.1 software program. The dendrogram constructed from cluster analysis of 91 phenotypic traits, grouped them into six clusters and eight un-clustered positions at 80% relative similarity. Cluster I contained 83% of the test isolates that were grouped together with the reference strains Bradyrhizobium japonicum (HAMBI 2314T) and Bradyrhizobium elkanii (LMG 6164), suggesting that pigeon pea is commonly nodulated by bradyrhizobia. Results from symbiotic effectiveness test revealed that majority of the isolates were found to be effective. Generally, this investigation demonstrated that rhizobial population nodulating C. cajan on the study area were phenotypically diverse and symbiotically effective. Furthermore, the result indicates the existence of strains in the collection, which can tolerate environmental stresses, thus can be developed into inoculant for pigeon pea inoculation and production in Ethiopia and beyond.
Genetic diversity and symbiotic effectiveness of Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating selected annual grain legumes growing in Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2018-01-01) Degefu, T.; Woldemeskel, Endalkachew; Rasche, F.
Vigna unguiculata, Vigna radiata and Arachis hypogaea growing in Ethiopia are nodulated by a genetically diverse group of Bradyrhizobium strains. To determine the genetic identity and symbiotic effectiveness of these bacteria, a collection of 36 test strains originating from the root nodules of the three hosts was investigated using multilocus sequence analyses (MLSA) of core genes including 16S rRNA, recA, glnII, gyrB, atpD and dnaK. Sequence analysis of nodA and nifH genes along with tests for symbiotic effectiveness using δ15N analysis were also carried out. The phylogenetic trees derived from the MLSA grouped most test strains into four well-supported distinct positions designated as genospecies I–IV. The maximum likelihood (ML) tree that was constructed based on the nodA gene sequences separated the entire test strains into two lineages, where the majority of the test strains were clustered on one of a well-supported large branch that comprise Bradyrhizobium species from the tropics. This clearly suggested the monophyletic origin of the nodA genes within the bradyrhizobia of tropical origin. The δ15N-based symbiotic effectiveness test of seven selected strains revealed that strains GN100 (δ15 N=0.73) and GN102 (δ15 N=0.79) were highly effective nitrogen fixers when inoculated to cowpea, thus can be considered as inoculants in cowpea production. It was concluded that Ethiopian soils are a hotspot for rhizobial diversity. This calls for further research to unravel as yet unknown bradyrhizobia nodulating legume host species growing in the country. In this respect, prospective research should also address the mechanisms of symbiotic specificity that could lead to high nitrogen fixation in target legumes.
Factors affecting adoption of legume technologies and its impact on income of farmers: The case of Sinana and Ginir Woredas of Bale Zone
(Thesis, 2017-11-30) Tegegne, Y.
In Ethiopia, low productivity of crops has been one of the significant contributors to food insecurity. Encouraging the rural households’ to use improved agricultural technologies and inputs to increase efficiency of production and productivity are among the important policy measures to address the problem undertaken by the government. The objective of this study was to analyze factors influencing the adoption of improved agricultural technologies (improved seed and fertilizer) and its impact on income of farm households of legume producers in Sinana and Ginir Woredas’ of Bale Zone of Oromiya National Regional State. Primary data were collected from a sample of 210 households selected through stratified sampling techniques. Descriptive statistics and econometric models were used to analyze the data. The logit model for PSM and OLS models were used to analyze the impact of technologies and the factors influencing the adoption of agricultural technologies respectively. The results presented that technology access for improved farm inputs, credit accessibility, wealth status of farm households and education level of household head had a significantly influenced on the adoption level of both improved seed and fertilizer technology. On the contrary, high price of improved technology and family size had negatively affected the adoption level of improved farm inputs. Impact assessment of the marginal effect showed that farmers who had adopted improved technology could enhance their annual total income level by 2.8% and the crop income particularly from grain legume has been increased by 41%. The adoption typology of the farmers can be categorized in to four in relation to their current adoption status as tech-oriented, tech-fledglings, tech-adopters, and tech-dropouts. Based on the findings, the study suggests that strengthening the promotion of full scale technology adoption will have crucial role towards improving the livelihood of households in the study area. In doing so, managing the possible influencing factors that affect adoption of legume technology should be a prerequisite.

Browse

Recent Submissions