HighlightsOn MPN assessment, native rhizobium population size on the study site was less than 10 cfu g−1 of soil.On a wide range of on-farm trials, inoculation (I) increased chickpea grain yields for 99% of target farmers.I and P fertilizer in combination, resulted on average, in a 38% yield increase over the control plots.Variation in response to rhizobium inoculation was mostly independent of agro-ecology and soil type.Rhizobial inoculation offers a cheap and highly effective means for the sustainable intensification of smallholder agriculture.

Knowledge of rainfall pattern is very important for making decision on crop planning and water management. In the present study, Markov Chain probability model was performed to explain the long term frequency behavior of wet or dry weather spells during the main rainy season at Dhera, Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia. The study used 24 years (1984-2010) of rainfall data and weekly rainfall data was considered as standard to study the probabilities of occurrences of dry and wet weeks. Some reasonable and significant conclusions regarding specific time for land preparation, supplementary irrigation and soil conservation measures were obtained. The main rainy season starts on the 26 th week (25 th June-1 st July) and remains active upto the 40 th week (1 st-7 th October) this shows a total of 105 days of main rainy season that could occur. The coefficients of variation at the onset and withdrawal week are 69.4 and 99.2% respectively for the study site during the main rainy season. The probability of occurrences of initial and conditional probability is more than 50% on the 26 th week at 10 mm per week threshold limit and 28 th week at 20 mm per week threshold limit, therefore land preparation for planting could be undertaken in 26 th and 28 th weeks respectively for the main rainy season crop cultivation. Initial and conditional probabilities at 20 mm threshold limit per week showed that, supplementary irrigation and moisture conservation practice need to be practiced between 38 th and 40 th week for short duration crops and if the crop duration extend after 40 th week it's evident that supplementary irrigation is needed. In addition, harvesting runoff water for supplementary irrigation and construction of soil erosion measures need to be practiced between 28 th and 33 rd weeks for better rain water management.

Highlights Rhizobium inoculation & P fertilizer on food-feed traits of grain legumes were studied. The treatments improved grain and haulm yield of the legumes. The fodder quality traits improved concomitantly. The technology provides low cost option to improve whole plant productivity.

In sub-Saharan Africa, multiple plant nutrients deficiency besides N and P is a major growth-limiting factor for crop production. As a result, some soils become non-responsive for Rhizobium inoculation besides P application. Based on the soil test result, the soil of experimental sites had low OM, N, P, S and Zn. Hence, an experiment was carried out on-farm, during 2016/17 growing season, at Gondar Zuria woreda in Tsion and Denzaz Kebeles to evaluate the effect of Rhizobium inoculation, S and Zn application on yield, nodulation, N and P uptake of chickpea. The experiment included twelve treatments developed via factorial combination of two level of inoculation (Rhizobium inoculated, un-inoculated), three level of S (0, 15, 30 kg Sulphur ha-1) and two levels of Zn (0, 1.5 kg Zinc ha-1). The treatment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that the highest mean nodule number (15.3) and nodule volume (1.3 ml plant-1) over locations were obtained with Rhizobium inoculation integrated with 15 kg S and 1.5 kg Zn ha-1 which resulted in 37.8% and 116.7% increment over the control check, respectively. It was also observed that combined application of Rhizobium and 30 kg S ha-1 caused the highest (6.7) mean nodulation rating and seed yield (1775.5 kg ha-1) over locations which resulted in 86.1% and 28 % increase over the control check, respectively. Moreover, this treatment improved P use efficiency of chickpea. On the bases of observed result, it can be concluded that the response of chickpea to Rhizobium and P application can be improved by S application and Rhizobium inoculation with application of 30 kg S ha-1 with recommended rate of P and starter N is recommended for chickpea production at the experimental locations in Gonder Zuria Woreda.

In sub-Saharan Africa, multiple plant nutrients deficiency besides nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is a major growth-limiting factor for crop production. As a result, some soils become non-responsive for Rhizobium inoculation besides P application. Based on the soil test result, the soil of Experimental sites had low organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulphur (S) and zinc (Zn)[xy1]. Hence, an experiment was carried out on-farm at Gondar Zuria woreda in Tsion and Denzaz Kebeles to evaluate the effect of Rhizobium inoculation, S and Zn application on yield, nodulation, N and P uptake of chickpea. The experiment included twelve treatments developed via factorial combination of two level of inoculation (Rhizobium inoculated, un-inoculated), three level of S (0, 15, 30 kg Sulphur ha-1) and two levels of Zn (0, 1.5 kg Zinc ha-1). The treatment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that the highest mean nodule number (15.3) and nodule volume (1.3 ml plant-1) over locations were obtained with Rhizobium inoculation integrated with 15 kg S and 1.5 kg Zn ha-1 which resulted in 37.8% and 116.7% increment over the control check, respectively. It was also observed that combined application of Rhizobium and 30 kg S ha-1 caused the highest (6.7) mean nodulation rating and seed yield (1775.5 kg ha-1) over locations which resulted in 86.1% and 28 % increase over the control check, respectively. Moreover, this treatment improved P use efficiency of chickpea. On the bases of observed result, it can be concluded that the response of chickpea to Rhizobium and P application can be improved by S application and Rhizobium inoculation with application of 30 kg S ha-1 with recommended rate of P and starter N is recommended for chickpea production at the experimental locations in Gonder Zuria Woreda.