A B S T R A C TWith the objective of determining the effect of seed rates on the growth parameters, yield components, yield and protein content of bread wheat varieties, a study was conducted at Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center from July to November 2012. Four varieties (Digalu, Danda'a, Kakaba and Shorima) and five seed rates (100, 125, 150, 175 and 200 kg haG 1 ) and RCBD with three replications were used. The results showed that days to 50% heading, days to 90% physiological maturity, plant height, spike length, hectoliter weight and Harvest Index (HI) were affected highly significantly (p<0.01) by the main effects of variety and seed rate whereas, grain protein content was affected highly significantly (p<0.01) only by variety and above ground dry biomass yield was affected highly significantly (p<0.01) only by the main effect of the seed rate. Furthermore, the interaction effect of variety and seed rate significantly affected thousand kernels weight, number of effective tillers and number of kernels per spike and grain yield. The use of 150 kg haG 1 seed rate for variety Shorima resulted in highest thousand kernels weight (39.48 g), number of kernels per spike (60.23) and grain yield (5339.3 kg haG 1 ). From the result of this study, the use of 125 kg haG 1 seed rate for variety Danda'a; 150 kg haG 1 for varieties Shorima and Kakaba and 175 kg haG 1 for variety Digalu were identified for good crop stand and finally the yield.

Mono cropping is the dominant factor influencing plant nutrient uptake and loss of soil quality in Ethiopia whereas intercropping of cereal/legume has positive environmental qualities. Likewise drought and moisture stress condition is widely expanding from all direction to the center of the country. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate influence of planting methods, tied ridge and cropping system on different soil chemical properties in case of Madda Walabu district, Southeast Ethiopia. It was undertaken at Bidire from March 2016 to January, 2017. In this experiment, one maize variety (Melkassa 2) and one haricot bean variety (Nasir) were used. Treatments include open end and closed end tied ridge; sole cropping and intercropping; and in furrow, on ridge and flat bed planting. Each treatment has been triplicate and the experiment plots were laid out in randomized complete block design. Intercropping of maize-haricot bean with tied ridge and planting methods were highly influenced soil pH, exchangeable potassium, available phosphorous, soil organic matter and total soil nitrogen. Generally, the use of intercropping and closed end tied ridge in combination with in furrow planting significantly increased (p 0.05 ) soil fertility in the system, which could be promising for sustainable improvement of crop production and productivity for semi arid areas of Bale zone.