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Field experiment was conducted at Chencha Woreda with the objective of evaluating faba bean varieties for better yield and chocolate spot disease resistance during 2015 main cropping season. Ten improved faba bean varieties and two local controls were evaluated in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Field performances of varieties were evaluated for grain yield and yield parameters on sampled plant. Chocolate spot disease severity was recorded following 1 to 9 disease scale and used for area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) calculation. There was significant (P < 0.05) difference among the varieties for yield and resistance to chocolate spot disease. Higher yield was recorded in Moti, Gora and Wolki varieties while low yield was recorded from Hachalu and Degaga. Maximum chocolate spot severity and AUDPC were recorded on Baela, Degaga, Gora and Gebelcho varieties while minimum disease severity and AUDPC were recorded from Tumsa, Moti, Hachalu and CS-20DK varieties with a mean severity of 29.63, 24.69, 25.93 and 25.93%, respectively. Moti, CS-20DK, Hachalu and Tumsa varieties showed moderately resistant to chocolate spot disease severity while Dosha was moderately susceptible varieties. From the result it could be concluded and recommended that varieties Moti, Gora and Tumsa are promising at high lands of Chencha, and may used them in larger plot for identification of adaptable variety.

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National Regional State, with the objective of investigating the effects of traditional practice of soil burning (guie) on physical properties of soils of the study area. Both disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected from farmers' burned fields and normal fields in three peasant associations. The burned soils samples were collected from the bottom, middle and top of the heap. Soil parameters were analyzed using standard procedures and the results were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Mean separation was done using the least significant difference (LSD). Except silt content, total porosity, percentage base saturation, all the other parameters considered in this study were significantly affected by soil burning. The burning reduced clay content (71.9, 78.4 and 75.8%), total porosity (20.3, 21.7 and 0.1%), water retained at FC (26.0, 58.4 and 33.8%) and PWP (19.7, 55.5 and 25.0%) and available water holding capacity (42.9, 67.1 and 57.1%), of the bottom, middle and top of the heap, respectively. Burning increased sand content (31.0, 38.0 and 34.5%), bulk density (19.7, 30.3 and 9.2%), particle density (7.7, 16.3 and 9.5%), water repellency (84.0, 149.4 and 95.1), on the bottom, middle and top of the heap, respectively. The soil attributes due to soil burning showed an overall change towards the direction of the loss of its physical fertility as compared to unburned soils. Therefore, strategies to feed the expanding population in the study areas will have to seek a sustainable solution that better address integrated soil management.