The response of wheat to the application of different rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) under balanced fertilization on different soil types and agroecologies has not been well studied in Ethiopia. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (1) determine soil-specific responses of wheat to N, P, K, and S under balanced fertilization; (2) quantify agroecology-specific N, P, K, and S response of wheat under balanced fertilization; and (3) determine nutrient use efficiency of wheat on different soil types under balanced fertilization. Trials were conducted on farmers’ fields across 24 locations covering 4 soil types and 5 agroecological zones (AEZs) from 2013 to 2017. The mean grain yields of wheat significantly varied with applied N and P fertilizer rates with soil types and AEZs. With balanced application of other nutrients, the optimum N rates for wheat were 138 kg N ha−1 on Cambisols and Luvisols, 92 kg N ha−1 on Vertisols, and 176 kg N ha−1 on Nitisols, while the optimum P rate was 20 kg P ha−1 on Cambisols and Vertisols. The nutrient dose–response curve did not reveal consistent pattern for K and S applications on all soil types. The agronomic efficiency of wheat decreased with increasing rates N and P on all soil types. The highest agronomic efficiency of N (15.8 kg grain kg−1 applied N) was recorded with application of 92 kg N ha−1 on Vertisols, while the highest agronomic efficiency of P (49 kg grain kg−1 applied P) was achieved with application of 10 kg P ha−1 on Cambisols. We conclude that applications of 92–138 kg N ha−1, 20 kg P ha−1, 18 kg K ha−1, and 10 kg S ha−1 under balanced application of zinc and boron could be recommended depending on soil type for wheat production in the study areas.

The highland of Bale is known with potato production, but post harvest quality of the crop is not emphasized yet. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate six potato varieties with the objective of assessing the effect of varieties and growing on tuber nutritional and process quality of potato grown in Sinana and Dinsho highlands of Bale. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. The varieties showed highly significant (P<0.05) differences for all the parameters studied across the locations. The highest specific gravity, dry matter content and starch content (1.107, 26.61 and 19.19) were recorded from Dinsho location for Guddene variety while the lowest specific gravity, dry matter content and starch content (1.084, 19.41 and 14.61) were recorded from Sinana location for Ararsa variety. Most of the varieties were recorded as the highest values of specific gravity, dry matter and starch content at Dinsho indicating that it is an ideal location for potato production to be used for processing while Sinana is suitable for the production for home consumption. However, it is necessary to evaluate these varieties for a number of seasons and locations to recommend with high post harvest quality parameters required by the processors.

Faba bean is said to be poor man's meat as it is the most important protein source for most of world's population.Field experiment was carried out at Sinana and sinja site if Goba districts of Bale highland to see the effect of faba bean genotypes and growing environment on some physico-chemical and nutritional qualities of faba bean genotypes. For this experiment, fifteen faba bean genotypes including released and promising lines were evaluated for their physico-chemical quality characterization. From the result it was seen that most quality characters measured have shown significant variation (p<0.05) due to faba bean genotypes. The nutrient contents of the grains of the test genotypes across two testing environments, crude protein vary from (22.43-24.34%), phosphorous (0.62-0.70%), sodium (405-262.31 ppm), potassium (1.77-1.40 gm/100gm), calcium (932.08-830.32 ppm) and hydration potential vary from (2.12 to 2.04%) which fall under high to sufficient nutrient content when compared to nutrient composition of plant material. Genotypes EH07006-51, EH070015-7, EH07006-1 and EH0773-8 have got better quality characters as compared to the released varieties Shallo, Mosisa and the local check. Genotype EH07006-1 is better in percent hydration, Na and K composition as compared to the other test genotypes. From the collected data it is possible to conclude that genotypes EH07006-1, EH07006-51, EH070015-7 and EH0773-8 are better to be selected for the variety verification.

No abstract