Biochar is a carbon-rich product, which is processed by pyrolyzing biomass to improve soil properties and maintain environmental sustainability. This study aim was to investigate the effect of biochar and inorganic fertilizer on soil properties, growth, and yield. Four treatments and four replications have been used for the experimental plots using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Soil physiochemical properties have been investigated based on soil samples within 0–30 cm depth in each plot. The two types of biochar (grass and chat waste) have been used for the treatments. The pyrolyzing temperature required for grass and chat waste is 250°C and 1100°C, respectively. The plant height, total yield, and the marketable and nonmarketable yield of onion have been examined. The analysis showed that treatment with grass biochar and inorganic fertilizer had a similar effect on soil properties but chat (Catha edulis) biochar had a lower effect on soil properties. The total yield and days to 70% maturity have been increased due to the cumulative treatment of grass biochar and inorganic fertilizer. The biochar of grass and inorganic fertilizer have been significantly increased in marketable bulb yield, but unmarketable yield becomes decreased. The chat waste and controlled treatments shown an increased unmarketable yield and declined marketable bulb yield. Overall, biochar can substitute the inorganic fertilizer, which can help to improve the w soil fertility and environmental sustainability. Therefore, biochar has a win-win solution.

The Ethiopian economy is mainly agrarian. It employs 85% of the population and contributes 45% of the gross domestic product and 90% of the national export earnings but agriculture in Ethiopia is dominated by rainfed farming with low productivity specially dry land part of the country like Somali region. As a result, crops have severe moisture stress through their growth stages. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at Somali region of sandy clay loam soil in the year 2012/13 to assess the effectiveness of different manure applications rate, enhancing soil moisture and thereby productivity. The experiment was arranged in a random complete block design RCBD with three replications; and three rates-ofmanure applications 0 tons/ha, 3 tons/ha and 6 tons/ha having a total of nine treatments plot were tested. The analysis of variance for the results of the study indicated that the significant differences were observed in soil bulk density, porosity and available moisture content due to different levels of animal manure applications. Soil moisture content at different soil depths at an interval of 15 days also showed a significant difference due to animal manure. The maximum (35.67%) average soil moisture content was recorded due to 6 tons of manure as compared to the moisture content recorded from without manure (31.10%). Therefore, 6 tons of animal manure may be recommended to reduce the risk of moisture stress and to fetch a good yield in the study area. The application of manure results to high soil infiltration rate and it could be important approach for dry land farmers.

Biochar is a relatively recent term used to denote charcoal used as an agricultural input into soils. The idea comes from the use of charcoal in the Amazon on deep, highly leached, and infertile soils by Amazonian peoples in pre-Columbian times. Biochar differs most significantly from charcoal in its primary use; rather than fuel, it is primarily used for the amendment of soils (enhancing their fertility) and sequestration of carbon. One of the distinguishing properties of biochar that allows it to be a long-term carbon sink is its high stability in the environment relative to other types of organic carbon substances. Currently, however, very little or no biochar is utilized in Ethiopia particularly at Benishangulgumze Region for agriculture, in part because of its agronomic value in terms of crop response and soil health benefits have yet to be quantified, and because of the mechanisms by which it improves soil fertility are poorly understood. Therefore, the research is focused on converting the biomass of grasses and chat in to biochar in the process of pyrolysis for yield improvement, soil amendment and environmental pollution reduction. Findings of this research shows environmental pollution that regenerating from chat waste around the town, CO 2 gas emission from grass when it is burning become reduced, soil physiochemical properties make improvements by using these waste as biochar instead of throwing everywhere and farmer's cost of buying inorganic fertilizer by using biochar of grass and chat waste as organic fertilizer have significant reduction. Biochar of grass and inorganic fertilizer was required to realize significant increases in fresh marketable bulb yield of onion on the experimental soil. Environmental pollution can reduced through making biochar from the polutants. Chat and grass biochar should used for briquette energy source to save the environment from pollution beside use as fertilizer. Modern technologies are required during preparation of biochar because during making biochar there are gas emit to the atmosphere but can used as ethanol or syngagass for substitute fuels determination of methane formed through decomposing waste of grass and chat is required.

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The research was conducted in chaha wereda gurage zone SNNP region of Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to assess opportunity and challenges of degraded land rehabilitation. From the total population of the study area 20% (73) respondents were selected in order to achieve the objective of the study at hand, for the study both primary and secondary data was generated. The primary data collection was started with a preliminary survey followed by a key informant interview, focus group discussion, and household survey with questionnaires. The secondary data were collected from books, unpublished thesis, project report, and workshops, open ended questionnaire and checklists for interview. The households were selected using stratified sampling technique (Cochran) sample size formula the process of analysis of the study was carried out using qualitative description and quantitative analysis. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the quantitative data were analyzed frequency and percentage when appropriate the qualitative data were discussed to substantiate the study. And the results were expressed in the form of tables and graphs. The findings of the study indicated that limited labor availability, high cost of maintenance. Lack of knowledge, soil conditions, high surfaces runoff, poor vegetation coverage, poor monitoring and evaluation, poor implementation and poor training on the technology use are major challenges.