Assessment of farmers’ perception on potato farming systems was carried out with the main objective of investigating the perception of farmers’ on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in the farming systems in north western Ethiopia. Secondary and primary sources of data were collected. 9.8% farmers went through off farm activities. They had an average potato production experience, livestock number and farm size of 36.81 years, 5.17 and 1.63ha, respectively. These farmers allot on average 0.47 ha (28.83%) of their land for potato production. The dominant potato growing season was the main season (65.1%), followed by irrigation season (25.7%) and with residual moisture (9.2%). 16.6% produced potato used as seed, 48.55% for household consumption and 25.73% sold in the near bye market with very low price (2.17 Birr/kg) as income source. On average there were two commonly grown varieties per farmer. They were losing such local potato varieties which had different quality attributes to be used in different breeding/agronomy programmes and best fit to degraded lands. Farmers ploughed their land 3.34 times before planting potato and used 2.13 t/ha potato seeds at planting as seed rate. 14.4% used their own seeds, 73.5% purchased from the surrounding market, 10.2% from their neighbors and 1.9% from the agricultural offices. Most farmers (63.0%) used fertilization, crop rotation mainly with potato (35.1%) and terracing technique (1.9%) as traditional technique of soil fertility management. Generally, farmers in the surveyed area believed that potato can ameliorate the soil fertility and protect their soils from erosion. Researches should be conducted to minimize number of ploughing in potato production. NGO’s, GOs and universities should take responsibilities to multiply and disseminate improved potato seeds and in the conservation of important local varieties. Trainings should also be given to farmers on production and usage of certified potato seeds on potato production.

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The Landsat series of satellites provides the longest running continuous data set of moderate-spatial-resolution imagery beginning with the launch of Landsat 1 in 1972 and continuing with the1999 launch of Landsat 7 and current operation of Landsats 5 and 7[1]. The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) will continue this program into a fourth decade providing data that are keys to understanding changes in land-use changes and resource management. LDCM consists of a two-sensor platform comprised of the Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensors (TIRS). A description of the applications and design of the TIRS instrument is given as well as the plans for calibration and characterization. Included are early results from preflight calibration and a description of the inflight validation.

Aim of the study Assessing the perception of north western Ethiopia farmers’ on the role of potato in the farming system Material and methods: Elders with different socioeconomic back grounds and experience on potato production were used for this study. A proportional allocation formula was employed. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources of data were collected. The questionnaire constituted open ended questions to allow full expression about the issue. Discussions were made with farmers, agricultural extension officers, researchers, and potato experts. All sets of data were subjected to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 24 computer software (20) and descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation and frequency were used to analyze the collected data. Class intervals were used to analyze descriptive statistics for age, education level, family size, etc. Results and conclusions: The survey also revealed that farmers use potato in soil fertility management, had their own local varieties and different variety preferences. They were losing such local potato varieties which had different quality attributes to be used in different breeding/agronomy programmes and best fit to degraded lands. More frequency of ploughing causes soil and nutrient erosion. The study also revealed that there were traditional techniques of soil fertility management like terracing, fertilization and crop rotation mainly with potato. Farmers in the surveyed area believed that potato can ameliorate the fertility of the soil and protect soils from erosion. Researches should be conducted to minimize number of ploughing in potato production.

This proposal was initiated to assess the response of potato varieties (Dagim, Belete, Gudenie, Jalenie, Zengena, and Ater Ababa) to phosphorus application and use efficiency under screen house with plastic pots. There were seven phosphorous levels (150% recommended (3.9 g P pot-), 125% recommended (3.3 g P pot-), recommended (2.6 g P pot-), 75% of the recommended (2.0 g P pot-), 50% of the recommended (1.3 g P pot-), 25% of the recommended (0.7 g P pot-) and the control) per variety. The experiment was conducted in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications with a total of 42 treatments at Adet Agricultural research center, Ethiopia. Most parameters studied significantly changed with varieties and P-rates. Belete variety and 2 g P pot-1 showed the highest values in soil available phosphorous (52.6 mg P kg-1 and 49.53 mg P kg-1, respectively,) and Belete variety and 3.9 g P pot1showed highest values in plant phosphorous concentration (3.48 mg g-1 and 3.98 mg g-1, respectively). The highest phosphorous uptake (PAE) (14.81 mg plant-1) was recorded in Belete variety. This variety could be considered as responsive cultivar. The highest phosphorous acquisition efficiency (PAE) (92.35 kg kg-1) was recorded in Belete variety, and phosphorous use efficiency (33.63 and 37.58 mg g-1) was recorded in Dagim and Ater Ababa varieties, respectively. Dagim variety can be used when external phosphorous applications become limited. Evaluation of the existing varieties of potato for their phosphorous use and uptake efficiency could potentially increase the future potato yield without excess P application