Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the third important food legume both in area and production after common beans and faba beans in Ethiopia. However, the productivity of the crop was very low compared to the potential as a result of non-use of improved varieties and technologies generated by the research system. To enhance the use of the improved and associated research technologies a National Chickpea Stakeholders Innovation Platform was established in 2013 with the objective of bringing together various stakeholders acting on the value chain in order to identify major challenges and find solutions that would be implemented through synergetic efforts. The platform identified seed shortage as a major bottleneck in the sector. This issue has been addressed through establishing farmers’ seed producer associations with the help of R&D partners and currently they are the major suppliers nationwide. Side by side, the platform strengthened the extension effort and triggered dissemination of improved technologies to a large number of farmers. As a result, productivity of the crop by model farmers increased by fourfold and the national productivity has been doubled to 2 ton ha−1 in the last decade. The platform also worked on improving access to market and recently chickpea joined the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange market. Cognizant of the huge development potential of the crop, the platform is striving to further strengthen the intervention and reap opportunities.

Although wheat varieties were released with recommended seed rates, farmers usually apply their specific seed rates for various reasons. A study was conducted in Horo District to determine the effect of seeding rate and sowing methods on the seed quality of bread wheat using field and laboratory experiments, in the 2011 cropping season. The field experiment was conducted at Shambu, Bako agricultural research center sub-site while the seed quality analysis was performed at seed laboratory of Holetta Agricultural Research Center. The field experiment consisted of three factors in a factorial combination of two levels of variety (Molgo which is local and Digelu or HAR-3116 which is an improved one), two levels of sowing methods (broadcast and row) and four levels of seed rate (125, 150, 175 and 200 kg/ha) arranged in RCBD with three replications. Samples of harvested seed from those treatment combinations were subjected to seed quality analysis according to procedures described by ISTA 2003. The result of Seed quality analysis showed that physical purity, standard germination, the speed of germination, vigor index-I and II, and field emergence index were significantly affected by treatment effects. All these parameters were higher in Digelu than in Molgo at the lowest seed rate (125 kg/ha) studied in row except the mean value of speed of germination which was higher for Molgo at a seed rate of 150 kg/ha. Six fungi and one bacterium species were associated with the seed samples studied. The results indicated that good quality seed was produced when both varieties were sown in row at a seed rate of 125 kg/ha. Moreover, variety Digelu was better in terms of seed quality than variety Molgo at all seed rates and both sowing methods.

Development of low-nitrogen (N) tolerant and N-responsive durum wheat genotypes is required since nitrogen efficiency has emerged as a highly desirable trait from economic and environmental perspectives. Two hundred durum wheat genotypes were evaluated at three locations under optimum (ON) and low (LN) nitrogen conditions to screen genotypes for low-nitrogen tolerance and responsiveness to an optimum N supply. The results showed significant variations among the durum wheat genotypes for low-N tolerance and responsiveness. The average reduction in grain yield under the LN condition was 48.03% across genotypes. Only 17% of the genotypes tested performed well (grain yield reduction <40%) under LN conditions. Based on the absolute grain yield, biomass yield, and normalized difference vegetative index value, on average, 32, 14, 17, and 37% of the tested genotypes were classified as efficient and responsive, efficient and nonresponsive, inefficient and responsive, and inefficient and nonresponsive, respectively. Considering the absolute and relative grain yield, biomass yield, normalized difference vegetative index values, and stress tolerance indices as selection criteria, 17 genotypes were chosen for subsequent breeding. Among the screening indices, geometric mean productivity, stress tolerance index, yield index, and stress susceptibility index exhibited positive and significant correlations with grain yield under both N conditions; hence, either of these traits can be used to select low-N-tolerant genotypes. The common genotypes identified as LN-tolerant and responsive to N application in this study could be used as parental donors for developing N-efficient and responsive durum wheat varieties.

Seed dormancy is among the major problems associated with pasture establishment from Rhodes grass. Two experiments were conducted with the aim to assess the effects of storage period (years), husking and seed treatment on germination rate of Rhodes grass seeds of two cultivars, Callide and Masaba, at Kulumsa and Debre Zeit Research Centers. The first experiment included two seed lots (harvested in years 2013 and 2014) and two husking treatments (husked and with husk) laid out in split plot design with four replications. The second experiment had three seed lots (harvested in 2012, 2013 and 2014), three chemical treatments (KNO3, Ethanol, and H2O) and untreated control for each lot in randomized complete block design with three replications. In the first experiment, germination rate ranged from 13.5% in freshly harvested seeds with husk to 85.5% in aged seeds without husk. Husking improved germination and this may be attributed to improved access of emb water, exclusion of empty husks and elimination of physical barriers to germination. In the second experiment, germination rate ranged from 3.3% in untreated fresh seeds to 21.1% in seeds harvested in 2012 and pre-treatment with KNO harvested seeds of Rhodes grass have very low germination rate in both experiments while husk removal and pre-soaking in KNO3 solution improved performance in new as well as older seed stocks. However, it is recommended that further stu with comprehensive information on the period required in months to achieve maximum possible germination rate; the interactive effects of husking, chemical treatment, and genotype; and the underlying mechanism of dormancy.

Among the challenges of achieving increased chickpea production in Ethiopia is absence of seed quality enhancement technologies. The Genius Coat Disco Cereal AG L-439 is among the seed coating products produced by INCOTEC Company and introduced in our country. The current study was conducted to examine the efficacy of 'Genius Coat' on seed yield and to determine its effective dosage for chickpea seed production. The field experiment was conducted at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center and at Akaki and Minjar sub-sites in 2016. Pre-basic chickpea seed of Habru variety was used for the trial. The treatment consists of the company's recommendation rate (100%), 50% below and above the recommended rate, pure Apron Star and untreated control and laid out in RCBD with four replications. The analysis result for the collected data of yield and yield attributing parameters indicated that the tested seed coating substance at three different rates was found effective to increase the yield of chickpea. The yield advantage of 50% below the recommended rate was 0.58 tons/ha and 0.55 tons/ha over the control and standard check, respectively. Likewise, the recommended rate improved seed yield by 0.43 and 0.40 tons/ha when compared with the control and standard check, respectively. The simple combined correlation analysis result indicated that seed yield was positively, strongly and significantly associated with the stand count, days to maturity and biomass yield. Soil analysis result showed that the present seed coating substance had no significant effect on soil chemical properties. Therefore, Genius Coat at 50% below the recommended rate had a better yield advantage than the other rates and check treatments thus should be promoted.