Our current study was conducted in Zijje Maryam Church Forest, Ethiopia, to explore woody species composition, structure, regeneration status, and anthropogenic disturbances inside the sacred groves. The aforementioned information for adequate conservation and management of the church forest is not well documented. Fifteen main quadrats each having an area of 625 m2 (25 m × 25 m) were used for vegetation and disturbance data collection. Determination of the sampled quadrats was based on the principle that minimum quadrats give the smallest possible area in which all species occurring in the church forest are present. All woody species with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 2.5 cm within the quadrat were identified, counted, and their height and DBH data were recorded. The criterion to start at DBH ≥ 2.5 cm was to exclude seedlings having DBH < 2.5 cm and height ≤0.6 m. Sapling and seedling data were collected using 45 saplings and 45 seedling quadrat that measured 4 m2 and 1 m2, respectively. Vegetation data analysis and ANOVA were used for statistical comparison. A total of 48 woody plant species belonging to 46 genera and 36 families were identified. Fabaceae was the dominant family containing 5 species followed by Rosaceae with 3 species. Total basal area of the church forest was 83.03 m2 ha−1. The density of seedlings, saplings, and matured woody species stem ha−1 were 15555, 3833, and 865, respectively. Talking these densities, the regeneration status of the forest was good. The Shannon diversity and evenness of woody plant species in the forest was high, 3.29 and 0.85, respectively. Juniperus procera 27.67 (9.22%) and Olea europaea were species with the highest IVI. Nearly, 22% of areas of the forest get disturbed and higher anthropogenic disturbances occurred near the edge of the forest. Gathering, clearing, and grazing are the major human disturbances that stakeholders need to tackle for conservation. Zijje Maryam Church Forest has heterogeneous species composition with varied seedlings and saplings. Therefore, local conservation policies recommended not only protect large forests, but also the small and valuable forests service to the needs of local people.

Our current study was conducted in Zijje Maryam Church forest, Ethiopia, to explore woody species composition, structure, regeneration status, and anthropogenic disturbances inside the sacred groves. The aforementioned information for adequate conservation and management of the church forest is not well documented. Fifteen main quadrats each having an area of 625m2(25m×25m) were used for vegetation and disturbance data collection. Determination of the sampled quadrants was based on the principle that minimum quadrats give the smallest possible area in which all species occurring in the church forest are present. All woody species with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 2.5cm within the quadrat were identified, counted, and their height and DBH data were recorded. The criterion to start at DBH) ≥ 2.5cm was to exclude seedlings having DBH < 2.5 cm and height ≤ 0.6m. Sapling and seedling data were collected using 45 saplings and 45 seedling quadrat that measured 4 m2 and 1m2, respectively. Vegetation data analysis and ANOVA were used for statistical comparison. A total of 48 woody plant species belonging to 46 genera and 36 families were identified. Fabaceae was the dominant family containing 5 species followed by Rosaceae with 3 species. Total basal area of the church forest was 83.03m2 ha− 1. The density of seedlings, saplings, and matured woody species stem ha− 1 were 15555, 3833, and 865, respectively. Talking these densities, regeneration status of the forest was good. The Shannon diversity and evenness of woody plant species in the forest was high; 3.29 and 0.85, respectively. Juniperus procera 27.67 (9.22%) and Olea europaea were species with the highest IVI. Nearly, 22% of areas of the forest get disturbed and higher anthropogenic disturbances occurred near the edge of the forest. Gathering, clearing, and grazing are the major human disturbances that stakeholders need to tackle for conservation. Zijje Maryam church forest has heterogeneous species composition with varied seedlings and saplings. Therefore, local conservation policies recommended not only protect large forests, but also the small and valuable forests service to the needs of local people.

Our current study was conducted in Zijje Maryam Church forest, Ethiopia, to explore woody species composition, structure, regeneration status, and anthropogenic disturbances inside the sacred groves. The aforementioned information for adequate conservation and management of the church forest is not well documented. Fifteen main quadrats each having an area of 625m2(25m×25m) were used for vegetation and disturbance data collection. Determination of the sampled quadrants was based on the principle that minimum quadrats give the smallest possible area in which all species occurring in the church forest are present. All woody species with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 2.5cm within the quadrat were identified, counted, and their height and DBH data were recorded. The criterion to start at DBH) ≥ 2.5cm was to exclude seedlings having DBH < 2.5 cm and height ≤ 0.6m. Sapling and seedling data were collected using 45 saplings and 45 seedling quadrat that measured 4 m2 and 1m2, respectively. Vegetation data analysis and ANOVA were used for statistical comparison. A total of 48 woody plant species belonging to 46 genera and 36 families were identified. Fabaceae was the dominant family containing 5 species followed by Rosaceae with 3 species. Total basal area of the church forest was 83.03m2 ha− 1. The density of seedlings, saplings, and matured woody species stem ha− 1 were 15555, 3833, and 865, respectively. Talking these densities, regeneration status of the forest was good. The Shannon diversity and evenness of woody plant species in the forest was high; 3.29 and 0.85, respectively. Juniperus procera 27.67 (9.22%) and Olea europaea were species with the highest IVI. Nearly, 22% of areas of the forest get disturbed and higher anthropogenic disturbances occurred near the edge of the forest. Gathering, clearing, and grazing are the major human disturbances that stakeholders need to tackle for conservation. Zijje Maryam church forest has heterogeneous species composition with varied seedlings and saplings. Therefore, local conservation policies recommended not only protect large forests, but also the small and valuable forests service to the needs of local people.

Red pepper (Capsicum annum L.) is an increasingly important economic crop in the world. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the growth, physiological, and biochemical responses of red pepper cultivars under drought stress conditions. A pot culture experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications, four treatments, and three cultivars. Totally, 36 pots and six seeds per pot were used to grow the seeds. After five weeks, the cultivars were exposed to different drought stress conditions (100% FC or control, 80% FC or low stress, 60% FC or moderate stress, and 40% FC or severe stress). All the collected data were subjected to an analysis of variance (ANOVA). Shoot length was reduced significantly ( p < 0.05 ) in the Hagerew cultivar under severe drought stress. The photosynthesis rate was reduced by 21.11% ( p < 0.05 ) in the Mitmita cultivar under severe drought stress. The highest percentage reduction of chlorophyll content (77.28%) was recorded in the Hagerew cultivar. Both Markofana and Mitmita responded to drought stress by increasing the accumulation of proline and phenolic compounds. The root-to-shoot ratio was increased significantly in both Markofana and Mitmita cultivars (27.91% and 50.92%), respectively, under drought-stress conditions. This study depicted that the cultivar Mitmita was the most drought-tolerant cultivar among the three cultivars.