Soil Nutrient Balance and Stock on Smallholder Farms at Agew Mariam Watershed in Northern Ethiopia

IntroductionSoil nutrient balance is used to evaluate the state of soil fertility, rate of nutrient depletion, sustainability of land productivity, the environmental wellbeing of an area, and to take appropriate management decisions. This study was conducted to quantify soil nutrient balance and stocks on smallholder farms at the Agew Mariam watershed in northern Ethiopia in the 2020/21 main season.MethodsInflows and outflows of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) into, and out of barley, tef, and wheat farms were determined through, field measurement, laboratory analysis, and interviews. The balance quantification was done by subtracting nutrient outputs from the inputs. ResultsThe N partial balance of barley, tef and wheat was -66, -9.8, and -50.7 kg ha-1 yr-1 respectively. The P balance was also -5.9, 0.9, and -2.6 kg ha-1 yr-1 for barley, tef, and wheat respectively. Whereas, K balance was -12.3, -3.2, and -5.4 kg ha-1 yr-1 from barley, tef, and wheat respectively. The balance results revealed that N, P, and K had negative values except for P in tef. Grain yield and crop residue removal were the major paths of nutrient loss. The stock of N was 1295, 1510, and 1240 from barley, tef, and wheat kg ha-1respectively. While, the P stock was 63, 18.7, and 27.5, kg ha-1 from barley, tef, and wheat farms respectively. Similarly, K stock was 1092.7, 1059.4, and 1090.6 kg ha-1 from barley, tef, and wheat cropping systems respectively. ConclusionsReversing the imbalance between inflows and outflows via adding organic and inorganic fertilizers is critically essential for the study area.

Effect of intercropping of maize and cowpea on the yield, land productivity and profitability of components crops in Bena- Tsemay Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

Field experiment was carried out during the 2017-18 cropping season at Kako, Bena-Ttsemay woreda, South Omo zone, Southern Ethiopia to determine the effect of intercropping of maize and cowpea on the yield, land use efficiency and profitability of both crops. The experiment consisted of 4 treatments (sole maize, sole cowpea, one row maize to one row cowpea and one row maize to two-row cowpea) and laid in RCBD in four replications. Intercropping of one row maize to one row cowpea and one row maize to two-row cowpea, resulted in 55.8% and 27.9% greater land use efficiency than for either crop grown alone. The highest MAI was obtained by growing one row of maize to one row of cowpea (11563.17) followed by one row maize to two-rows of cowpea (6783.50).Based on the present finding, intercropping of one row maize and one row cowpea more economic advantage than the other crop combination or grown alone. Therefore, intercropping of one row maize to one row cowpea is an advantageous to farmers in the study area since it would provide additional crop yield with the same piece of land and more profitable related to cost benefit. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 11(2): 147-150, Dec 2021

Analisis Pengembangan Usaha Tani Kakao Di Desa Taulo Kecamatan Alla Kabupaten Enrekang

Penelitian ini dilaksanakan Di Desa Taulo Kecamatan Alla Kabupaten Enrekang dari bulan November 2020 sampai dengan bulan Januari 2021. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui pendapatan yang diperoleh dalam usaha tani kakao, kelayakan usaha tani kakao dan strategi pengembangannya dengan menggunakan metode analisis kelayakan dan analisis Interpretativ Stuktural Modelling ISM dengan pengambilan data melalui wawancara dengan pengisian kuisioner untuk analisis pendapatan dan kelayakan sebanyak 32 orang responden dan 16 responden untuk analisis ISM. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa tingkat kelayakan 2,25 dan Hasil analisis ISM diperoleh program strategi yang strategis adalah : (2) Pembinaan kelompok tani/gapoktan, (1) Rehabilitas tanaman kakoa, (6) Peningkatan kualitas produk/mutu biji kakao, (4) Peningkatan peran penyuluhan, (3) Pengelolaan pasca panen, (5) Pengembangan produktivitas lahan, (8) Pengembangan pemasaran produksi, (12) pemberantasan hama dan penyakit, (11) Peningkatan sarana produksi, (10) Peningkatan agroimput, (7) Pengstabilan harga. ABSTRACT This research was conducted in Taulo Village, Alla District, Enrekang Regency from November 2020 to January 2021. The study aims to find out how the income earned in cocoa farming is, how is the feasibility of cocoa farming and how is the development strategy using feasibility analysis methods and Interpretative analysis. ISM Structural Modeling with data collection through interviews by filling out questionnaires for income and feasibility analysis as many as 32 respondents and 16 respondents for ISM analysis. The results of this study indicate that the feasibility level is 2.25 and the results of the ISM analysis obtained that strategic strategic programs are: (2) Fostering farmer groups/gapoktan, (1) Rehabilitation of cocoa plants, (6) Improving product quality/quality of cocoa beans, (4 ) Increasing the role of extension, (3) Post-harvest management, (5) Development of land productivity, (8) Development of production marketing, (12) eradicating pests and diseases, (11) Increasing production facilities, (10) Increasing agro-imput, (7) Price stabilization

Evaluating Trends of Land Productivity Change and Their Causes in the Han River Basin, China: In Support of SDG Indicator 15.3.1

The Han River Basin is a main agricultural production area and a water source for the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China. Over the past 20 years, human exploitation and ecological construction have disturbed the sustainability of land productivity in the Han River Basin. Theil–Sen trend analysis, Mann–Kendall statistical test, and Hurst index methods were applied to examine spatial–temporal trends and sustainability characteristics of land net primary productivity (NPP) change in the Han River Basin from 2001 to 2019 using MOD17A3 NPP product, natural, and socio-economic data obtained from Google Earth Engine (GEE). The findings demonstrated that the interannual variation of land NPP exhibited a fluctuating upward trend, with a more pronounced growth rate from 2001 to 2010 than from 2011 to 2019. The spatial heterogeneity of land NPP was evident, with high values in the west and low values in the east. Of the basin area, 57.82% presented a significant increase in land NPP, while only 0.96% showed a significant decrease. In the future, land NPP in the Han River Basin will present sustained growth. The results were also compared with Trends.Earth’s calculations for the SDG 15.3.1 sub-indicator of land productivity. In addition, the spatial heterogeneity of factors influencing land NPP change was explored using a multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model. Precipitation and population count were the dominant factors in most regions. Besides, precipitation, population count, and human modification all exhibited inhibitory effects on the increase in land NPP except for elevation. The research can provide a scientific basis for tracking land degradation neutrality (LDN) progress and achieving sustainable socio-ecological development of the Han River Basin.

Identification of Land Criticality with the Application of Deep Learning in West Lahat District Using Sentinel-2A Imagery

Land is an important factor in human life. In addition of land use that continue to increase every year. Land use is an element of meeting needs. This situation often makes the condition of the land around it questionable the content and level of land productivity. Land whose productivity level is lost can cause critical land to occur. Coupled with the occurrence of uncontrolled development, land productivity has decreased. By using the application of remote sensing, it is able to monitor land conditions, one of which is by using Sentinel-2A data. Sentinel-2A image data was selected to identify the condition or distribution of critical land and critical land parameters that has the most influence on criticality level of the land with Sentinel-2A imagery with a spatial resolution of 10 meters for Red, Green, Blue, and Near-Infrared canals to perform NDVI classification processing. closely related to vegetation. Based on the Regulation of the Director General of Watershed Management and Social Forestry Number: P.4/V-SET/2013 concerning the Technical Guidelines for the Preparation of Spatial Data for Critical Lands, there are 5 parameters for determining the criticality of the processed land as indicators, including the level of erosion distribution, productivity land, land management, slope, and vegetation density. Based on the results of the study, the researchers found that the distribution of critical land in Lahat Regency was 19 hectares or 0.56%, the critical class was 36,090 hectares or 10.1%, the critical potential class was 142,140 hectares or 42.1%, the class which was slightly critical is 156,860 hectares or 46.5%, and non critical class is 3 hectares or 0.074%. for very critical class. These results can be seen with the parameter that most affects the criticality of the land is vegetation density.