Review Article
Studies on the Effects of Liming Acidic Soil on Improving Soil Physicochemical Properties and Yield of Crops: A Review
Bezuayehu Tola Abdi
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 95-103.
DOI: 10.36348/merjafs.2024.v04i03.001
Soil acidity is a major constraint to crop production globally by potentially limiting agricultural productivity and causing environmental challenges, especially in temperate and tropical regions of the world where there is high precipitation. The review article summarizes the works of literature and gathers information on the effects of liming on soil's physicochemical properties and the yield of crops. Soil acidity is caused by natural ways, such as the high amount of precipitation that exceeds evapotranspiration that leaches appreciable amounts of exchangeable bases from the soil surface, weathering, and decomposition of organic matter and by human interference (by the use of nitrogen fertilizer mainly ammonia and urea fertilizers). Application of lime improved soil pH and neutralize the effect of toxic elements. Liming directly improves some physicochemical properties of the soil, such as aggregates, density, and porosity as physical properties and reduction of exchangeable acidity, Al saturation, micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) in the soil solutions, from exchange complex to the levels required and increasing soil pH, exchangeable cations (Na+, K+, Ca+2, and Mg+2) as chemical properties. Soil aggregation, density, and porosity of soil undergo changes with the application of lime. The long-term lime application resulted in increased soil chemical properties. Lime application contributed to increased crop productivity and crop quality. The effects of liming can be explained by the flocculation and cementing action of Calcium ions in the short term. In the long term, increases in productivity induced by liming, result in increasing soil pH, available phosphorus, cation exchange capacity, basic cations, microbial activity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and decreasing leaching of nutrients, exchangeable aluminum, and acidity, all favoring the physical and chemical properties of the soil.
Research Article
Trait Correlation and Path Study for Quantitative Traits in Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Genotypes
Mulat Getaneh Melesse, Alemu Abate Asfaw
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 104-108.
DOI: 10.36348/merjafs.2024.v04i03.002
Garlic is a widely cultivated vegetable with both culinary and medicinal uses in Ethiopia. The analyses, focusing on various traits, help in identifying genotypes with high productivity and quality. Garlic reproduces solely vegetatively due to male and female sterility in its gametophytes. Its domestication originated from the wild species Allium longicuspis Regel. The introduction of diverse garlic varieties contributes to enhancing its genetic potential. This study aimed to assess the relationship between different traits and their influence on garlic bulb yield. The experiment conducted during the rainy season of 2020–2021 at the Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center in Ethiopia. The experiment included 49 garlic genotypes arranged in a simple lattice design with two replications. The results revealed significant genotypic correlation coefficients between fresh bulb yield per hectare and bulb weight per plant (r = 0.82***), pseudo-stem height (r = 0.82***), and clove weight (r = 0.81***). Similarly, significant positive phenotypic associations were observed between fresh bulb yield per hectare and clove weight per bulb (r = 0.77***), pseudo-stem height (r = 0.77***), and bulb weight per plant (r = 0.76***). Further analysis indicated that pseudo-stem height (0.42) and clove weight (0.39) exerted the highest phenotypic direct effects on fresh bulb yield per hectare. Therefore, traits such as clove weight, pseudo-stem height, and bulb weight exhibit high genotypic coefficients and significant direct effects on total bulb yield, making them crucial for direct selection to increase bulb yield.
Research Article
Heavy Metal Accumulation Trends for Tsunga, Tomatoes and Rape in Soils from Two Provinces of Zimbabwe
Samuel Kodani, Samson Mutengwa, Sheliter Mutandwa, Dr. Claid Mujaju, Dr. Dumisani Kutywayo
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 109-115.
DOI: 10.36348/merjafs.2024.v04i03.003
Tomatoes, tsunga (mustard) and rape were sampled from Mashonaland East and Central provinces of Zimbabwe. Aim was to assess hyper accumulative tendency of these towards heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Co, Cr, Ni, and Pb). Most of these heavy metals were noted to be of anthropogenic origin. Co, Mn and Cr were noted to be naturally inherent in Mushimbo, Mutoko soils. Heavy metal levels in irrigation water were within internationally acceptable ranges according to ATSDR. There was no direct reflection of level dependency between the water and plants studied. Bioaccumulation of cadmium and lead levels occurred in all vegetables despite low levels in the soil environment. High heavy metal levels in arable land as compared to virgin land proves contamination at play and also the anthropogenic origin. It was concluded that different vegetables accrue different heavy metals at different rates under the same environment. It was recommended to do more investigations on factors that determine absorption and hyper accumulation tendency of heavy metals in plants. This data could be used as a basis for recommending what crops to grow and in specific areas hence promote food safety in addition to food security for the nation.
Research Article
Genetic Divergence and Cluster Analysis for Bulb Yield and Related Traits in Garlic Genotypes at Fogera, Northwestern, Ethiopia
Mulat Getaneh Melesse
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 116-122.
DOI: 10.36348/merjafs.2024.v04i03.004
Identifying morphological variations among garlic genotypes is crucial for enhancing garlic breeding schemes. This study aimed to assess genetic diversity based on morphological traits of garlic genotypes. The experiment was conducted at the Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center, utilizing a simple lattice design with two replications for planting the genotypes. A total of 49 Ethiopian garlic genotypes were included in the study. Multivariate analysis methods were employed to assess approximately sixteen morphological characteristics. The genotypes were classified into five distinct clusters based on divergence analysis. Clusters 5 and 4 exhibited the highest inter-cluster distance (29.448), indicating genetic diversity. Conversely, clusters 3 and 1 showed the minimum inter-cluster distance, suggesting genetic similarity. Cluster 5 had the highest mean genotypes, indicating its potential for increasing genetic gain through heterosis breeding. Plant height contributed the most to variance, followed by leaf length, number of cloves per bulb, and total soluble solids. The first two principal components explained 74% of the overall variance. Therefore, this study underscores significant diversity in genotypes based on phenotypic characteristics, which could be valuable for future heterosis breeding programs.
Research Article
Investigation of Yield Limiting Nutrients for Wheat Productivity through Nutrient Omission Trials
Zeleke Obsa, Matias Dejene, Girma Chala
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 123-130.
DOI: 10.36348/merjafs.2024.v04i03.005
This study examines the effect of nutrient omission trials (NOTs) on wheat productivity in West shawa zone, Oromia region, with a focus on identifying yield-limiting nutrients. The experiments were conducted out over ten experimental sites. The experiment was laid out by randomized block design using farmers plot as replications per villages to determine the primary yield-limiting nutrients in wheat crop production using nutrient omission strategies and different nutrient sources. Different source of nutrients were used for the studies. Soil samples were tested to determine the initial nutrient levels, and agronomic data on growth, yield, and efficiency measures were obtained. The results show significant differences in wheat growth and production among treatments, indicating the significance of nitrogen and phosphorus in biomass and grain yield increase. The full NPKSZnB treatment consistently produced the highest yields, demonstrating the necessity of balanced nutrient management strategies specific to local agro-ecological conditions.
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