Although taro is widely grown in Ethiopia, it is an underutilized crop and little is known about its proximate and micro-element composition and the antinutritional factors of the raw, boiled and fermented products. Boiling and fermentation processing techniques are widely used in the country, especially within the rural community of the Southern region where the crop grows widely. A cultivar of taro grown in the country was analyzed for proximate and mineral composition and antinutritional factors. An investigation was also made on the effects of boiling and fermentation on the nutritional contents. Protein, fat, fiber, total ash and utilizable carbohydrates, respectively were found to be 6.43, 0.47, 2.63, 4.82 and 85.65%, while the Gross Energy was 372.55 Kcal/100g. The contents of the micronutrients namely:Fe, Zn, Mg, Ca, Na, P and Mn were 5.86, 43.08, 7.24, 45.23, 13.81, 7.77 and 3.61mg/100g, respectively. Phytate for the raw product was 115.43 while oxalate and tannin were 243.06 and 47.69 mg/100g, respectively. Cyanide was not detected in all the samples. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the contents of the proximate and mineral composition and antinutritional factors during boiling and fermentation. The protein content was lower by 9.37% and 8.46%, respectively, in the boiled and fermented products, under the sampling and processing conditions used in the study. The crude fat content was significantly different (p < 0.05) from the crude fat content of the boiled product which was 0.87%. On the other hand, analysis of variance conducted showed that the fiber content of raw sample was significantly different from the fermented samples. Fermentation resulted in a lower level of fiber which was 6.44% and phytates of about 84.75%. Boiling of taro resulted in a higher value of oxalate (70.9%). The data presented in this paper provide an evidence of the potential of Boloso I (which is one variety of taro) to serve as a nutrient dense product for the Ethiopian population provided that the techniques of its processing are optimized.

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Purpose Depletion of soil fertility accounts for the low yield and quality of malting barley (Hordeum vulgare) in Ethiopia. Mineral fertilizers can counteract nutrient depletion but are unaffordable by low-input farmers. Organic amendments can contribute to correct soil degradation but are often unavailable in the required amounts. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of combined use of organic and mineral amendments on the yield and quality of malting barley, and on selected soil chemical properties at Lemu-Bilbilo district in the southeastern highlands of Ethiopia. Methods Eight treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications to compare sole and integrated applications of organic and mineral nutrient sources on crop performance attributes and selected soil characteristics. Results Application of 2.82 t ha −1 compost or 1.07 t ha −1 farmyard manure (FYM) along with 18-10 kg ha −1 N-P gave 4234-4443 kg ha −1 grain yield with 15-17 and 32-39% increase over sole organic amendments and control, respectively, and 757% economic benefit. Combining organic and mineral fertilizers also gave 7-17 and 1-6% increase in available soil P and total N content of the soil. Conclusion Combined application of 50% recommended compost (RC) or 50% recommended FYM (RFYM) + 50% recommended NP (RNP) or 33% RC + 33% RFYM + 33% RNP enhanced yield, grain quality, soil attributes and economic benefits. Therefore, integration of organic and mineral amendments is recommended as best agronomic and economic optimum soil fertility management options for sustainable malting barley production in the southeastern highlands of Ethiopia.

A study was carried out to study the combining ability effects of diallel cross hybrids for grain yield, agronomic traits and reaction to grey leaf spot (GLS). Forty five experimental diallel cross hybrids made from ten quality protein maize (QPM) inbred lines with varying level of resistance to GLS were evaluated along with three checks at Bako and Jima Research Centers during 2014/2015 cropping season. Analysis of variance showed significant variation (P≤0.05) among genotypes and between environments. This depicted the existence of genetic variation among genotypes in all studied traits. Mean squares characterized by general and specific combining ability effects were significant for the most traits and this suggested that both additive and non-additive gene actions have the contribution in the expression of the traits. However, the ratio of General combining ability (GCA) to specific combining ability (SCA) sum of squares were greater than unity, this revealed that there was preponderance of additive gene action in the expression of all the traits under study. Among inbred lines studied P6 and P10 had a desirable GCA effects for grain yield whereas P1, P4 and P10 were the best general combiners for GLS resistance. Furthermore, P10 was identified as good general combiner for grain yield as well as GLS is therefore recommended to be used in breeding programs with a purpose of developing both high yielder as well as GLS disease resistant genotypes. Crosses, P2×P8 and P4×P6 showed the most desirable performances and SCA effects for grain yield. Grain yield showed positive correlation between ear per plant, plant and ear height, and ear position whereas negative correlation were observed with GLS, days to anthesis, days to silking, plant aspect and ear aspect traits. The information which is generated in this study could be helpful to develop high yielding maize varieties with good agronomic traits as well as GLS resistance.

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