Tropical highland environments present substantial challenges for climate projections due to sparse observations, significant local heterogeneity and inconsistent performance of global climate models (GCMs). Moreover, these areas are often densely populated, with agriculture‐based livelihoods sensitive to transient climate extremes not always included in available climate projections. In this context, we present an analysis of observed and projected trends in temperature and precipitation extremes across agroecosystems (AESs) in the northwest Ethiopian Highlands, to provide more relevant information for adaptation. Limited observational networks are supplemented with a satellite‐station hybrid product, and trends are calculated locally and summarized at the adaptation‐relevant unit of the AES. Projections are then presented from GCM realizations with divergent climate projections, and results are interpreted in the context of agricultural climate sensitivities. Trends in temperature extremes (1981–2016) are typically consistent across sites and AES, but with different implications for agricultural activities in the other AES. Trends in temperature extremes from GCM projected data also generally have the same sign as the observed trends. For precipitation extremes, there is greater site‐to‐site variability. Summarized by AES, however, there is a clear tendency towards reduced precipitation, associated with decreases in wet extremes and a tendency towards temporally clustered wet and dry days. Over the retrospective analysis period, neither of the two analysed GCMs captures these trends. Future projections from both GCMs include significant wetting and an increase in precipitation extremes across AES. However, given the lack of agreement between GCMs and observations with respect to trends in recent decades, the reliability of these projections is questionable. The present study is consistent with the “East Africa Paradox” that observations show drying in summer season rainfall while GCMs project wetting. This has an expression in summertime Ethiopian rain that has not received significant attention in previous studies.

Field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016) in north western Ethiopia to test the effect of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on soil nutrient status, nutrient uptake, protein content and yield of chickpea. The experiment comprised of 6 levels of INM treatments (unfertilized, 100% recommended-1 dose of chemical fertilizer (RDF), 6 t compost ha alone or combined with: 75, 50 and 25% RDF). The treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. The result showed that application of full recommended dose of chemical fertilizer (RDF) or integrated application of compost along with 25, 50 or 75% RDF appreciably enhanced soil N and P status, seed and biomass yield, protein content and nutrient uptake of chickpea. Compared to the unfertilized treatment, application of 100% RDF alone;-1 combined application of 6 t compost ha along with 75, 50 and 25% RDF improved seed yield by 44, 38, 37.5, and 38% and seed protein content by 63, 61, 69 and 60%, respectively. All INM treatments produced statistically the same yield to that of RDF. Therefore, INM can be recommended as sustainable nutrient management option for production of chickpea by poor small holder farmers who cannot afford direct monetary expenditure in cash for chemical fertilizers and to maintain the soil health

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Terminal moisture stress is one of the major factors that reduce the yield of chickpea when it is grown using residual moisture. Field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2015/16 and 2016/17) at Teda research site, northwestern Ethiopia to investigate the effect of Supplemental Irrigation (SI) on yield and yield attributes of chickpea (Habru variety). The treatments comprised of six SI levels (no SI/rain-fed, SI at: 50% flowering, 50% pod setting; vegetative + 50% flowering, vegetative + 50% pod setting stages). The treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were analyzed using SAS software, and means were separated by least significant difference test. The result showed that the effect of SI on water use efficiency, yield and most yield components of chickpea such as weight of 100-seed, biomass yield, number of secondary branch, pods and seeds plant-1 was significant. SI generally decreased the water use efficiency of chickpea compared to rain-fed condition. Based on two-year result, SI twice at vegetative + pod setting produced maximum seed yield (30.02 q ha-1), which was at par with that of SI twice at vegetative+ flowering (29.30 q ha-1) and once at vegetative stages (29.17 q ha-1). SI once at vegetative, twice at vegetative + flowering and twice at vegetative + pod setting stages increased seed yield by 12, 17 and 19% in 2015; and by 35, 24 and 36 % in 2016, respectively, compared to rain-fed condition. SI once at vegetative stage provided maximum net benefit (45880.40 ETB ha-1), with a marginal rate of return (477%) greater than minimum acceptable level (100%). Moreover, it had the highest water use efficiency among SI treatments. Therefore, SI once at vegetative stage can be recommended as the best management option for chickpea production in the study area.

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