Currently, the unchecked increase in human population results in increased demand for agricultural lands. Growing two or more crops simultaneously is one of the mechanisms to reduce this problem. A field experiment was conducted in northwestern Ethiopia during 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons. Two legume crops [haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and lupine (Lupinus angustifolius)] were intercropped with finger millet (Eleusine coracana) using two intercrop planting methods (row and mixture) and three finger millet-legume planting ratios (100.0%:75.0%, 100.0%:50.0% and 100.0%:25.0% of the respective recommended seed rate of sole crops). Two sole crop finger millets (planted in rows and broadcast) and two sole legume crops (haricot bean and lupine) were included as checks. The experiment comprised a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results indicated intercropped finger millet and total land output yield from finger millet-haricot bean row intercropping at a 100:50 planting ratio and sole finger millet planted in a row improved better yield stability. Finger millet-haricot bean row intercropping at a 100:50 planting ratio also resulted in higher grain yields of the component crops, area time equivalent ratio (1.34), relative production (38.1%) and economic (314.0%) efficiencies with a relatively lower component crop competitive ratio. Thus, this cropping system offered increased productivity and economic return and is a viable option for increasing household food security.

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Teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.)] grain yield is low due to lack of improved management practices. We evaluated grain yield and cost of planting methods (broadcast, row, and transplanting), row spacing (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 cm), and seeding densities (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 kg ha−1) for teff in the 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons at the Adet Agricultural Research Center farm in northwest Ethiopia. Transplanting (1,675 kg ha−1) resulted in 34 and 75% greater grain yield (P < .05) than row (1,247 kg ha−1) and broadcast planting (958 kg ha−1), respectively. Row planting gave greater (30%) grain yield than broadcasting. Seeding density did not significantly influence grain yield in broadcast or row planting. Row spacing significantly influenced grain yield under row planting but did not significantly influence grain yield under transplanting. Regression analysis indicated grain yield increased as seeding density increased from 2.5 to 10 kg ha−1, then declined at greater seeding densities for both broadcast and row planting. Grain yield declined sharply as row spacing increased from 15 to 30 cm for both transplanting and row planting. Partial‐budget analysis showed that although teff transplanting gave the greatest grain yield, it was not economical due to low straw (biomass) yield and high cost of labor. Row planting at a spacing from 10 to 15 cm at 15 kg seed ha−1 was the most economically effective teff production method, with a net benefit of $1,640 ha−1.

Field pea is an important low-input break crops throughout the highlands of Ethiopia. The experiment was conducted on effect of spacing on the yield and yield component of field pea cultivars (pisum sativum L.) in 2012-213 cropping season at Adet Agricultural research station. Three intra row spacing's (5 cm, 10 cm and 15 cm) and two inter row spacing (20 cm and 25 cm) were evaluated using two released varieties, Sefinesh and Megeri on a plot size of 5 m x 5m (25 m2). The experimental design was a completely randomized block with 12 treatments in three replications. JMP-5 (SAS) software was used to compute the analysis of variance, correlation and regression analyses. Main effects of variety and intra row spacing had significant effect (P<0.05) on plant height, number of seeds per pod, seed yield while inter row spacing did not affect all examined attributes. The overall highest seed yield was recorded when Sefinesh was planted in 15 cm intra row spacing followed by Megeri in 5cm intra row spacing. The experiment revealed that average yield of Megeri increased when intra row spacing decreased. The reverse is true for Sefinesh. Similarly, increasing the intra row spacing revealed a peak seed yield at approximately 15 cm intra row spacing in Sefinsh. More importantly, increase in inter and intra row spacing together leads to increase and decrease the seed yield of Sefinesh and Megeri, respectively. Hence, 25 cm inter row with 15 cm intra row and 20 cm inter row with 5 cm intra row spacing, respectively gave the highest mean seed yield, and thereby increase the productivity of filed pea cultivars in West Gojam, but the experiment should be tested under small scale farmers' conditions.

An experiment on maize (Zea mays)-common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) intercropping was conducted for two years (2014 and 2016) at two locations in North western Ethiopia with the objective of determining the spatial arrangement and planting date of common bean. Common bean intercropped with maize at three planting dates (simultaneously with maize, at emergence and knee height of maize) in two spatial arrangements (alternate and paired arrangements).The experimental design was factotrial randomized complete block design with three replications. Sole maize and common bean were included as a check. Results revealed that the spatial and temporal differentiation significantly affect only the agronomic attributes of common bean in common bean-maize intercropping. At Adet the grain yield of common bean (1.9 t ha-1), LER (1.99) and MAI (357) in maize-common bean intercropping was higher when common bean was planted at the same time with maize in paired planting pattern. On the other hand, maximum LER (1.61) and MAI (2.83) at Finoteselam were observed when common bean was intercropped with maize at maize emergence in paired planting pattern. Simultaneous intercropping of common bean with maize gave more stable total land output yield as compared to other intercropping systems but showed high variability as compared to the sole cropping. Thus, it can be concluded that planting common bean simultaneously with maize in paired planting pattern at Adet and planting common bean at maize emergence at Finoteselam in maize-common bean intercropping gave maximum land use efficiency and profitability of the cropping system without reducing the main crop yield (maize).This research also suggested further research on the compatibility of various maize and common bean varieties in different spatial and temporal differentiation.

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Improper nitrogen application time during the crop growing period is one of the most limiting factor for wheat production. A field experiment was conducted in Northwestern Ethiopia with the objective of determining the appropriate N fertilizer application time for improving bread wheat production. Twelve treatments (½ urea at 50% emergence + ½ urea at tillering, ½ urea at tillering + ½ urea at booting, 1/3rd urea at 50% emergence + 1/3rd urea at tillering + 1/3rd urea at booting, 2/3rd urea at tillering + 1/3rd urea at booting, all urea at tillering, all urea at booting, all N at tillering, all N at booting, ½ N at sowing+ ½ N at tillering, ½ N 50% emergence + ½ N at tillering, 1/3rd N at 50% emergence + 1/3rd N at tillering + 1/3rd N at booting, ½ N at tillering + ½ N at booting) were lied out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The study showed that wheat grain yield and protein content was highly influenced by the environment and indirectly correlated with each other as affected by N time of applications. The grain yield at Adet, Wonberema and Debre Elies was increased by 31%, 14% and 18%, respectively when N was applied with DAP at sowing over the blanket recommendation. At all locations, grain protein content decreased as the number of N split application increased 1 to 3 times. Thus, depending on the purpose of the producers, it can be concluded that application of ½ urea at 50% emergence + ½ urea at tillering with the application of DAP at sowing gave maximum wheat grain yield, while optimum grain protein content was obtained when N was applied after the crop is emerged and would be used in most dominant wheat producing areas of northwestern Ethiopia. Further study should be conducted on split application of blended fertilizers (NPS, NPSBZN etc.).

Wheat, barley and finger millet as a major crop and lupine as a companion crop are food crops often traditionally grown in an intercropping in North Western Ethiopia. The experiment was conducted on intercropping of lupine (Lupinus albus L.) with wheat (Triticum aestivum), barely (Hordeum vulgar) and finger millet (Eleusine coracana) in 2009 at Adet Agricultural research station. The treatments were sole wheat at a seed rate of 175 kg/ ha, sole barley at a seed rate of 125 kg/ ha, sole finger millet at a seed rate of 30 kg/ ha, sole lupine at a seed rate of 90 kg/ h and 25, 50 and 75% of the sole lupine seed rate combined with each full cereal seed rate to determine the effect of lupine intercropping and seed proportion on the growth, yield and yield component; and lodging of wheat, barley and finger millet. The trial layout was a completely randomized block design with three replications. SAS software's were used to compute the analysis of variance. Increasing in lupine seed proportion in a mixture, delay in finger millet days to heading and maturity also significantly increased. The yield and yield component of most cereals were not significantly affected when they were intercropped with lupine in all seeding ratios except finger millet plant height, harvest index and wheat total biomass yield. Hence, growing cereals in association with lupine was not showed its yield reduction and the farmer's primary objective of maintaining a 'full' cereal yield was attained. Intercropping lupine with cereals gave physical support for cereals particularly in high lupine seed proportion. The combined yield advantage was greater than one in the cases of lupine-wheat followed by lupine-finger millet mixtures at all seeding ratios. Hence, two of the best combinations which were gave higher land use efficiency are the lupine-wheat mixture at the 75:100 seeding ratio (49.4%) followed by the lupine-finger millet mixtures at the 75:100 seeding ratio (29.4%).