Abstract: Faba bean plays an important role in human food, animal feed and soil fertility restoration. However, its productivity is low due to soil acidity problem in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Hence, this study was designed to know the genetic diversity existing among 50 elite faba bean genotypes tested at three locations (Holetta, Watebecha Minjaro and Jeldu) in 2017 using randomized complete block design with three replications. The genetic distances estimated by Euclidean distances ranged from 1.55 to 15.60. The 50 genotypes were grouped in to 10 distinct clusters by Unweighted Pair group Method with Arithmetic Means clustering method based on Euclidian distances matrix estimated from overall mean of genotypes for 19 traits over locations and soil managements. Among the 10 clusters 5 were solitary (III, VI, VIII, IX and X) including the best and least performing genotypes CS20DK (IX) and Wayu (X), respectively. Cluster II consisted of soil acidity stress tolerance genotypes. The results of the first three principal components (PC) analysis accounted 84.32% of the total variations observed among genotypes of which PC1 and PC2 contributed 45.8 and 25.36%, respectively. In each PC single or few traits were not identified as having much contribution than others traits. In conclusion, cluster IX was found as best of all the other clusters in most of traits performance and genotypes grouped under cluster II, VI and VIII needs further evaluation to obtain genotypes with lowest relative yield reduction and stress susceptible index and resistant to chocolate spot disease with other desirable agronomic traits.Abstract: Faba bean plays an important role in human food, animal feed and soil fertility restoration. However, its productivity is low due to soil acidity problem in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Hence, this study was designed to know the genetic diversity existing among 50 elite faba bean genotypes tested at three locations (Holetta, Watebecha Minjaro...Show More
Abstract: Water-induced soil erosion is one of the serious environmental, agricultural, and socioeconomic problems in Ethiopian highlands. Accurate information on the rates of soil erosion helps environment protection and socio-economic development efforts of the nation. The objective of this research was to estimate annual soil loss, sediment yield, and map erosion risk areas of Gilgel Gibe-I (GG-I) catchment via integrating Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RULSE) model with Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) technologies. The model inputs variables; rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), topographic (LS), land cover (C) and land management (P) were derived from meteorological stations, Ethio-soil map, and satellite image of the catchment. The annual soil loss (t-1ha-1yr) was estimated using pixel-by-pixel ArcGIS map overlays to ensure the accuracy of RULSE output. The model output revealed on average 12.52 (t-1ha-1yr) soils was lost from GG-I catchment through sheet and rill erosion. The rates of soil loss were varying in the catchment, 59.8% of the catchment exposed to low rate (<5 t-1ha-1yr), 12.2% to moderate rate (5-12 t-1ha-1yr), 11.7% to high rate (12-30 t-1ha-1yr), and 6.6% to severe (>30 t-1ha-1yr). The annual sediment yield capacity of the catchment was 2.54 t-1ha and delivery ration estimated 0.203% transported to outlet of the catchment-GGI hydropower dam. To combat the problems of GG-I hydropower dam siltation, land degradation, and low agricultural productivity an integrated natural resource management intervention is required throughout the catchment particularly in high and severe erosion risk areas.Abstract: Water-induced soil erosion is one of the serious environmental, agricultural, and socioeconomic problems in Ethiopian highlands. Accurate information on the rates of soil erosion helps environment protection and socio-economic development efforts of the nation. The objective of this research was to estimate annual soil loss, sediment yield, and map...Show More
