Practical research: Visit to field experiments in Ethiopia

23.08.2023

Betelhem Mekonnen (DBFZ), an ETH-Soil project staff member, visited the soil analysis laboratory facilities at Jimma, Hawassa, and Wachemo Universities, as well as the ongoing field experiments at Dedo (Jimma) and Fonka Woredas (Hosaena). The goal of the field experiments is to find out how different biochar-based fertilizer formulations and rates affect the soil and wheat and barley yields at Dedo and Fonka.

Dr. Abebe Nigussie and his team from Jimma University developed a biofertilizer by combining biochar and digestate in different ratios. Before sowing wheat seeds, the mixture is applied to a farmer's field and blended with the soil. Similarly, Mr. Wondimu Tamrat and Dr. Mekdes Lulu of Wachemo University created a biofertilizer by combining biochar and vermicompost at different ratios and applied it to a farm in Fonka to examine how it affected the productivity of barley.

The ETH-Soil project conducts research in collaboration with Jimma, Hawassa, Dilla, and Wachemo Universities, as well as the Batu Soil Research Center. The purpose is to collect evidence for the development of biochar-based biofertilizers and determine how the biofertilizer impacts soil quality and crop productivity. These studies are conducted as part of the first ETH-Soil project research call. Building on that, a second call for research prosposals will be released in October. More information can be found here.