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The performance of genotypes under diverse environments can be used to determine their adaptability and stability. However, information on the performance of coffee genotypes in various environmental conditions is limited. Thus, this study's objectives were to estimate genotype by environment interaction (GEI), evaluate the mean performance and stability of 16 fruity flavored coffee genotypes in eight specialty coffee growing environments in western Ethiopia, and assess the magnitude of correlations among different stability parameters. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two replications. For coffee yield, data were recorded and a combined analysis of variance and stability analysis were performed. Additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis revealed that genotypes, environments, and GEI showed highly significant differences (P < .0.01) for coffee bean yield. AMMI analysis also revealed that 73.2% of the GEI sum of squares for coffee bean yield was accounted for by the first three interaction principal component axes (IPCA). The standard check variety G16 (Menesibu), G3(W54/99), and G10 (W107/99) gave the highest average yields of 1537, 1458 and 1375 kg of clean coffee per hectare across environments, respectively. Despite no genotypes consistently performing well across environments due to the high GEI, G1 (W13/99) and G5 (W54/99) were relatively stable. Therefore, these were recommended as useful genetic resources for breeding of high-yielding genotypes. However, since all the genotypes gave a mean yield below the standard check variety, additional genotypes should be tested in more environments to develop stable and high-yielding coffee varieties.

Solar tunnel drying and semiwash processing methods are popular among coffee growers in southwestern Ethiopia. However, the effect of these processing methods on coffee quality has not been studied in detail. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of processing and drying methods on the quality of coffee varieties at Gomma-I and Limmu Kossa areas in the 2016/2017 growing season. Two processing methods (fully washed and semiwashed) and three drying methods (solar tunnel, artificial, and natural sun) were compared using three coffee varieties (741, 7440, and 74110) to test their effect on coffee quality. Coffee beans processed by semiwash method and dried by solar tunnel produced nondefective (primary and secondary) coffee beans compared with others at both locations. Similarly, coffee beans processed by semiwashed method recorded the highest mean value for shape and make and body than wet processing method. Best coffee bean color, greenish color, was produced from coffee beans processed by the fully washed processing method. All coffee varieties processed by semiwashed method produced medium pointed acidity, the second most acceptable grade value for coffee quality for all drying methods. Coffee beans processed by the fully washed method produced more flavor than semiwash processing method. Coffee beans dried by sun and solar tunnel drying methods also produced better flavor than artificial drier. In general, all coffee varieties processed by semiwash method and dried by natural sun and solar tunnel method produced higher preliminary total quality and total specialty coffee value, graded under specialty grade Q1. Hence, coffee growers in the study area can use semiwash processing method and solar tunnel dryer as an alternative/complementary processing method since they produce better or equivalent quality product with full wash and natural sun drying method.

A comprehensive examination of the physical and cup quality of Kafa Biosphere Reserve coffees was essential to identify the inherent qualities of the coffees in connection with the area’s soil physical and chemical characteristics. As a result, preliminary coffee quality data was acquired from bean physical and cup quality examination of coffees derived through a three-stage nested design combining districts (Gimbo, Gawata, and Decha), coffee production systems (forest, semiforest, and garden), and coffee processing methods (wet, semiwet, and dry). Representative soil samples were collected according to the sampling structure and analyzed following the standard procedures. Multiple factor analysis and Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis were applied to the collected data. According to the results of multiple factor analysis, the Gimbo and Decha districts are not significantly different from each other in terms of coffee quality. However, they are substantially different from the Gawata district in terms of coffee quality. Similarly, within each district, there are no clear differences in coffee production systems. However, the production systems of districts varied significantly. The coffee processing method had a pronounced effect on the overall quality and preliminary grade, physical and raw quality variables of coffee. Screen retention (14) was correlated with soil iron, but it was related negatively to boron and sodium contents. A significant and positive relationship was observed between green coffee bean moisture content and soil potassium, calcium, magnesium, boron, sodium, organic carbon, silicon content, and soil pH. A positive and significant relationship between soil molybdenum and the coffee quality variable was observed across the studied districts whereas most soil micronutrients, specifically, zinc, sulfur, and manganese, were significantly and negatively related to the organoleptic qualities of the coffees. Further investigation that includes the effects of elevation is recommended in future studies.

Declining soil quality is among the factors leading to low crop yields in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, a 2 year on farm field experiment was carried out in Ethiopia to test whether integration of organic and inorganic fertilizer inputs increases soil quality, the nutrient balance and maize yields. Treatment combinations included 2 and 4 t ha−1 of compost (Com) and farm yard manure (FYM), and 50 and 100% of the recommended inorganic fertilizer (RIF). The treatments were laid out on 11 farmer fields where each farm served as a replicate. About 40% yield increase was recorded due to the combined use of 4 t ha−1 of Com along with 50% RIF compared to the 100% RIF. Soil quality was significantly improved in the top 20 cm of the soil due to application of FYM or Com combined with 50% RIF. Carbon and Nitrogen stocks were respectively 86 and 175% higher in the 4 t Com + 50% RIF compared to the control with no significant variation between farms. Further, the N and P partial balances were between 12.2 and 41.6 kg ha−1 year−1 and 10.2 and 17.4 kg ha−1 year−1 for N and P, respectively implying that the sites showed N and P-accumulations over the study period. Results suggest that nutrient depletion can be mitigated in smallholder systems through the use of locally available organic inputs, hence longer-term productivity of smallholders can be sustained.

An improved fallow experiment was established in 2013 to examine the contribution of shrub legume species, Tephrosia vogelii and Cajanus cajan, in improving the productivity of a degraded tropical soil and crop yields compared with traditional fallow. The study was conducted on five farmers’ fields in southwestern Ethiopia laid out in randomized complete block design with farmers as replicates. After 2 years, the amount of aboveground biomass produced was 5–8 t ha−1 for Tephrosia and 3–5 t ha−1 for Cajanus. Maize grain yield was 80% higher for Tephrosia and 41% for Cajanus compared with the traditional fallow. The legume species significantly increased soil pH, organic carbon and total nitrogen levels compared with the natural fallow but there was no significant effect for available phosphorus. The magnitude of fallow benefit from Tephrosia in terms of yield advantage and nitrogen availability could be related to its high biomass production capacity compared to Cajanus. Fallowing with Tephrosia has the potential for improving productivity of degraded tropical soils. Farmers’ responses to the improved fallows were in general positive and their preference was Tephrosia fallow. Farmers can therefore use Tephrosia to enhance soil fertility by increasing N-levels, soil pH and organic matter of the soil. However, phosphate fertilizer is required as basal application to enhance N-fixation by legumes.

This study was designed to evaluate the inhibitory potential of plant extract and essential oils (EOs) extracted from Artemisia abyssinica, Cinnamomum verum, Cymbopogon citratus, C. martinii, C. winterianus, Curcuma longa, Cupressus lusitanica, Eucalyptus citriodora, E. globules, Lantana camara, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Thymus schimperi against some of the most troublesome weed species in the coffee field via a series of lath-house and field conditions using various application frequencies at the rate of 5% (v/v) arranged in RCBD with three replications. Our result showed that EOs significantly reduced the shoot height (58 to 100%) and root length (52 to 100%) as well as total biomass of G. parviflora seedlings compared to untreated control. The inhibitory effects were measured to be varied among EOs of the tested plants followed application frequencies dependent manner. The potential herbicidal properties of EOs from selected plants based on their efficacy in the lath-house experiments were further tested against weeds of coffee under the field. Except for EO from E. citriodora, all the tested materials showed strong inhibitory effects (ranging from 23.22 to 46.27%) on all weed species compared to untreated control. In conclusion, the application of EOs from Cymbopogon species had the potential to retard the growth of weeds in coffee and may be used as a component of integrated weed management options. However, further study needs to be done to investigate the mechanism of inhibition and the exact active ingredient responsible for the inhibitory effects.

ABSTRACT Planosols cover extensive areas in the south-western highlands of Ethiopia. This study reports the effect of different rates of NPS and its potassium and boron blend on teff yield. Eight treatments: no application (T1), 100 NPS (T2), 200 NPS (T3), 300 NPS (T4), 100 NPS + 50 KCl (T5), 200 NPS + 100 KCl (T6), 300 NPS + 150 KCl (T7), and 100 NPSB kg/ha (T8) were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated four times. The result revealed that the application of NPS fertilizer significantly improved both teff grain and straw yield , but the inclusion of K and B did not. While the inclusion of B significantly increased agronomic efficiency of S, economic analysis showed that all the treatments were with BCR greater than one. The highest NB(37,968.1 Birr/ha) was obtained from T7 and the highest MRR(14671.5%) was from T8. There was no significant yield advantage and the economic return from the inclusion of K in the blends. We recommend 100 kg/ha NPSB for teff production on Planosols. As there is no significant yield advantage and low economic incentive from the inclusion of KCl in the blend, K should be removed from the blend fertilizer formulation.

African mountains are characterized by high levels of biodiversity and provide ecosystem services to millions of people. Due to steep environmental gradients, growing human populations and geographical isolation, these coupled socio-ecological systems are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. The capacity of local stakeholders to anticipate future changes and to assess their potential impacts is paramount for enhancing adaptation and resilience. Here we apply a participatory scenario development framework in two parts of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot: Taita Hills in Kenya and Jimma rural area in Ethiopia. In each area, we facilitated local stakeholders in envisioning adaptation scenarios under projected climate changes by mid-21st century, and assessed the potential impacts of these pathways on land use and land cover. In the Taita Hills, under a business-as-usual scenario, human population and activities concentrate at high elevation, triggering cascade effects on remnant forest cover, biodiversity and ecosystem services. Alternative adaptation scenarios envisage reforestation associated with either improved agricultural practices or ecosystem restoration. In the Jimma area, rising temperatures are expected to disrupt traditional coffee production under a business-as-usual scenario, resulting in the loss of coffee-forest canopies and reduction of forest-dependent biodiversity. Alternative adaptation scenarios envisage either expansion of commercial coffee plantations or expansion of agroforestry, including traditional coffee farming. In the both Taita and Jimma, adaptation pathways present trade-offs between provisioning, supporting and regulating services, and between livelihoods and biodiversity conservation. Our findings encourage the use of multidisciplinary, bottom-up approaches for developing locally tailored, climate-smart and sustainable adaptation pathways.

The study examined the physical and chemical characteristics of Kafa Biosphere Reserve Forest coffees, collecting 54 georeferenced samples from various zones and plots within the forests. Samples were processed, cleaned, and ground, and chemical contents were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Analysis of variance, descriptive statistics, principal component, multiple factors, and hierarchical cluster analysis were applied to the data collected in a three-stage balanced nested design. The district difference did not significantly affect bean physical and chemical contents, but it did affect fruit physical qualities. Forest zonation did not affect these attributes. The effect of forest plotting was significant on the chlorogenic acid content, fruit width and thickness, and seed length. The descriptive statistics results revealed significant variations in coffee chemical compounds across different sampling locations. The principal component analysis revealed that 61.97% of variation in forest coffee chemical and physical attributes is influenced by factors like chlorogenic acid content and fruit and seed width. Multiple-factor analysis showed a tendency for a relationship to be observed between the elevation gradient with nicotinic acid and the measured physical attributes of coffee samples. Nicotinic acid tends to increase with elevation, whereas coffee fruit and seed sizes become larger with reduced nicotinic acid content at a decreasing elevation. Cluster analysis categorizes the samples into three major clusters. The study confirms that the chemical and physical properties of coffee fruit and beans vary more significantly in smaller sampling categories, suggesting further investigation.

There has been minimal research on the effect of location, processing, and drying methods on the biochemical composition of Ethiopian coffee varieties, despite extensive research on the biochemical compositions of green bean and roasted coffee and their effects on cup quality. The current studyaims to close this gap in the literature. Its goal is to determine the impact of coffee processing (fully washed and semi-washed) and drying procedures (natural sun, artificial and solar tunnel) on the biochemical compositions of coffee varieties (741, 74110, and 7440) at Gomma-I and Limmu Kossa, southwest Ethiopia. The biochemical compositions were quantified using a Fourier Transform-NIR spectrometer prediction model. The results showed in both locations, the interaction impact of varieties, processing, and drying methods considerably influenced most of the biochemical contents of the green bean. At both locations, all varieties processed by full wash and dried by artificial produced higher caffeine content. At Gomma I, variety 741 processed by semi-wash and dried by artificial method produced higher TCGA value than the other treatment while the finding at Limmu Kossa was a bit complex. At Gomma I, Arabica coffee varieties (7440 and 74110) dried by artificial produced more sucrose content regardless of the processing methods used. In general, greater mean values of caffeine, TCGA, trigonelline, and sucrose content of green beans were recorded from artificial. Hence, the effect of varieties, growing conditions, processing and drying methods on the biochemical compositions of coffee is highly complex and location specific recommendation is required to get better quality.