Evaluating the effects of the CERES-Rice model to simulate upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield under different plant density and nitrogen management strategies in Fogera Plain, Northwest Ethiopia.

This study assessed the optimal nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate and planting density for the well-adapted upland rice cultivar NERICA_4 on the Fogera Plain. The primary objective was to evaluate the effects of varied planting densities and N-fertilizer rates on upland rice yield and other agronomic parameters. A two-year field study (2020 and 2021) was conducted at the Fogera Rice Research Field Station, testing nine plant densities (75, 87, and 98; 72, 82, and 91; 70, 79, and 89 plants per m2 and two N rates (115 and 138 kg N ha-1). The Crop Simulation Model Crop Environment Resource Synthesis (CSM-CERES-Rice) within the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) framework was calibrated and validated using site-specific weather, soil, crop, and agronomic management data from the experiment. Results on the subsequent RMSE, RMSEn, and d index values during the calibration phase were 0.074 t ha-1, 1.82 %, and 0.86 of grain yield; 0.307 t ha-1, 3.36 %, and 0.87 of by-product yield; 0.489 t ha-1, 3.74 %, and 0.79 of top dry biomass yield; and 0.28, 8.24 %, and 0.63 of leaf area index values, respectively. Whereas results on the corresponding RMSE, RMSEn, and d index values during the evaluation phase were: 0.58 t ha-1, 1.33 %, and 0.90 of grain yield; 0.69 t ha-1, 0.58 %, and 0.99 of by-product yield; 0.678 t ha-1, 4.36 %, and 0.67 of top dry biomass yield; and 0.75, 13.92 %, and 0.74 of leaf area index, respectively. The findings of the long-term simulation showed that a 23 % increase in grain yield was achieved with 138 kg N ha-1 and 87 plants per m2 of planting density, as compared to 115 kg N ha-1 and 75 plants per m2 of plant density. The recommended optimum plant density and N fertilizer rate were 138 kg N ha-1 with PD2 of plant density for upland rice production in the Fogera Plain.

Data on the effects of brewery sludge and blended NPS fertilizer rates on yield and yield components of maize (Zea Mays L.) in North Mecha District, Northwestern Ethiopia.

Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in Ethiopia. However, its yield is lower than its potential mainly due to low soil fertility problems. Therefore, this field experiment was conducted during 2021 main rainy season with the objective of improving maize production through application of brewery sludge and blended NPS fertilizers in North Mecha district, Northwestern Ethiopia. Factorial combination of three levels of brewery sludge (0, 10 and 20 t ha-1) and four levels of blended NPS fertilizer rates (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1) were laid out in RCBD with three replications. The remaining necessary agronomic practices and crop management activities were undertaken uniformly. The data presented under this dataset article includes phenological Parameters (i.e. Days to 50 % emergence, Days to 50 % tasseling, Days to 50 % silking and Days to 90 % physiological maturity), growth parameters (i.e. Plant height, leaf area and leaf area index) and yield and yield component parameters (i.e. Number of ears plant-1, Above ground dry biomass yield, Ear length, Number of rows ear-1, Number of kernels row-1, Number of kernels ear-1, Grain yield, Thousand kernels weight, Stover yield and Harvest index). All the collected data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the analysis was carried out using the SAS version 9.0 software computer program's General Linear Model (GLM) procedure [1]. As described in Montgomery [2], the residuals were examined to verify the normal distribution and homogeneous variance model assumptions on the error terms for each response variable. Because the twelve treatment combinations were randomized within each block, the independence assumption is valid. When a treatment effect was significant, multiple means comparison was performed at a 5 % level of significance using the least significant difference (Fisher's LSD) method to generate letter groupings and correlation analysis was performed using the Pearson correlation procedure found in SAS. This dataset article, therefore gives information about the effects of brewery sludge and blended NPS fertilizer rates on maize productivity. Additionally, it provides the economic feasibility of brewery sludge integrated application with blended NPS fertilizer than sole application of blended chemical fertilizers. Hence, this information can allow other researchers to review the supplement data, methods, and make detailed analysis, which possibly giving rise to new lines of inquiry. This can also give rise to new collaborations and boost the reputation of the present research data within the scientific community and to make it available to everyone around the subject matter to use as they wish.

Compost preparation, chemical analyses and users' perception in the utilization of water hyacinth, Ethiopia.

Lake Tana is the largest freshwater body in Ethiopia. Currently, the lake has been facing alarming environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity due to the invasion of water hyacinth. Although the weed is invasive, it can be converted into various benefits. Hence, this study was conducted in North Eastern Lake Tana, Sheha Gomengie Kebele. The main objective is compost preparation in terms of its drying periods, analyses, and user perception. Physicochemical and nutrient analyses were performed according to the standard procedures. Acid digestion was used for heavy metal analyses. From the result, the pH measurements ranged from 7.619 ± 0.195 to 7.719 ± 0.261, and the moisture content ranged from 38.712 ± 0.680 to 49.60 ± 9.06%. The mean electrical conductivity (EC) values of all treatments of matured compost ranged from 2.780 ± 0.542 to 3.51 ± 0.971 ds/m. The TN values of the matured compost ranged from 0.420 ± 0.379 to 0.754 ± 0.194 on a dry weight basis. The overall mean values of the C:N ratio for all the treatments were 11.60 which is within an acceptable range. A high amount of available P concentrations was observed in all compost treatments which ranged from 2.740 ± 0.190 to 2.940 ± 1.410 g/kg. Moreover, the concentrations of heavy metals in all treatments were below the permissible limit of different agencies and there was also no significant difference in the mean values of analysis of variance at (P < 0.05). Therefore, the prepared compost can be recommended for better agricultural purposes. Considering users' understanding of compost preparation as an opportunity, converting WH into compost is promising in terms of its rich supply and the possibility of preparing in the dry season where labor is abundant. Therefore, it can be one way of sustainably reducing WH adverse effects on the Lakeshore.