The magnitude of crop yield improvement with different soil acidity management practices in the Ethiopian highlands: a meta-analysis

Soil acidity affects over 44% of Ethiopia’s farmland, yet knowledge of acid soil management practices (ASMPs) and their impact on crop yields remains limited. Quantitative syntheses of studies on ASMPs and their role in yield improvement are also lacking in Ethiopia. This meta-analysis aimed to: (1)...

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Autores principales: Birhanu, Agumas, Desta, Gizaw, Agegnehu, Getachew, Legesse, Gizachew, Feyisa, Tesfaye, Sileshi, Gudeta Weldesemayat
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: CSIRO Publishing 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179027
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author Birhanu, Agumas
Desta, Gizaw
Agegnehu, Getachew
Legesse, Gizachew
Feyisa, Tesfaye
Sileshi, Gudeta Weldesemayat
author_browse Agegnehu, Getachew
Birhanu, Agumas
Desta, Gizaw
Feyisa, Tesfaye
Legesse, Gizachew
Sileshi, Gudeta Weldesemayat
author_facet Birhanu, Agumas
Desta, Gizaw
Agegnehu, Getachew
Legesse, Gizachew
Feyisa, Tesfaye
Sileshi, Gudeta Weldesemayat
author_sort Birhanu, Agumas
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Soil acidity affects over 44% of Ethiopia’s farmland, yet knowledge of acid soil management practices (ASMPs) and their impact on crop yields remains limited. Quantitative syntheses of studies on ASMPs and their role in yield improvement are also lacking in Ethiopia. This meta-analysis aimed to: (1) compile datasets to estimate yield improvements from ASMPs; and (2) provide a quantitative synthesis for evidence-based acid soil management in the Ethiopian highlands. Meta-analysis of 30 experiments across 48 locations with pH < 5.5 was conducted to quantify ASMP effects on crop yields. Linear mixed-effects model was applied using the response ratio (RR), calculated using treatment yield to respective no-input control. Sub-group analyses quantified variability within and between ASMPs. The weighted mean RR was 1.67 indicating that implementing ASMPs can increase yield by 67% relative to the control. However, significant residual heterogeneity (I2 = 98%, τ2 = 0.37) was also noted. Lime + phosphorus (P) fertiliser achieved the highest yield increase (RR = 2.94), followed by P fertiliser alone (RR = 1.60) and lime alone (RR = 1.36). Sub-group analysis revealed greater yield increases following compost + N (RR = 2.48), biochar + compost + N (RR = 2.29), biochar + N (RR = 2.25), biochar + compost (RR = 1.55), biochar alone (RR = 1.51), farmyard manure (FYM) (RR = 1.49), and FYM + P + N (RR = 1.28) relative to the control. It is concluded that implementing ASMPs increases crop yields by 28–194% relative to the control. Compared to the other ASMPs, lime + P achieved significantly higher yield increases across all agroecological zones, soil texture and slope classes. These findings emphasize ASMPs’ potential to enhance crop production in Ethiopia, providing valuable guidance for effective acid soil management policies and practices.
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spelling CGSpace1790272025-12-18T21:55:17Z The magnitude of crop yield improvement with different soil acidity management practices in the Ethiopian highlands: a meta-analysis Birhanu, Agumas Desta, Gizaw Agegnehu, Getachew Legesse, Gizachew Feyisa, Tesfaye Sileshi, Gudeta Weldesemayat soil toxicity biochar meta-analysis soil management crop improvement Soil acidity affects over 44% of Ethiopia’s farmland, yet knowledge of acid soil management practices (ASMPs) and their impact on crop yields remains limited. Quantitative syntheses of studies on ASMPs and their role in yield improvement are also lacking in Ethiopia. This meta-analysis aimed to: (1) compile datasets to estimate yield improvements from ASMPs; and (2) provide a quantitative synthesis for evidence-based acid soil management in the Ethiopian highlands. Meta-analysis of 30 experiments across 48 locations with pH < 5.5 was conducted to quantify ASMP effects on crop yields. Linear mixed-effects model was applied using the response ratio (RR), calculated using treatment yield to respective no-input control. Sub-group analyses quantified variability within and between ASMPs. The weighted mean RR was 1.67 indicating that implementing ASMPs can increase yield by 67% relative to the control. However, significant residual heterogeneity (I2 = 98%, τ2 = 0.37) was also noted. Lime + phosphorus (P) fertiliser achieved the highest yield increase (RR = 2.94), followed by P fertiliser alone (RR = 1.60) and lime alone (RR = 1.36). Sub-group analysis revealed greater yield increases following compost + N (RR = 2.48), biochar + compost + N (RR = 2.29), biochar + N (RR = 2.25), biochar + compost (RR = 1.55), biochar alone (RR = 1.51), farmyard manure (FYM) (RR = 1.49), and FYM + P + N (RR = 1.28) relative to the control. It is concluded that implementing ASMPs increases crop yields by 28–194% relative to the control. Compared to the other ASMPs, lime + P achieved significantly higher yield increases across all agroecological zones, soil texture and slope classes. These findings emphasize ASMPs’ potential to enhance crop production in Ethiopia, providing valuable guidance for effective acid soil management policies and practices. 2025-05-20 2025-12-18T21:55:16Z 2025-12-18T21:55:16Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179027 en Limited Access CSIRO Publishing Agumas Birhanu, Desta Gizaw, Agegnehu Getachew, Legesse Gizachew, Feyisa Tesfaye, Sileshi Gudeta Weldesemayat.2025. The magnitude of crop yield improvement with different soil acidity management practices in the Ethiopian highlands: a meta-analysis. Soil Research 63, SR25020. https://doi.org/10.1071/SR25020
spellingShingle soil toxicity
biochar
meta-analysis
soil management
crop improvement
Birhanu, Agumas
Desta, Gizaw
Agegnehu, Getachew
Legesse, Gizachew
Feyisa, Tesfaye
Sileshi, Gudeta Weldesemayat
The magnitude of crop yield improvement with different soil acidity management practices in the Ethiopian highlands: a meta-analysis
title The magnitude of crop yield improvement with different soil acidity management practices in the Ethiopian highlands: a meta-analysis
title_full The magnitude of crop yield improvement with different soil acidity management practices in the Ethiopian highlands: a meta-analysis
title_fullStr The magnitude of crop yield improvement with different soil acidity management practices in the Ethiopian highlands: a meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed The magnitude of crop yield improvement with different soil acidity management practices in the Ethiopian highlands: a meta-analysis
title_short The magnitude of crop yield improvement with different soil acidity management practices in the Ethiopian highlands: a meta-analysis
title_sort magnitude of crop yield improvement with different soil acidity management practices in the ethiopian highlands a meta analysis
topic soil toxicity
biochar
meta-analysis
soil management
crop improvement
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179027
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