In sub-Saharan Africa, multiple plant nutrients deficiency besides nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is a major growth-limiting factor for crop production. As a result, some soils become non-responsive for Rhizobium inoculation besides P application. Based on the soil test result, the soil of Experimental sites had low organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulphur (S) and zinc (Zn)[xy1]. Hence, an experiment was carried out on-farm at Gondar Zuria woreda in Tsion and Denzaz Kebeles to evaluate the effect of Rhizobium inoculation, S and Zn application on yield, nodulation, N and P uptake of chickpea. The experiment included twelve treatments developed via factorial combination of two level of inoculation (Rhizobium inoculated, un-inoculated), three level of S (0, 15, 30 kg Sulphur ha-1) and two levels of Zn (0, 1.5 kg Zinc ha-1). The treatment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that the highest mean nodule number (15.3) and nodule volume (1.3 ml plant-1) over locations were obtained with Rhizobium inoculation integrated with 15 kg S and 1.5 kg Zn ha-1 which resulted in 37.8% and 116.7% increment over the control check, respectively. It was also observed that combined application of Rhizobium and 30 kg S ha-1 caused the highest (6.7) mean nodulation rating and seed yield (1775.5 kg ha-1) over locations which resulted in 86.1% and 28 % increase over the control check, respectively. Moreover, this treatment improved P use efficiency of chickpea. On the bases of observed result, it can be concluded that the response of chickpea to Rhizobium and P application can be improved by S application and Rhizobium inoculation with application of 30 kg S ha-1 with recommended rate of P and starter N is recommended for chickpea production at the experimental locations in Gonder Zuria Woreda.

In Ethiopia livestock feed shortage and soil acidity are serious problems. In recent years sweet lupins (white and blue species) were introduced as multipurpose crops in the country. However, there is no information about their nodulation potential. This study was conducted to evaluate nodulation potential of these sweet lupins and their effect on nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) content of the soil. Seven lupin varieties were evaluated using factorial arrangement (seven varieties * two inoculations) in a randomized complete block design in two locations for two years. The result showed that effect of inoculation and location was not significant (P > 0.05) on biomass, seed, nodule number and soil parameters. While the effect of variety was significant (P < 0.05) on nodule parameters. Its effect on dry biomass and seed yields was also significant in either of the years. Variety and year had no effect on soil N and P contents. In the first year, blue sweet lupin entries had the highest nodule number per plant, 222 nodules.  In the second year similar nodulation performance was observed among species and varieties. Soil N and P were not affected by varieties and inoculation. In addition to their yield advantage, compared to the sweet white entries, blue sweet lupin varieties had high potential in nodulation. Therefore, these introduced sweet blue lupins can be used as multipurpose crops in acidic soils of Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia livestock feed shortage and soil acidity are serious problems. In recent years sweet lupins (white and blue species) were introduced as multipurpose crops in the country. However, there is no information about their nodulation potential. This study was conducted to evaluate nodulation potential of these sweet lupins and their effect on nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) content of the soil. Seven lupin varieties were evaluated using factorial arrangement (seven varieties * two inoculations) in a randomized complete block design in two locations for two years. The result showed that effect of inoculation and location was not significant (P > 0.05) on biomass, seed, nodule number and soil parameters. While the effect of variety was significant (P < 0.05) on nodule parameters. Its effect on dry biomass and seed yields was also significant in either of the years. Variety and year had no effect on soil N and P contents. In the first year, blue sweet lupin entries had the highest nodule number per plant, 222 nodules.  In the second year similar nodulation performance was observed among species and varieties. Soil N and P were not affected by varieties and inoculation. In addition to their yield advantage, compared to the sweet white entries, blue sweet lupin varieties had high potential in nodulation. Therefore, these introduced sweet blue lupins can be used as multipurpose crops in acidic soils of Ethiopia.