The objective of this study is to establish a system of indicators that enables the rapid collection of information to measure sustainability in basic grains production in the municipality of San Miguel (El Salvador), results that can be extrapolated to any rural community in Central America. We employed a mixed‐methods approach, engaging various sectors directly involved in basic grains production. During the fieldwork phase, data were collected using focus groups, interviews, and surveys in five farming communities where an international cooperation project is currently underway. The results indicate that, economically, crop yields, sales profits and labor requirements are low compared to national averages. On the social aspect, health services are located at least 5 km away, there is no access to potable water in homes, and farmers generally have low levels of formal education. Regarding the environmental aspect, farmers use chemicals that are harmful to human health and degrade the soil, and they lack irrigation systems that could increase the number of harvests per year and improve resource efficiency. In conclusion, these findings clearly demonstrate the low levels of social, economic and environmental sustainability in these communities and among their inhabitants.

In this study, the effect of crop rotation structure and cereal saturation on winter wheat productivity under semiarid conditions of Uzbekistan was analyzed. The research was conducted over a 20‐year period (2002–2022) at the Samarkand branch of the Research Institute of Agriculture and Agro‐Technologies. Ten rotation schemes were examined. The experiment included three‐field and four‐field short crop rotations with different levels of cereal saturation (33.3%–100%) and contrasting predecessor crops, including legumes, cereals, row crops, and bare fallow. Crop rotation systems with varying levels of cereal saturation and diverse precursor crops were investigated. Winter wheat yield data were statistically analyzed using one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s HSD test ( p < 0.05), allowing the assessment of both productivity and interannual yield stability under contrasting rotation systems. It was determined that rotations incorporating legumes significantly improved grain yield and marketable output. It was established that the highest yields were observed in four‐field rotations with chickpea as a precursor and full cereal saturation. It was revealed that continuous winter wheat cultivation resulted in the lowest yields due to soil fatigue and disease accumulation. Integration of legumes improved soil nitrogen availability and resilience to climatic stress. Diversified rotations provided better interannual yield stability. Optimizing rotation structure is critical for sustainable wheat production in arid environments. It was proposed that legume–cereal rotations with ≥ 75% cereal saturation represent a viable model for semiarid farming systems.

Field experiments were conducted during the 2023 and 2024 main cropping seasons at farmers’ fields in Sekota and Aberegele districts to evaluate the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates and pearl millet–mung bean intercropping systems on the productivity and economic returns of pearl millet. The treatments consisted of a 3 × 4 factorial combination of three N rates (21, 42, and 63 kg N ha −1 ) and four row intercropping ratios (1:1, 1:2, 2:1, and 2:2), arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Sole pearl millet and sole mung bean plots were included as control treatments. Results showed that most yield and yield‐related parameters of pearl millet were significantly influenced by the main effects of N rate and intercropping arrangement. The highest grain yield (1266.95 kg ha −1 ), 1000‐grain weight (6.16 g), head weight (26.46 g), and harvest index (HI) (41%) were obtained at 42 kg N ha −1 , indicating the agronomic maximum. Among intercropping treatments, the 1:2 pearl millet–mung bean row ratio produced the highest grain yield (1070.83 kg ha −1 ), 1000‐grain weight (6.05 g), head weight (24.06 g), and HI (37%). Economic analysis revealed that the highest net benefit (NB) (133,075.91 Birr ha −1 ) and marginal rate of return (MRR) (1562.54%) were achieved from the combination of 42 kg N ha −1 and the 1:2 intercropping ratio, representing the economic optimum. Under the specific agro‐ecological and management conditions of the Sekota and Aberegele districts, the application of 42 kg N ha −1 combined with a 1:2 pearl millet–mung bean intercropping arrangement can be considered an efficient and economically feasible production option. However, the recommendation should be limited to conditions similar to those of the present study.

Ethiopia is among the wheat producers in sub‐Saharan Africa, and its productivity has increased in the last few years. The major bottlenecks to the low productivity of bread wheat are a shortage of improved technologies, such as well‐adapted varieties preferred by farmers, insufficient application of fertilizers, and fungal pathogens. The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude and nature of genotype‐by‐environment interaction (GEI) and identify the best adaptable and high‐yielding bread wheat varieties preferred by farmers in the study areas. Fifteen improved bread wheat varieties were tested at three locations in the Southwest Ethiopia during 2023 and 2024 cropping seasons, using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) for grain yield revealed that there were significant ( p < 0.01) variations between varieties, environments, and their interactions. This indicates that there is genetic variation among the tested wheat varieties, suggesting the potential to select high‐yielding and stable varieties. The additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model also demonstrated the presence of GEI. The result of AMMI ANOVA showed that the proportions of the total sum of squares for environment, variety, and GEI for grain yield were 14.76%, 67.5%, and 5.61%, respectively. The varieties Biftu and Shaki were high yielders and stable across the environments. The farmers’ overall mean preference value for the varieties across the locations also showed that Biftu and Shaki were selected as the best varieties. Therefore, Biftu, Shaki, and Wane varieties are recommended for the study areas and similar agroecologies in the country.

Pilot watermelon production was carried out in Libokemkem Woreda, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, during the 2023 irrigation season. The study aimed to overcome inadequate farmer knowledge and information regarding watermelon’s production, economic, and health benefits, as well as to improve farmer income and nutrition. A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed with stakeholders on roles and responsibilities to jointly undertake the pilot production. Host farmers with adjacent irrigable farmlands were selected by development agents (DAs), Woreda Agriculture experts, and the Norwegian Forestry Group/Forest Landscape Restoration Program (NFG/FLRP) based on their interest and diligence. A farmers’ committee was established, responsible for the overall coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of the pilot. Training was provided to host farmers and kebele/Woreda‐level agricultural experts on watermelon health benefits, planting, watering, integrated pest management, and postharvest handling. The study used return on investment (ROI) and sensitivity analysis methods. Observational data showed watermelon production was significantly more profitable than both wheat and potato when compared in terms of net return and ROI. It generated a net return of 175,153 ETB, surpassing wheat (33,750 ETB) by 141,403 ETB and potato (34,635 ETB) by 140,518 ETB. In terms of ROI, watermelon production stood out as the most profitable enterprise. The ROI for watermelon was 608.34%, which was 505.60% higher than wheat (102.74%) and 465.60% higher than potato production (142.74%). Qualitative findings revealed high farmer satisfaction, attributed primarily to low labor and input requirements, ease of management, high yields from small homestead plots within 3 months, excellent storage stability, and strong market demand. Farmers expressed a strong willingness to continue production, promote the technology, and fully integrate watermelon as a valuable supplementary income and nutrition‐enhancing crop. Beyond these gains, watermelon, easily produced on small irrigated homestead plots, creates new employment opportunities for women farmers, significantly contributing to income generation, nutritional improvement, and critically, women’s economic empowerment. Therefore, watermelon production must be scaled up at a wider scale in the Woreda or in areas with similar agroecology for improving income and household nutrition.

Biochar is a carbonaceous material resulting from the pyrolysis of biomass carried out in a rotary kiln with little oxygen. Biochar provides many advantages for animal nutrition when utilized as an ingredient in a blended product, including improved animal feed digestibility, reduced enteric methane production, and increased livestock growth performances for different animal species. For instance, the inclusion of biochar increases body weight gain for fatten bulls from 479 to 481 kg, dairy cows from 94.3 to 96.6 kg, layers from 1.2 to 1.3 kg, broilers from 1.8 to 2 kg, Pig from 36.5 to 40.5 kg, goat from 17.4 to 18.6 kg, and for Sheep from 22.1 to 25.2 kg. The inclusion of biochar feed additives in animal feed is important in satisfying the production performance of the animal. Feed additives are the most important source of feed supply to livestock production. Including biochar in animal feed results in greater feed conversion rates, digestion, body weight gain, growth rate, and microbiota production in the rumen. In addition to this, it can decrease the synthesis of intestinal methane production in different livestock breeds. In cattle, it can reduce from 30% to 40%, in goat from 0.033 to 0.02 mL/g, and in Poultry from 101.3 to 55.1 mL/g. In general, the importance of biochar as a feed additive, such as its direct effects on animal growth performance, feed digestibility, microbiota dynamics, and lowering enteric methane production in animal diets, is summarized in this review.

The production of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in Ethiopia is hindered by various weeds, diseases and insect pests. Unchecked weed populations can drastically decrease faba bean yield by 80%–90% if not eradicated during the critical competition period. This research aimed to assess the influence of plant spacing and herbicide use on weed invasion, yield and yield factors of faba bean during the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons. Three inter‐ and intrarow plant spacings (35 cm × 15 cm, 40 cm × 10 cm and 45 cm × 5 cm) and four weeding methods (two instances of hand weeding, usage of Gallant Super and Fusilade herbicides and a nonweeding treatment as a control) were employed using a randomized complete block design with three replications in a factorial arrangement. The combined effects of plant spacing and weed management practices had a significant impact on the number of tillers per plant (NTPP). On the average of the two cropping seasons, the maximum NTPP (3.53) was observed on 35 cm × 15 cm plots treated with twice hand weeding management. On the average of the cropping seasons and plant spacing, the highest number of pods per plant (NPPP) (37. 69), number of seeds per pod (NSPP) (3.73) and weight of 100 seeds 62.77 g) were recorded in twice hand weeded plots. On the average of the cropping seasons, the highest grain yield (GYL) (6401.8 kg ha−1) was achieved in twice hand weeded plots with 45 cm × 5 cm plant spacing. The findings suggest that using 45 cm × 5 cm spacing in conjunction with twice hand weeding is the most effective practice for faba bean production.

To grasp how soil moisture conservation techniques can lessen the effects of dry spells in moisture‐stressed areas, we carried out a field experiment using a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The study took place in the Babile district over the 2021 and 2022 cropping seasons, involving six treatments across three replications. Each plot measured 4.2 by 5.4 m. The treatments were (A) Zai pit, (B) closed end Tied ridge, (C) flatbed (control) with sorghum, (D) Zai pit with legume cover cropping, (E) closed end Tied ridge with legume cover cropping, and (F) flatbed with legume cover cropping. We analyzed grain yield variance (analysis of variance [ANOVA]) and accumulated rainfall amounts throughout the experiment. Our results indicated that rainfall during the cropping seasons was 410 mm over 35 days in 2021 and 213 mm over 18 days in 2022. The grain yield from the Tied ridge moisture conservation practice was recorded at 6.85 t/ha in 2021 and 5.72 t/ha in 2022 at the Babile site, compared to yields of 4.75 t/ha in 2021 and 2.99 t/ha in 2022. When comparing the Zai pit with legume cover cropping (4.44 t/ha) to those without (4.25 t/ha), no significant differences were found. However, the mean grain yield from Zai pit practices was notably lower than that from the Tied ridge practices but higher than both variations of flatbed farming practices. Across the combined sites and seasons, the average sorghum grain yields were 5.07 t/ha for Tied ridge with cover cropping, 4.65 t/ha for Tied ridge without cover cropping, 3.65 t/ha for Zai pit with legume cover cropping, 3.52 t/ha for Zai pits without legume cover cropping, 3.12 t/ha for flatbed with legume cover cropping, and 3.07 t/ha for flatbed without legume cover cropping (control). The treatment effects on grain yield showed a highly significant variation (p < 0.05), with Tied ridge practices yielding 2 t/ha more than control treatments. The use of legume covers cropping did not significantly alter the sorghum grain yield across all treatments. Nonetheless, Tied ridge treatments with legume cover cropping consistently produced higher grain yields compared to other practices at both experimental sites. In summary, our findings are valuable for assessing effective Tied ridge moisture conservation practices for enhancing crop production, underscoring the importance of raising awareness about these practices as a viable strategy to counteract the adverse impacts of dry spells.

Recent studies have suggested that diversified cropping systems integrating crop and livestock operations can enhance food production while reducing inputs and environmental impact. Nevertheless, the effect of integrated or mixed crop–livestock systems (MCLSs) on soil greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission, specifically nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2), and the moderating variables influencing them have not been comprehensively examined across diverse regions and management scenarios. Here, we conducted a meta‐analysis of 21 independent MCLS studies comparing soil GHG fluxes from croplands of MCLSs with fluxes from croplands within purely arable systems. Our results revealed that the primary moderating variables of GHGs emissions (CO2, N2O, and CH4) from MCLS were, in descending order of importance: drainage class, stocking density, climate, amount of N fertilizer, fertilizer type, soil texture, crop type, tillage, livestock type, and MCLS type. However, differences in CO2 emissions within categories of stocking density, climate, crop type, livestock type, tillage, and N fertilizer amount and type were not significantly affected by MCLS. Additionally, drainage classes, stocking density, climate, soil texture, and amount and type of nitrogen (N) fertilizers emerged as the primary contributors to both N2O and CH4 emissions. Maximum emissions of N2O, CH4, and CO2 were recorded from sand (38%), clay (33%), and sand (36%) soils, respectively. Conservation tillage (CST), sheep, cereals, and forage rotation systems were also identified as significant factors in increasing GHGs emissions. In conclusion, our meta‐analysis provides the first comprehensive assessment of the response of three major soil GHGs emissions to MCLS and demonstrates the need for further investigation into moderating variables under which MCLS can be sustainably intensified.