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Extreme environmental conditions, such as high temperature, frost, low humidity and desiccating winds, are the main causes for the failure of plantation forests in Ethiopia. Frost damage contributes to the low seedling survival and plantation success in frost affected highlands of Amhara region Ethiopia. Research outputs on farmers' traditional knowledge on frost management and technologies that curb frost related problems are limited in the country. This study was conducted to document the farmers’ traditional knowledge on frost management and their tree preference in frost affected highlands of Amhara region. Sinan, Guna-begemder and Meket districts were selected purposively in 2020. One representative sample Kebele was selected in each district with a total of 204 households selected with systematic random sampling technique for interview. In addition to interview focus group discussion was also conducted. Both descriptive and inferential statistics data analysis method were employed. In this study, frost was found to be an important limiting factor for plantation development in the study area. Frost occurs, mainly, from September to January. The local community applies traditional frost management techniques. The seasonality of frost occurrence and type of traditional frost management practices varied among the studied Kebeles. Eucalyptus globulus, Oldeania alpina, Rhamnus prinoides and Chamaecytisus palmensis were preferred trees species due to their frost resistant performance. The effectiveness of identified traditional frost management techniques needs to be investigated before they can be promoting and disseminating. Farmers should also be trained in proper techniques to protect planted seedlings from frost damage. Adjusting the timing of planting may also help to mitigate the effect of frost damage.

Acaciaseyal is seen as a common on-farm tree species in the Rift valley of Ethiopia, predominantly in the Guba Lafto district of northeastern Ethiopia. Maintenance and improving existing practices and incorporation of multipurpose trees in farms got a due focus to increase agricultural productivity, but the information is limited about farmers’ perceptions, traditional knowledge, and practice about the species and its parkland system in the study site. The information was gathered via household interviews, focused group discussions, and key informant interview tools. Systematic random sampling technique was employed for household selection. 47 sample households were selected, and information was generated via descriptive and logistic analysis techniques. The result explored that Acacia seyal was considered by respondents as an invasive species and the majority of household respondents (87%) showed a negative perception of intercropping the species with annual crops due to its impact on companion crops and soil values. However, most of them (61.7%) were willing to sustain it along the boundary (83%), at an on-farm soil bund (36.2%) and at an open grazing area (19.1%) for its off-farm economic role. They retained it primarily for fuel wood purposes (95%), for cash (34%), and for livestock feed (25%). Pruning is the main management practice adopted for the species for the sake of minimizing the shade effect and to get its byproducts. Generally, farmers reflect a negative attitude to the species’ productivity role in the integrated system but understand its positive socioeconomic contribution outside their crop farms. Therefore, the investigation directs, as it will be advantageous to manage the species under the off-farm growing niche for its better synchronization to the farmers, but further work needs to be conducted in large scale survey and on its economic advantage at off-farm growing conditions for a radical shift in the farming system.

Acacia seyal is one of the multipurpose parkland agroforestry tree species in eastern and southern Africa. It is a common on-farm tree in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia, but information is limited on its effect on soil properties and sorghum growth and yield. The study was conducted to evaluate its effect on selected soil properties and sorghum growth and yield in Guba Lafto district of northern Ethiopia. Six isolated and closely comparable Acacia seyal trees growing on sorghum farms were purposely selected, and plots were marked under the canopy of trees with three radial distances (0–2 m, 2–4 m, and 4–6 m) and one outside of the tree canopy (10 m away from any tree). Soil samples from each distance zone were taken between 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil depths for soil property analysis. Four quadrates with 1 m2 at each distance zone in four directions were laid for sorghum growth and yield attribute valuation. The results showed that only total nitrogen (TN) was significantly higher (P