1.    Personal Profile

Mr. Erana Kebede Neda holds a BSc in Plant Sciences and an MSc in Agronomy from Haramaya University, Ethiopia. He is currently an assistant professor at the School of Plant Sciences, where he has over ten years of experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership. He serves as the Head of the School of Plant Sciences, having also coordinated the Lowland Pulse Research Program and led the Plant Production and Health Research Group from 2021 to 2024. Additionally, he led the ‘Development and Delivery of Biofortified Crops at Scale (DDBIO)’ project at the International Potato Center (CIP) and served as a researcher for the World Bank-funded ‘Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project (LLRP)’ based at Haramaya University, both implemented in Eastern Ethiopia. He is actively involved in various research initiatives and is committed to translating research into practical solutions for smallholder farmers and policymakers. He is dedicated to advancing capacity-building initiatives through teaching and training, conducting cutting-edge research, engaging in community outreach programs, and fostering partnerships that promote sustainable agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship

2.    Major Courses Handled/Taught

1. Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition;
2. Plant Ecology;
3. Irrigation Agronomy and Drainage;
4. Introductory Soils;
5. Industrial Crops Production and Processing; and
6. Research Methods.

3.    Research Interest

• Agronomy, crop production physiology, and plant-microbe-environment interactions in agroecosystems;
• Identification and characterization of beneficial microorganisms for development into biofertilizers for diverse crops;
• Crop improvement and adaptation to biotic and abiotic stressors through agronomic practices and soil fertility management;
• Analysis and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient (C and N) footprints in agricultural systems;
• Precision agriculture and crop production based on geospatial analysis, modeling, and machine learning (AI) applications, among others.

4.    Publications

4.1. Published peer-reviewed journal articles

1. Gelete, T.B., Pasala, P., Abay, N.G., Woldemariam, G.W., Yasin, K.H., Kebede, E., & Aliyi, I. 2024. Integrated machine learning and geospatial analysis enhanced gully erosion susceptibility modeling in the Erer watershed in Eastern Ethiopia. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 12, 1410741. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1410741
2. Yasin, K.H., Gelete, T.B., Iguala, A.D., & Kebede, E. Optimal Interpolation Approach for Groundwater Depth Estimation. MethodsX, 102916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2024.102916
3. Terefe, H., Mengesha, G.G., Aberab, A., Kebede, E., & Yitayih G. 2024. Vermicompost and bactericide application minimized common bacterial blight development, and enhanced nodulation and agronomic performances of bean varieties in Southern Ethiopia. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 6(5): e20308. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20465
4. Fite, T., Kebede, E., Tefera, T., & Bekeko, Z. 2023. Endophytic fungi: Versatile partners for pest biocontrol, growth promotion, and climate change resilience in plants. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, 1322861. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1322861
5. Desalegn, B., Kebede, E., Legesse, H., & Fite, T. 2023. Sugarcane productivity and sugar yield improvement: Selecting variety, nitrogen fertilizer rate, and bioregulator as a first-line treatment, Heliyon, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15520
6. Gutema, T., Kebede, E., Legesse, H., & Fite, T. 2023. Integrating multiple soil management practices: A system-wide approach for restoring degraded soil and improving Brachiaria Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, e20360. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20360
7. Tulu, D., Gadissa, S., Hundessa, F., & Kebede, E. 2023. Contribution of Climate Smart Forage and Fodder Production for Sustainable Livestock Production and Environment: Lessons and Challenges from Ethiopia. Advances in Agriculture, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/8067776
8. Kebede, E., Amsalu, B., Argaw, A., & Tamiru, S. 2022. Nodulation potential and phenotypic diversity of rhizobia nodulating cowpea isolated from major growing areas of Ethiopia. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, 5(4), e20308. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20308
9. Kebede, E. 2021. Contribution, utilization and improvement of legumes-driven biological nitrogen fixation in agricultural systems. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5, 767998. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.767998
10. Kebede, E. 2021. Competency of rhizobia inoculation in sustainable agricultural production and biocontrol of plant diseases. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 728014. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.728014
11. Kebede, E., Amsalu, B., Argaw, A., & Tamiru, S. 2021. Abundance of native rhizobia nodulating cowpea in major production areas of Ethiopia as influenced by cropping history and soil properties. Sustainable Environment, (1), 1889084. https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2021.1889084
12. Kebede, E. 2020. Grain legumes production and productivity in Ethiopian smallholder agricultural system, contribution to livelihoods and the way forward. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 6(1): 1722353. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2020.1722353
13. Kebede, E., & Bekeko, Z. 2020. Expounding the production and importance of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in Ethiopia. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 6(1), 1769805. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2020.1769805
14. Kebede, E., Amsalu, B., Argaw, A., & Tamiru, S. 2020. Symbiotic effectiveness of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) nodulating rhizobia isolated from soils of major cowpea producing areas in Ethiopia. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 6(1), 1763648. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2020.1763648
15. Kebede, E., Amsalu, B., Argaw, A., & Tamiru, S. 2020. Eco-physiological and physiological characterization of cowpea nodulating native rhizobia isolated from major production areas of Ethiopia. Cogent Biology, 6(1), 1875672. https://doi.org/10.1080/23312025.2021.1875672
16. Kebede, E. Grain legumes production in Ethiopia: A review of adoption, opportunities, constraints and emphases for future interventions. Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology, 8(4), 977-989. https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v8i4.977-989.3254

4.2. Proceedings

1. Kebede, E., Amsalu, B., Argaw, A. and Tamiru, S. 2023. Phenotypic Diversity and Symbiotic Effectiveness of Rhizobia Nodulating Cowpea Isolated from Major Production Areas of Ethiopia. 19^th Biennial Conference of Crop Science Society of Ethiopia (CSSoE). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
2. Kebede, E., Amsalu, B., Argaw, A. and Tamiru, S. 2019. Nodulation potential and phenotypic diversity of rhizobia nodulating Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) Isolated from Major Growing Areas of Ethiopia. 1^st National Research Symposium on Enhancing Agricultural Productivity and Natural Resource Conservation for Sustainable Development, Oda Bultum University, Ethiopia.