Environment and climate change

Effect of land use change on selected Soil physiochemical properties at Balarb watershed in Ebinat district of South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia.

2025-07-24T07:08:13Z

Effect of land use change on selected Soil physiochemical properties at Balarb watershed in Ebinat district of South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. Tefera Akalu Land use changes, mainly shift from natural ecosystems into managed agro ecosystems, and subsequent deterioration in quality of soil resources have become common phenomena in North western Ethiopia. Soil reaction (pH), soil organic carbon, total N and available P contents are some of the vital soil properties affected by such changes. This study was therefore conducted at Balarb watershed in Ebinat District of South Gondar zone, Ethiopia to evaluate the effect of land use change from grazing land to cropland on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content. A total of 45 and 12 soil samples were taken from the depths of 0–10, 11–20 and 21–30cm from cropland and grazing lands respectively with soil core sampler for the determination of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content. The results showed that sand, silt, clay, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and available P were significantly affected (P ≤ 0.05) by land use and soil. High percentage mean values of sand and silt contents were recorded from the surface of the cropland (CL) while the lowest was from the subsurface (21-30cm) of the grazing land (GL). The high percentage of clay was recorded from the subsurface (21-30cm) of GL and the lowest was from the surface of CL. Relatively high (1.23g/cm3) mean Bulk density (BD) was obtained from the surface of the GL and relatively lower (1.07g/m3) BD from the surface of CL. The higher (34.2%) soil moisture content was obtained from the subsurface of the GL and the lower moisture content (21.8%) was recorded from the Subsurface (21-30) of the CL. The relative higher soil pH (H 2 O) (6.96) was obtained from the subsurface (21-30 cm) of CL and the lowest value (6.56) was from the surface of GL. Relatively high TN (0.18%) and SOC (1.99%) contents were recorded on the surfaces soil layer of GL while the lower TN (0.10%) and SOC (0.95%) were recorded from the subsurface soil layer of CL. The higher available P contents (19.44 mg/kg) was recorded from the CL while the lowest (10.81 mg/kg) was recorded from the Surface soil layer of grazing land. The soil organic carbon content was relatively well maintained in the grazing land, whereas interventions to restore the Soil organic carbon base of the cropland is needed. There should be actions like reducing the intensity of cultivation, using more organic matter input, alternative cultivation practices and applying organic fertilizers to increase the soil organic carbon content of the study area.

Sero-Epidemiology of Bovine Herpes Virus-1 in Dairy Cattle In Bahir Dar City And Bahir Dar Zuria Disrict, Northwest Ethiopia

2023-07-05T11:40:43Z

Sero-Epidemiology of Bovine Herpes Virus-1 in Dairy Cattle In Bahir Dar City And Bahir Dar Zuria Disrict, Northwest Ethiopia Zelalem Getahun Bovine herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) causes infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), and infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (PV) in cows and infectious balanoposthitis (IBP) in bulls. Bovine herpesvirus-1is highly contagious cattle disease, which causes significant reproductive losses in the dairy industry worldwide. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a multistage stratified sampling method between April 2022 to December 2022 to estimate the seroprevalence of BoHV-1 in dairy cattle and its associated risk factors in Bahir Dar city and Bahir Dar Zuria district, northwest Ethiopia. A total of 384 serum samples from 121 herds of cattle aged above 6 months reared in rural, peri-urban, and urban dairy production systems were collected. Competitive ELISA assay was performed to detect antibodies directed against the gB glycoprotein of BoHV-1. Besides, a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to dairy cattle producers to obtain data on household demography, dairy cattle production system, animal level and herd level management practices. The present study revealed that the overall animal level and herd level seroprevalences of BoHV-1 were 63.54% (95% CI: 58.8–68.2) and 81.82 % (95% CI: 74.8–88.7) respectively and varied between production systems. The overall animal level prevalence of BoHV-1 was significantly higher in rural dairy production systems (AOR=4.2, 95% CI: 1.78–9.85; p<0.001) than in peri-urban (AOR=2.2, 95% CI: 1.13-4.42; p=0.019) and urban dairy production systems. Age was found one of the significant risk factors affecting the prevalence of BoHV-1 infection (P<0.001). Animals aged above five years (>5 years) were 3.2 times (AOR=3.2, 95%CI: 1.76–5.86; P<0.001) more likely to be affected by BoHV-1 compared to cattle below two years (< 2 years). Regarding the origin, Purchased cattle were more likely at risk of acquiring BoHV-1 (AOR=2.9, 95% CI: 1.57–5.52; p=0.001) as compared to homebred cattle. The prevalence of BoHV-1 was also significantly influenced by parity (OR=2.9; p=0.020) in which multiparous cow were more affected by BoHV-1 compared to primiparous cows. Furthermore, a significantly higher prevalence of BoHV-1infection was recorded in cows with a history of reproductive disorders. Likewise, the prevalence of BoHV-1infection was significantly higher (OR=4.1, 95% CI: 2.17–7.7; p<0.001) in animals with a history of respiratory disorders when compared to animal with no history of respiratory disorder. In conclusion, this study revealed that the prevalence of bovine herpes virus-1 (BoHV-1) was found to be higher in the present study area. Besides, a multitude of host and management risk factors affecting the prevalence of BoHV-1 infection were investigated. Such higher prevalence could significantly affect the productivity and overall production of dairy herds in the study areas. This necessitates evidence based integrated BoHV-1 control and prevention strategy in the study area.

Impact of Climate Change and Variability on Major Crops And Adaptation Strategies; The Case Of Minjar Shenkora District, North Shewa Zone , Amhara Region State, Ethiopia.

2023-07-05T11:26:31Z

Impact of Climate Change and Variability on Major Crops And Adaptation Strategies; The Case Of Minjar Shenkora District, North Shewa Zone , Amhara Region State, Ethiopia. Asinakech Welde Ethiopia is one of the developing countries in which agriculture is the primary source of its economy. Being dependent mainly on rainfall, this sector has been adversely affected by climate change and variability.The main objective of this study was to investigate the impact of climate change and variability on major crops and adaptation strategies in Minjar Shenkora District. Primary and secondary data were collected for the study. Primary data were collected from household questionnaires, key informant interview (KII) and focus group discussion (FGD); whereas, secondary data were collected from the major crop data collected from 2000-2013 at Minjar Shenkora District Agricultural and Rural Development Office (MSDARDO) and climate data from National Meteorology Agency from 1990 to 2020 and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) power data . 342 sample households were random selected from three kebeles (Wolde Giorgies, Bolo Sallsia and Korma) which are located at different agroecology. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26 and Rsoftware and Microsoft excel 2010. Multivarite regression anlaysis, correlation, trend analysis, Precipitatin concentration index, rainfall anomaly index, and coefficient variance and extreme rainfall and temperatures indices were used to anlyze the data. Mann-Kendall test estimate test were applied to identify the existing trend analysis. Accordingly, decrease in rainfall and an increase in temperature were recorded. Also, the results of Correlation Coefficients indicated that the duration of annual, summer, belg rainfall and Temperature had a strong positive, moderate negative, and weak positive relationship with teff, wheat, lentil, chickpea, and sorghum yield in the study area respectively. The multivariate regression analysis revealed that -20, 59, 47, 50 and 43% of the variance in teff, wheat, lentil, chickpea and soughum respectively could be explained by the climatic variables. The findings also revealed that rainfall and temperature variations have an impact on crop yield, but the impacts differ by crop in this district. Therefore, the farmers have used adaptation mechanisms such as ;- improving seed varieties, crop diversification, planting trees, soil and water conservation, changing planting dates, irrigation, water harvesting, and Growing short-maturing crops. Thus studies should be investigated on the impact of climate change and variability on major crop and its adaptation.

Determinants and Extent of Crop Diversification Status in Different Agroclimatic Zones of Kutaber District, South Wollo Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

2023-07-05T07:27:43Z

Determinants and Extent of Crop Diversification Status in Different Agroclimatic Zones of Kutaber District, South Wollo Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Mohammed Assefa Crop diversification is believed to be essential for reducing risk. This study investigated the extent and determinant factors that affect farmers’ decision for crop diversification in Kutaber District characterized by diverse agro-climatic zones in south Wollo zone Amhara Region, Ethiopia. A mixed approach research design was applied. The survey data were collected from Household Surveys, focus group discussion, key informant interviews and personal observation. From the total of households in the area, 194 sample households were selected randomly through multi-stage sampling techniques. The Herfindahl index was used to measure the extent of crops among three agro-climatic zones. Tobit model is used to predict determinant factors of crop diversification in the district. The data revealed that farmers in the study area allocated farmland about 71.38% for cereals, 14.62% for vegetables; 7% for pulses; 6% for oilseeds and 1% for fruit crops during crop production season of the study period. The average number of crops grown was 6, 4, and 3 in Woina-dega, Kolla and Dega respectively. Households that participate in crop production 59.2% and 40.7% were diversified and non-diversified, respectively; however, 28.7, 53, and 18.3 % were diversified in Dega, Woina-dega, and Kolla agro-climatic zones respectively. The results also revealed that gender of household, educational status, Agro-climatic zones, cultivated land, farm plot, credit access, farming experience, extension service, access to irrigation and total livestock owenrship were positively and significantly associated with crop diversification index. Therefore in all cases, the higher crop diversification practice located in Woina-dega Agro-climatic zones. The district government should provide regular extension services to risky area (Kolla), enhance the supply of inputs and subsidies from local governments and other stakeholders, and encourage farmers who attend agricultural training.