http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/1676 Sat, 13 Jan 2001 07:37:26 GMT 2001-01-13T07:37:26Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/10107 ESTIMATING CARBON STOCK OF ZAFNIGUS FOREST AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION IN EBINAT DISTRICT, SOUTH GONDAR ZONE, ETHIOPIA Workinesh, Asradew Forests play an enormous role in combating climate change, the most pressing global issue currently, by sequestering and storing carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. This study was conducted to estimate total carbon stock of the dry Afromontane forest type of Zafnigus Forest and its implication for climate change mitigation. A grid method was used to identify each sampling point through Global Positioning System (GPS) and nested circular plots having 11.3m radius (401m2) and 8m radius (201m2) were employed for this study. All trees within a plot which have diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥5cm were recorded and its biomass was calculated by allometric equation. Walkley Black method was used to estimate soil carbon stock and data analyzed by SPSS version 20. Results revealed that the total carbon stock of the forest was 325.48 tha-1 whereas trees store 194.85 t/ha, litter, herbs and grasses (LHGs) 2.01 tha-1 and soil 128.62 t/ha (up to 30cm depth). Soil organic carbon was different in land use type of which 128.62, 94.72 and 38.42 tha-1 forest, cultivated land and grazing land respectively. Altitude was affect the carbon stock distribution in all carbon pool which was determined in this study. The lower parts of altitude had high carbon stocks in all carbon pool while the upper and middle parts of altitude due to the absence of tallest trees with maximum DBH, density, age, size, branches, management activities at the edge of the forest and decomposition rate. The result of study showed a significant variation in carbon stock in all carbon pool except litter carbon pool along altitudinal range at 95% confidence interval for the case of tree carbon stock (P=0.045); SOC (P=0.021, P=0.038 and P=0.016) comprised at 0_10cm, 10_20cm and 20_30 cm depth respectively and LHGs (P=0.194). Based on the result of this study the distribution of carbon was highly affected by forest density, height and DBH of tree in all carbon pools and the variation of altitude have an impact. The study revealed that tree biomass was the major reservoir of carbon followed by soil organic carbon and litter biomass. However, further research on the rate of carbon storage estimation and develop species specific allometric equation model should be done. Keywords: Zafnigus forest, Carbon stock, land use comparison, altitude and Climate change mitigation. Thu, 26 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/10107 2019-12-26T00:00:00Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/10106 NUTRIENT BALANCE IN SMALL CATCHMENTS OF THE UPLAND AREAS OF THE GUMARA RIVER, NORTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA Melese Gezie, Gezie Soil degradation is a major problem for low land productivity in many parts of Ethiopia, including the Lake Tana basin. Understanding nutrient balances of different land uses help better understand nutrient depletion and thus sustainability of land productivity and the environmental wellbeing of an area. Nutrient balance analysis provides essential information concerning the current nutrient status of the soils and also used to take appropriate nutrient replenishment practices. Identification and measurement of nutrient input and output was conducted at Dera district, Northwestern Ethiopia in the cropping season of 2018 with the objective of identifying and measuring major nutrient inputs and outputs of different land uses. Participatory rural appraisal method, direct measurement and empirical formulas obtained from scientific research were used to investigate the movement of macronutrients specifically N, P and K in and out of the farm of different land use systems. Nutrient balances for NPK were analyzed based on four nutrient inputs/inflows and five nutrient outputs leaving the catchment. The results indicated that with the exception of phosphorus, teff cropland had negative partial N and K balances. The results also showed that the partial nutrient balances in wheat cropland were observed positive only for nitrogen (N). The full balances for the major cropland mainly wheat and teff were found to be -20.9 kg N, -0.7 kg P, -37.87 kg K ha-1 yr-1 and -61.4 kg N ,+11 kg P , and -26.7 kg K ha-1 yr-1 respectively. The full nutrient balances for the different land uses were -34 kg N , -0.27 kg P and -7.5 kg K ha-1 yr-1;for the rehabilitated land; -50.1kg N , +0.45kg P and -3.1kg K ha-1 yr-1 for grazing land; -48.6kg N ,-0.38kg P and -20.5kg K ha-1 yr-1for badland and-38.36kg N , +2.79kg P and -6.2kg K ha-1yr-1for natural forest. The share of nutrient loss through erosion was identified the highest path of nutrient depletion for all land uses. In general, negative N and K balances were found in this study for all land use. Therefore, the negative partial balances observed in cultivated land and other land uses indicated nutrient depletion which leads to land degradation and reduced agricultural productivity. Finally, analysis of the overall finding on nutrient balance implies that there is a need to sustain nutrient management at farm and watershed scale. Key Words: Nutrient input, nutrient output, nutrient balance, Lake Tana Basin Thu, 26 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/10106 2019-12-26T00:00:00Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/10095 LAND USE LAND COVER CHANGE AND ITS EFFECT ONSELECTIVE SOIL PROPERTIES IN THE EASTERN LAKE TANA BASIN, A CASE STUDY IN ENKULAL CATCHMENT, ETHIOPIA Alelign, Gardew The land use and land cover change have a negative impact on both the environment and socioeconomic settings. This study focused on the investigation of the trends of land use/ land cover change and its effect on soil properties in the upland sediment source area of the Eastern Lake Tana Basin. Two different years’ satellite images (Sentinel-2 for 2017 and spot for 2007) and one year (1982) of aerial photograph, were used to analyze the trends of LU/LCC. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected from different land uses (paired ones) with to the depth of 0-30 cm. About LU/LC classification, produced eight different LU/LC types namely croplands, eucalyptus plantation, grazing lands, natural forest, riverine, scattered shrubs, bare land and settlement. The result showed an increasing trend for eucalyptus plantation, while, natural forest and open shrub lands decreased. The land use/ land cover change dynamic indicates that, eucalyptus plantation was exerting an incredible pressure on another cover, in particular agricultural lands and grazing land. The ANOVA results showed that soil bulk density, soil moisture content, sand and clay content of soil, SOM, CEC, availability of phosphorus and total nitrogen varied strong land use types. In general, natural forest had strongly significant difference with all selected land use types. According to the spatial distribution of land cover prediction, the eucalyptus woodlot land cover extends up to 271.38 ha and the agricultural cultivated land and grazing land will be decreased to 510.03 ha and 158 ha in the year of 2030 respectively. The communities and government will look for alternative means of livelihood like non-farm /off-farm income generating activities due to limited capacity of agriculture land to accommodate population. Activities of land use change can be based on land capabilities and suitability class is very important. To predict the future land use change, use LU/LC change models in the watershed to describe the spatial distribution of land use conversion is the recommended one. Key Words; eucalyptus plantation, Image classification, Land use Land cover, Land uses change trends, soil properties Thu, 26 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/10095 2019-12-26T00:00:00Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/10094 ASSESSMENT OF CHARCOAL PRODUCTION IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC OUTCOMES OF MECHA DISTRICT, ETHIOPIA Berihun, Misganaw Ethiopia is one of the largest charcoal producing countries in Africa where its urban consumers burn over three million tons per year. Production of charcoal as a livelihood support strategy in mecha district increased at alarming rate over time. The purpose of this study was to assess the amount of charcoal produced and its related environmental and socio-economic impact in the study area. The study was conducted using questionnaire survey, direct field observation, reviewing related literature and recorded secondary data. Two kebeles namely Ambomesk and Enamert were selected purposively because of the volume of charcoal produced and their accessibility. A total of 355 respondents were selected by using simple random sampling technique. The amount of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from charcoal production was analyzed based on the Inter-governmental Panel on climate change quantification techniques. Rainfall and temperature variability data were analyzed using Microsoft office excel. The health impacts of charcoal production data were analyzed with chi-square. The impact of charcoal production on household’s income was analyzed using propensity score matching econometric model. The results revealed that the annual charcoal production rate and emission of carbon dioxide equivalent has an increasing trend at alarming rate in the study area. From propensity score matching analysis, the economic impact of charcoal production has a positive difference of 21923.7288 as compared to non-producers. Employed laborers on charcoal production face health problems like skin irritation, skin roasting, respiratory illness like “pneumonia, bronchitis, Sienese, and acute respiratory infection”, eye irritation and headache.Socio-economic factors like land size, landcovered with eucalyptus , agricultural extension market distance and number of oxen takes highly significant effect but issues like sex, age, family size, education status, credit service and marital status had no significant effect on participation. In general, even though charcoal production is economically valuable; it has disproportionately adverse effects on environment like smong pollution in addition to sophisticated respiratory health difficulties. Therefore, responsible institutions and planners should focus on the effects of traditional charcoal production on environmental issues and sophisticated health problems especially on employed laborers and nearby residents. Keywords: Charcoal production, Eucalyptus, Greenhouse Gas Emission, Mecha, Producers vi TABLE OF CONTENT Thu, 26 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/10094 2019-12-26T00:00:00Z