Modeling the influence of floriculture effluent on soil quality and dry matter yield of wheat on Fluvisols at Ziway

Greenhouse experiments were conducted at DZARC on soil sampled from farmers’ field to examine the influence of floriculture effluent on soil quality and crop performance, and to see the most likely trends. The sample was splitted into two; the first remained to be as it is while the second was subjected to sterilization and call it non-sterilized (NS) and sterilized (S) soil, respectively. Seven rates of effluent was used as a treatment and laid out in CRD with four replications. The effluent was found to have high pH, EC, N, P, S, exchangeable bases, low in micronutrients and very low in heavy metals. The shoot dry weight was reduced by 36.9 and 58.8 % for NS and S soils respectively in the first harvest. The second round experiment further confirmed that it keeps decreasing due to effluent additions. However, at lower volumes, the non-sterilized soil showed benefit from the effluent and hence the value started to increase but later it followed the same trends with application of higher volumes. Chemical properties were highly influenced by effluent additions. The pH and EC continuously increased whereas OC and TN increased to some extent but decreased as the volume of effluent increased. Exchangeable bases and micro-nutrients were continuously increased. The trends indicated that dry weight on Fluvisols will decline corresponding to the decrease in soil organic matter while pH, CEC and ESP continuously increases ending in the shift of slight alkaline soil to sodic soil. Generally, the effluent was found to disturb the performance of the crop and soil quality parameters. Disturbance in terms of shoot dry weight and soil quality parameters revealed that it was much less for the NS owing to the presence of organism. Keywords? Effluents, floriculture, non-sterilized, sterilized, soil qualit

Modeling the Influence of Floriculture Effluent on Soil Quality and Dry Matter Yield of Wheat on Vertisols at Debre Zeit, Ethiopia

Floriculture is one of the booming sectors in Ethiopia. With its expansion, there is a growing concern as to its adverse effect on the environment. The objectives of this study were therefore, to provide concrete information on the influence of floriculture effluents on soil quality and crop productivity. Two permanent greenhouse experiments were conducted at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center on soils samples collected from farmer's field using wheat as a test crop. The soil samples were divided into two equal parts as sterilized and non-sterilized. Seven rates of floriculture effluents (0, 15.0, 30.0, 45.0, 60.0, 75.0 and 90.0 ml pot-1) were used as treatment in CRD with four replications. The effluent was characterized by high pH, EC, N, P, S and basic cations (K, Ca, Mg and Na), low in micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) and very low in heavy metals (Mo, Ni, Cd and Cr). Accordingly, its application did not significantly influence the texture and water holding capacity (WHC) of the soil, though decreasing values of FC, PWP and WHC were obtained both from sterilized and non-sterilized soils. Chemical properties were highly influenced by effluent additions. The pH, EC, exchangeable bases and micronutrients of the soil were significantly raised after first and second harvest. Organic carbon and Total Nitrogen increased with increasing volume of effluent, but decreased at high levels. Shoot dry weight of the wheat was also significantly affected by increasing volume of effluent. In non-sterilized soils, addition of low volume effluent increased shoot dry weight which later followed the same trends as sterilized soils. The decreasing trend in shoot dry weight was in line with that of soil organic matter, whereas continuous increments in pH, CEC and ESP resulted in changing the neutral soil to saline. Hence, floriculture effluent was found to affect the performance of wheat and soil quality parameters, where the effect was pronounced for sterilized soil. Future research should focus on long-term effects of floriculture effluents on physical, chemical and biological properties of soil and crop productivity. Keywords: Effluents, floriculture, non-sterilized, sterilized, soil qualit

Soil erosion, deforestation and rural livelihoods in the Central Rift Valley area of Ethiopia: a case study in the Denku micro-watershed Oromia region

This research was conducted in one of the districts in the Oromia region located in the Central Rift Valley to assess the problem of soil erosion and deforestation and to determine how these drivers of land degradation affect the livelihoods of farmers. The research was a case study undertaken in an identified micro-watershed making use of the questionnaire interview method. A household sample was obtained using a simple random sampling technique; Information interviews were conducted with community representatives, district level experts and development agents who worked in the community. The objective of the research was to assess the levels of soil erosion and deforestation and the impact on the livelihoods of the community. Research methods were questionnaire and direct observation. The results of the study indicated that the effects of soil erosion and deforestation on land productively, agriculture and livestock production at large, had a negative effect on livelihoods of the community members. Recommendations based on the research affirm the necessity to undertake large-scale natural resource management starting with community-based watershed management thereby reducing the impact of land degradation on livelihoods of farmers and ensuring food security and sustainable land management.Agriculture, Animal Health and Human EcologyM.A. (Human Ecology

Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Irrigation Water Quality in Zeway, Ketar, and Bulbula sub-Watersheds, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

አህፅሮትበአሁኑ ጊዜ በኢትዮጵያ መካከለኛው ስምጥ ሸለቆ እየተደረገ ያለው መጠነ ሰፊ እንቅስቀሴ በተፈጥሮ ሀብት ላይ ምን ያክል ተፅዕኖ እያሳደረ እንደሆነ የሚያሳዩ የጥናት ውጤቶች በጣም አናሳ ናቸዉ፡፡ ይህ ጥናት ያተኮረው በውኃ ኬሚካል ንጥረ-ነገሮች፣ ከጊዜ ጋር እና ከቦታ ቦታ ያላቸውን ለውጦች እንዲሁም እነኝህ ለውጦች/ልዩነቶች በመስኖ የውኃ አጠቃቀም ላይ ሊኖረው በሚችለው አንድምታ ላይ ነው፡፡ ከተለያዩ ወንዞች (መቂ፣ ኬታር እና ቡልቡላ)፣ ዝዋይ ሀይቅ እና ከጉድጓድ ለተወሰዱ የውኃ ናሙናዎች የተመረጡ የውኃ ጥራት መረጃዎች በተለመደው የላቦራቶሪ ደንብ መሰረት ምርመራ ተደረገላቸው፡፡ ከዚህ ቀደም በተለያዩ ጊዜ ከተሰሩ የውኃ ምርመራ ውጤቶች እና የዚህን ምርመራ ሥራ ውጤት በጋራ በማድረግና ማንኬንዳል ቴስት ስታቲስቲክስ በመጠቀም የለውጥ አዝማምያቸው ተጠንቷል፡፡ የልይይት ትንተናን በመጠቀም ከቦታ ቦታ ያሉ ልዩነቶችን ለማሳየት ተሞክሯል፡፡ ከኬታር ወንዝ በስተቀር ሌሎች የውኃ ናሙናዎች ካልሲየምን በማስከተል ሶዲየም ዋና የካታዮን ኬሚካል ንጥረ-ነገር ሲሆን ባይካርቦኔት በሁሉም የውኃ ናሙናዎች ውስጥ ዋና የአናዮን ኬሚካል ንጥረ-ነገር መሆኑን ጥናቱ አሳይቷል፡፡ በዝዋይ ሀይቅ በናሙና መውሰጃ ቦታዎች መካከል ያለው የኬሚካል ንጥረ-ነገር ልዩነቶች በስታትስቲክስ ትርጉም ያለዉ ባይሆንም የውኃው ኤሌክትሪክ አስተላላፊነት እና የብረት ይዘት መጠኑ እ.አ.አ ከ2005 እስከ 2016 ዓ.ም. የመጨመር አዝማሚያው ከፍተኛ መሆኑን በስታትስቲክስ ተረጋግጧል፡፡ የብረት ይዘት መጠን በዝዋይ ሀይቅ ውሃ፤ የTDS, ኤሌክትሪክ አስተላላፊነት እና የሶዲየም ንጥረ-ነገር በጉድጓድ ውኃ፤ እና ፖታሲየም በሁሉም የውኃ ናሙናዎች ውስጥ ለመጠጥ ውኃ ከተቀመጠው መጠን በላይ ሆነው ተገኝቷል፡፡ የውኃ ጨዋማነት ለሰብል የውኃ ተገኝነት ላይ ያለውን ተፅዕኖ አስመልክቶ ቢያንስ እስከ 60 በመቶ የሚሆኑት የወንዝ እና የሀይቅ ውኃ ናሙናዎች ምንም የማይገድቡ ሲሆኑ፤ 50 በመቶ የሚሆኑት የጉድጓድ ውኃ ናሙናዎች ከትንሽ እስከ መጠነኛ ደረጃ ገደብ የሚያሳድር መሆኑን ጥናቱ አሳይቷል፡፡ ከ37 በመቶ በላይ የሚሆኑ በዝዋይ እና ቡልቡላ ተፋሰሶች ዉስጥ የሚገኙ የጉድጓድ ውኃ ናሙናዎች ′ከከፍተኛ እስከ በጣም ከፍተኛ′ የአልካሊ ችግር ማስከተል የሚችሉ ናቸዉ፡፡ ቀሪ ትርፍ የሶዲየም ካርቦኔት መጠን በአብዘኛዉ የዝዋይ ሀይቅ ውኃ ናሙናዎች፣ እና በዝዋይ እና ቡልቡላ ተፋሰሶች በሚገኙ የጉድጓድ ውኃ ናሙናዎች ዉስጥ ከ2.5 በላይ መሆኑ የአልካሊ ችግር መጠኑን ያፋጥኗል፡፡ በዚህ ጥናት ውጤት መሰረት አስፈላጊውን የውኃ አስተዳደርና የጥራት ቁጥጥር ስርዓትን በመዘርጋትና በመተግበር ሊደርስ የሚችለዉን ጉዳት መቀነስ እንደሚገባ ይጠቁማል፡፡ AbstractScarcity of information apprehending the current situation and spatial variation of water quality has limited our understanding on to what extent the current intensive human activities in the Central Rift Valley are affecting the natural resource base. This study investigated hydrochemistry, spatial and temporal quality variation of water from different sources, and their implications for agricultural uses. Water samples from rivers (Meki, Ketar, and Bulbula), Lake Zeway, and borehole or hand-dug (BH/HD) wells were analyzed for selected quality parameters following standard procedures. Historical data and current analysis results were used to analyze temporal changes using Mann-Kendall test statistics, while analysis of variance was used to detect spatial variation. The hydrochemistry analysis result showed that Na+ followed by Ca2+, except for Ketar River where Ca2+ followed by Na+, dominates among cations. Bicarbonate dominated among anions in all water samples. In Lake Zeway, no statistically significant spatial variations were evident for sampling locations, while electrical conductivity (EC) and iron showed a statistically significant increasing trend from 2005 to 2016. Iron in Lake Zeway; total dissolved solids, EC and Na+ in BH/HD wells, and K+ in all water sources were partly beyond the maximum permissible limit for drinking. Considering salinity effect on crop water availability, at least 60% of the water samples from rivers and Lake Zeway were in “none” restriction, while it was in “slight to moderate” restriction category in about 50% of water samples from BH/HD wells. Over 37% of the water samples from BH/HD wells in Zeway and Bulbula sub-watersheds showed high to very high alkali hazard. The RSC > 2.5 meq L-1 in most water samples of Lake Zeway, and BH/HD wells in Zeway and Bulbula sub-watersheds hastens sodium hazard rate. The study results suggest the need to adapt compatible management options on use and emplace strong water quality monitoring program to reduce risks

Organizational peer support to enable rehabilitating surgical services in Northern Ethiopia

The ongoing violent conflict in Northern Ethiopia has caused displacement, death, and destruction. Health services infrastructure became one of the primary victims of the war, leaving millions unable to access essential surgical health services at a time when demand for surgical interventions is on the rise. Rehabilitating surgical services was identified as a priority by the federal government, regional health bureaus, and humanitarian organizations, forming an integral part in rebuilding communities after war. Under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia, a hospital twinning program between providers in non-conflict and conflict affected areas was first introduced in December 2021, now including 13 active partnerships. The program builds on a previous best practice gained from the Ethiopian Hospital Alliance for Quality to strengthen local health care providers in regaining capabilities to serve local populations. Field experience of two hospital twinning projects have shown significant scope of organizational peer support at times of crisis, successfully enabling conflict-afflicted hospitals to regain the capacity necessary to re-introduce surgical services. While overcoming challenges such as lack of basic supplies including electricity and blood may be required to further increase the scope of this program in Northern Ethiopia, relative success highlights important lessons for similar approaches in areas affected by conflict, or natural disasters

DESCRIPTION OF MENINGITIS EPIDEMIC IN HAIKOCH NA BUTAJIRA DISTRICT

ABSTRACT: A retrospective review of a recent meningitis epidemic in Haikoch na Butajira District for the months of February and March 1989 was conducted. The epidemic is described in terms of person, place and time. The relationship of the epidemic with weather changes (rainfall and temperature) is assessed. There were a total of 6968 reported cases of meningitis with 203 deaths. The case fatality rate was 2.9%. The male to female ratio was 1.05 to 1. The peak of the epidemic was found to be during the second half of the month of February. There were 864 cases from urban, 3321 from villagized and 2783 from non villagized areas giving period prevalence rates of 6%, 8% and 2%, respectively, during the two months. Based on this study, surveillance and control recommendations are made

Elimination of Guinea Worm Disease in Ethiopia; current status of the diseases, eradication strategies and challenges to the endgame

Background: Dracunculiasis, also named Guinea Worm Disease (GWD), is one of the diseases listed under Neglected Tropical Diseases caused by a parasitic nematode known as Dracunculus medinensis. Given, its feasibility for eradication, the Guinea Worm Eradication Program (GWEP) was launched in 1980 with the aim of eradicating the disease. This paper reviews the current status of the global Guinea worm eradication in Ethiopia and intervention strategies. Methods: Published papers related to infectious diseases elimination, particularly of GWD were extracted from PubMed, WHO, CDC, and Google Scholar. Of these, the CDC website, WHO online atlas (GW data store) and recent data from EDEP were extensively used. Results: In Ethiopia, the Ethiopian EDEP which was established in 1993 has made remarkable move towards interruption of disease transmission and now the endgame is fast approaching. The EDEP with support mainly from partners has reduced GWD by more than 99% from 1994 to 2015. In 2016, 3 human cases, 14 dogs and 2 baboon infections were reported. Refugee influx from the Republic of South Sudan, increased animal infections with unknown role in transmission of Dracunculiasis, the presence of hard to reach communities and lack of safe water sources in remote non-village areas remain among important challenges at this final stage of GWD eradication in Ethiopia. Conclusion: Eradication strategies encompassing community education for behavioral change including raising awareness towards cash reward for reporting Guniea Worm Disease (GWD) and animal infection, case containment, surveillance systems, provision of safe water supply, and ABATE chemical application are discussed

The Practices of Instructional Supervisions in Supplementing Holistic Teaching-Learning Process: Qersa and Omo Nada Woreda Secondary Schools of Jimma Zone in Focus

The purpose of the study was to assess the practices of instructional supervision in supplementing teaching-learning process in secondary schools of Qersa and Omo Nada woreda of Jimma zone. It particularly treats issues of how instructional supervision is practiced in improving the holistic teaching learning process, how instructional supervisors render professional support to teachers to enhance classroom instruction, and what challenges are there in practicing instructional supervision in think of promoting the provision of quality education. To accomplish this purpose, the study employed a descriptive survey method, which is supplemented by quantitative and qualitative research method to enrich data. The study was carried out in two secondary schools of the two woreda which comprises -58 teachers, 31 internal school supervisors (2 principals 2 vice principals, 12 department heads and 15 senior teachers) and 2 woreda supervisors who included in the study purposively.  Questionnaire and interview was the main instrument utilized during data collection.Descriptive statistics like frequency, percentage for part and narration for qualitative were employed to analyze the data. Finally, the results of the study revealed that the practices of instructional supervision in supplementing holistic teaching learning in the woreda were ineffective and suffered with many challenges like lack of adequate knowledge among supervisors, shortage of resources for support, low top management attention and the like. Therefore, it is recommended that the woreda would  be able to enhance the supervisory activities in considering its importance in assuring quality education by arranging training, improving resource allocation for supervision work and give due attention for the issue in order to alleviate the problem. 

Field test of a novel detection device for Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen in cough

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is a highly infectious disease that is spread from person to person by infected aerosols emitted by patients with respiratory forms of the disease. We describe a novel device that utilizes immunosensor and bio-optical technology to detect M. tuberculosis antigen (Ag85B) in cough and demonstrate its use under field conditions during a pilot study in an area of high TB incidence. METHODS: The TB Breathalyzer device (Rapid Biosensor Systems Ltd) was field tested in the outpatient clinic of Adama Hospital, Ethiopia. Adults seeking diagnosis for respiratory complaints were tested. Following nebulization with 0.9% saline patients were asked to cough into a disposable collection device where cough aerosols were deposited. Devices were then inserted into a portable instrument to assess whether antigen was present in the sample. Demographic and clinical data were recorded and all patients were subjected to chest radiogram and examination of sputum by Ziehl-Nielsen microscopy. In the absence of culture treatment decisions were based on smear microscopy, chest x-ray and clinical assessment. Breathalyzer testing was undertaken by a separate physician to triage and diagnostic assessment. RESULTS: Sixty individuals were each subjected to a breathalyzer test. The procedure was well tolerated and for each patient the testing was completed in less than 10 min. Positive breath test results were recorded for 29 (48%) patients. Of 31 patients with a diagnosis of tuberculosis 23 (74%; 95% CI 55-87) were found positive for antigen in their breath and 20 (64%; 95% CI 45-80) were smear positive for acid fast bacilli in their sputum. Six patients provided apparent false positive breathalyzer results that did not correlate with a diagnosis of tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that the breathalyzer device described warrants further investigation as a tool for studying exhalation of M. tuberculosis. The portability, simplicity of use and speed of the test device suggest it may also find use as a tool to aid early identification of infectious cases. We recommend studies be undertaken to determine the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the device when compared to microbiological and clinical indicators of tuberculosis disease