Allelopathic Effects of Lantana (Lantana camara L.) Leaf Extracts on Germination and Early Growth of three Agricultural Crops in Ethiopia

Allelopathic potential of aqueous extracts of lantana (Lantana camara L.) leaf on germination and growth of three agricultural crops: Maize, Finger millet and Tef, commonly cultivated in Ethiopia were studied under laboratory condition. The aqueous extracts were assayed at 5, 10, 25, 50 and 75% and their allelopathic effects were compared with distilled water (control). All the aqueous extracts did not significantly influence  germination of the agricultural crops except 75% extract which significantly reduced germination of tef. All the leaf extracts stimulated root growth of maize and finger millet plants with the effect being declined with rise of concentration. In contrast, tef plants had reduced root growth in various leaf extracts with the highest reduction occurring at higher concentrations (25, 50 and 75%). The shoots of maize plants were also stimulated by all extract concentrations; whereas shoot growth of both tef and finger millet were not significantly affected by the leaf extracts. The results generally showed that lantana leaf extracts had stimulatory effects on early growth of maize and finger millet and inhibitory effects on tef growth.Keywords: Finger millet, Maize, Root growth, Shoot growth, Tef

Photosynthetic Responses of Seedlings of two Indigenous Plants inside Exotic Tree Plantations and adjacent Natural Forest in Munessa–Shashemene Forest, SouthernEthiopia

The potential role of exotic tree plantations in facilitating successional processes on degraded areas was evaluated in southern Ethiopia, Munessa-Shashemene forest, by examining photosynthetic responses of Bersamaabyssinica Fres. and Croton macrostachyusDel. seedlings naturally grown inside plantations of Eucalyptussaligna and Pinuspatula and adjacent natural forest. Photosynthetic responses of the seedlings were recorded using modulated photosynthesis yield analyzer, Mini-PAM. Analysis of fluorescence parameters in the leaves showed no significant differences in the level of dark-adapted and light-adapted fluorescence yield (Fv/Fm and ÄF/Fm,, respectively) among seedlings grown inside plantations and adjacent natural forest indicating similar photosynthetic performance. The light response curves of electron transport rate (ETR), light-adapted fluorescence yield (ÄF/Fm,) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ)showed similar light saturation behavior among the seedlings grown inside plantations and natural forest and suggested a shade-adapted behavior of Bersamaabyssinica as compared to Croton macrostachyus. The results suggest the role of exotic tree plantationsin facilitating restoration processes on degraded areas by improving light conditions for photosynthesis.Keywords: Chlorophyll fluorescence, Light response curves, PS II, Restoration, Ethiopia

Effect of Eucalyptus camaldulensis stand Conversion into Crop Production on Growth and Yield of Maize: the case of Koga Watershed Areas in northwestern Ethiopia

Farmers in the highlands of Ethiopia commonly plant eucalypts on their farmlands. However, growing eucalypt is becoming a great concern due to its alleged long-term site effect. In view of this, a study was conducted in Koga watershed, northwestern Ethiopia, to investigate whether croplands afforested with Eucalyptus camaldulensis can be reused for annual crop production after its removal. In this study, we compared growth and yield of maize between adjacent clear-felled E. camaldulensis stands and continuously cultivated farms at three paired sites. Plant height, leaf area, dry matter production and grain weight were evaluated as parameters for maize growth and yield. Maize plants grown on clear-felled eucalypt stands were taller and developed larger leaf areas than those grown on  continuously cultivated farms. Dry matter production and grain yield were also significantly higher in maize plants established on clear-felled eucalypt stands. Farmers also responded that the growth and yield of maize grown on the clear-felled eucalypt stands were better than those grown on continuously cultivated farms. The results suggest that contrary to the popular belief, agricultural lands afforested with eucalypts can be re-used for annual crop production.Keywords: Clear-felled stands, Croplands, Crop performance, Farmers’ perception, Ethiopia

Systemic Sclerosis – case report

A case of Systemic Sclerosis is hereby reported, with brief review of  literature emphasizing the clinical characteristics and management.  Systemic Sclerosis is a connective tissue disorder affecting the skin, blood vessel, and visceral organs. Data relating to the occurrence of scleroderma is sparse or underreported in Liberia. This is a case report of a patient suffering from scleroderma seen at the Jackson F. Doe Regional Referral Hospital, Tappita, Nimba County, Liberia in May, 2018. The goal was to  document the clinical occurrence of scleroderma in Liberia. Literature was reviewed using key words including scleroderma, sclerosis, Liberia, West Africa. Data bases searched were AJOL and Pubmed. Clinical manifestations of systemic scleroderma arise from the diffuse deposition of collagen in the skin and visceral organs coupled with vascular injury and immunologic abnormalities. The skin becomes taut resulting in claw like appearance of fingers and a mask like appearance of the face. There are associated orofacial changes resulting in decrease in facial profile, rigidity of tongue and microstomia.Keywords: Systemic Sclerosis, clinical features, case report

A qualitative study exploring barriers related to use of footwear in rural highland Ethiopia: implications for neglected tropical disease control

Background The role of footwear in protection against a range of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) is gaining increasing attention. Better understanding of the behaviors that influence use of footwear will lead to improved ability to measure shoe use and will be important for those implementing footwear programs. Methodology/Principal Findings Using the PRECEDE-PROCEED model we assessed social, behavioral, environmental, educational and ecological needs influencing whether and when children wear shoes in a rural highland Ethiopian community endemic for podoconiosis. Information was gathered from 242 respondents using focus groups, semi-structured interviews and extended case studies. Shoe-wearing norms were said to be changing, with going barefoot increasingly seen as ‘shameful’. Shoes were thought to confer dignity as well as protection against injury and cold. However, many practical and social barriers prevented the desire to wear shoes from being translated into practice. Limited financial resources meant that people were neither able to purchase more than one pair of shoes to ensure their longevity nor afford shoes of the preferred quality. As a result of this limited access, shoes were typically preserved for special occasions and might not be provided for children until they reached a certain age. While some barriers (for example fit of shoe and fear of labeling through use of a certain type of shoe) may be applicable only to certain diseases, underlying structural level barriers related to poverty (for example price, quality, unsuitability for daily activities and low risk perception) are likely to be relevant to a range of NTDs. Conclusions/Significance Using well established conceptual models of health behavior adoption, we identified several barriers to shoe wearing that are amenable to intervention and which we anticipate will be of benefit to those considering NTD prevention through shoe distribution

Small Grains as Winter Pasture in the Southern Great Plains of the United States

Small-grain cereals are widely adapted and used as annual cool-season pastures in the Southern Great Plains (SGP) of the United States, where livestock and forage production are the largest contributors to agricultural income. The advantage of growing small grains in the region is evident due to the widespread adoption and flexibility of production for grain only, forage only, or both grain and forage (i.e., dual purpose). Farmers in the SGP often prefer the use of small grains for dual purpose mainly because of alternative income options from livestock and/or grain, ensuring stable income especially when product prices fluctuate with market demands. Small-grain forage is exceptionally important during autumn, winter, and early spring when forage availability from other sources is low. By providing nutritionally high-quality forage, small grains minimize the need for protein and energy supplements. Besides being used for winter pasture, small grains also serve as cool-season cover crops. While small grains offer different advantages in the integrated crop-livestock system in the region, farming management practices can play an important role to maximize the benefit. The objectives of this chapter are to summarize the significance of small grains as winter pasture and highlight the production status of each small-grain species in the SGP of the United States

Direct approach to the problem of strong local minima in Calculus of Variations

The paper introduces a general strategy for identifying strong local minimizers of variational functionals. It is based on the idea that any variation of the integral functional can be evaluated directly in terms of the appropriate parameterized measures. We demonstrate our approach on a problem of W^{1,infinity} weak-* local minima--a slight weakening of the classical notion of strong local minima. We obtain the first quasiconvexity-based set of sufficient conditions for W^{1,infinity} weak-* local minima.Comment: 26 pages, no figure

Methods and Costs for Pond-Catchment Rehabilitation on the Borana Plateau

The Borana Plateau is an important rangeland for Ethiopia. One key limitation for people and livestock is lack of drinking water. Hundreds of ponds are important water sources for most of the year. Pond catchments are poorly managed because livestock access is uncontrolled. Catchments are stripped bare of vegetation due to trampling and heavy grazing, and unprotected soil is prone to erosion. When the rains come the ponds quickly fill with sediment. Sedimentation reduces pond holding capacity and much labor is required to clean them out. As part of a pilot research project we rehabilitated four ponds and their immediate catchment using a combination of: (1) Perimeter bush-fencing to confine livestock access to a few narrow corridors leading to the water\u27s edge; (2) erosion control using dams and trenches to capture sediment prior to it entering the ponds; and (3) pond de-sedimentation using human labor. In tandem these methods have completely renovated the four sites in less than two years and could be adopted by the pastoralists. Here we report how we implemented each method as well as estimate the total cost of rehabilitation. Overall, the average cost to rehabilitate one seven-hectare pond catchment was 283, 045 Ethiopian Birr (or USD $14,152) including cash and in-kind sources. Costs were almost entirely labor. The largest outlay was for de-sedimentation at 87 percent of total costs on average, followed by erosion control (9 percent) and bush fencing (4 percent). If all 162 ponds in our study area were rehabilitated the cost would exceed 46 million Birr; this might be defrayed if communities can donate some of the labor. The high cost of rehabilitation illustrates that poor catchment management has major economic consequences that undermine system sustainability. Cost data also reveal that a small investment in preventing sedimentation via bush-fencing, grazing management, and erosion control would yield high returns in terms of reducing the need for regular, and expensive de-sedimentation via manual labor

Factors related to discontinued clinic attendance by patients with podoconiosis in southern Ethiopia: a qualitative study

Background Podoconiosis is a lymphoedema of non-infectious cause which results in long-term ill health in affected individuals. Simple, effective treatment is available in certain parts of Ethiopia, but evidence indicates that not all patients continue collecting treatment supplies from clinic sites once started. We used qualitative techniques to explore factors related to discontinued attendance at outreach clinics of a non-government organization in southern Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted in four clinic sites through unstructured in-depth interviews, key informant interviews and focus group discussions with the involvement of 88 study subjects. Results Discontinuation of clinic visits is common among podoconiosis patients. The reasons were: remoteness from the clinic sites, unrealistic expectation of ‘special’ aid, worry about increasing stigma, illness and misconceptions about treatment. Conclusions Several of these factors are remediable through community and individual information and education. Appropriate routes to deliver this information must be identified. Certain factors (such as distance to clinic sites and stigma) require substantial expansion of services or liaison with village-level government health services

Outcomes of a Pastoral Sustainability Conference: The Borana People Must Better Manage Rangelands and Diversify Livelihoods for a Brighter Future

The Borana Plateau is an important region for Ethiopia— but it is challenged by very serious problems. Both the human and livestock populations are growing while poverty is increasing for the majority of pastoralists. The rangeland also shows signs of extreme degradation including gullying, bush encroachment, and high rates of pond siltation. This brief summarizes points made at a pastoralist conference held for 71 participants during December, 2014, in Yabelo town in the Borana Zone. The purpose of the conference was to chart a way forward for the Boran society to better address problems. The conference included speakers from the pastoral community, policy-making realm, private sector, and research organizations. It was concluded that the pastoralists must begin to better manage grazing, rehabilitate the land, and diversify livelihoods. Both the traditional leadership and the government must work together in this process, but it is the people themselves who have the power to make these changes