GIS-Based Land Capability Classification in Relation to Existing Land Use/Land Cover in Weja Sub-Watershed, Southern Ethiopia

The main objective of this study was classifying the land of the study area (Weja sub-watershed) according to its capability and compare with the existing land use/land cover using GIS and Remote Sensing (RS). Land use/land cover was determined from Landsat satellite image by applying supervised classification method in Erdas Imagine 9.1 software. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data of 30 m resolution was used to derive slope. Information on land and soil characteristics, and the specified limitations and criteria were captured in a spatial digital format. Based on the specified parameters, the limitations were separately mapped out in the form of thematic layers suitable for analysis in Arc GIS. Intersect overlay analysis method was applied to obtain the spatial and attribute information of all the input parameters using Arc GIS 10.3 software. Five land capability classes were arrived at classes II, III, IV, VI and VII. The result revealed that out of the five land capability classes, 479.25 ha (58.78%) were categorized in the range of land classes II to IV. The remaining 336.06ha (15.73%) of the study was categorize as class VI and VII. The GIS overlay analysis of the existing land use/land cover and the land capability map indicates that, 364.57ha (44.71%) cultivated land falls under land capability class II-IV respectively. The remaining 107.57 (13.2%) of the cultivated land in the study area falls under land capability class VI and VII, which is not at all suitable for annual cropping. The study result indicated that the existing land use and land cover were not as per the capability of the land. Keywords: Land capability classes, Sustainable, Land use/Land cover, GIS, Overlay analysis, Digital Elevation Model (DEM). DOI: 10.7176/JEES/12-10-02 Publication date:October 31st 202

Land Use Effects on Soil Quality Indicators: A Case Study of Abo-Wonsho Southern Ethiopia

Soil quality assessment is valuable for evaluating agroecosystem sustainability, soil degradation, and identifying sustainable land management practices. This study compared soil quality within culturally protected forest areas and adjacent grassland, grazing land, and farmland in Abo-Wonsho, Southern Ethiopia. A total of 40 soil samples (4 land uses × 5 replications × 2 soil depth layers: 0 to 10 cm and 10 to 20 cm) were collected for analysis. Soil textural fractions (i.e., sand, silt, and clay percentage) varied with land use and soil depths even though the textural class across all land use types was sandy loam. Bulk density, soil organic carbon (SOC), and available potassium (K) varied significantly: , , and , respectively, with land use and soil depth, but other indicators showed no significant difference. We conclude soil quality can be protected and maintained by improving existing land use practices within both agricultural and modern forest management areas

Soil organic carbon variation in relation to land use changes: the case of Birr watershed, upper Blue Nile River Basin, Ethiopia

Background: This study investigated the variation of soil organic carbon in four land cover types: natural and mixed forest, cultivated land, Eucalyptus plantation and open bush land. The study was conducted in the Birr watershed of the upper Blue Nile (‘Abbay’) river basin. Methods: The data was subjected to a two-way of ANOVA analysis using the general linear model (GLM) procedures of SAS. Pairwise comparison method was also used to assess the mean difference of the land uses and depth levels depending on soil properties. Total of 148 soil samples were collected from two depth layers: 0–10 and 10–20 cm. Results: The results showed that overall mean soil organic carbon stock was higher under natural and mixed forest land use compared with other land use types and at all depths (29.62 ± 1.95 Mg C ha− 1 ), which was 36.14, 28.36, and 27.63% more than in cultivated land, open bush land, and Eucalyptus plantation, respectively. This could be due to greater inputs of vegetation and reduced decomposition of organic matter. On the other hand, the lowest soil organic carbon stock under cultivated land could be due to reduced inputs of organic matter and frequent tillage which encouraged oxidation of organic matter. Conclusions: Hence, carbon concentrations and stocks under natural and mixed forest and Eucalyptus plantation were higher than other land use types suggesting that two management strategies for improving soil conditions in the watershed: to maintain and preserve the forest in order to maintain carbon storage in the future and to recover abandoned crop land and degraded lands by establishing tree plantations to avoid overharvesting in natural forests

Municipal Solid Waste Management in Debre Berhan City of Ethiopia

This paper presents an assessment of municipal solid waste generation and composition in Debre Berhan city in Ethiopia, providing an overview of the current state of municipal solid waste management, an analysis of the current problems in MSW collection, transportation, recycling and disposal, and few suggestions for improving the MSW in the coming years. Currently, waste composition in Debre Berhan is dominated by a high organic content, since the concentration of food and kitchen waste in urban solid waste makes up the highest proportion of the waste stream. The study revealed that only 25 % of the households have access to waste collection and transportation services as city municipality is under capacity to provide waste collection and transportation service.  98% of the respondents reported that recycling is not being practiced in the town. So, the potential of recycling and related activities is yet to be exploited. 75% of the urban dwellers dump the waste produce illegally and there exists no well designed dumping or landfill site, consequently urban dwellers are vulnerable to surface and groundwater pollution. Urgent and immediate improvement in building the capacities of the municipality is necessary to meet the current demand for improved municipal waste management and a number of recommendations are made aimed at improving the MSW management system. Keywords: Ethiopia, Waste Collection, Waste Disposal, Municipal Solid Waste Management

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus in patients with diabetes mellitus: a comparative cross sectional study at Woldiya General Hospital, Ethiopia

Introduction: The overall prevalence of HBV in Ethiopia varies from 4.7-16.8% for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and 70-76.38% for at least one marker positive. Patients suffering from type I Diabetes Mellitus (DM) incur high risk of infection with hepatotropic viruses because of frequent hospitalization and blood tests.  Methods: A comparative cross sectional study was conducted at Woldiya General Hospital using 108  consented study populations from Diabetes and 108 non diabetes control groups during the period November 2010 - January 2011. VISITECT HBsAg rapid test kit and Humastat 80 chemistry analyzer were used.   Multivariate logistic regression was used to see the association of HBV with clinical history of participants and Sociodemographic variables. All tests were two-sided with ∝-level of 0.05 and 80% power. Results:  Prevalence of HBsAg was equal between diabetic and non diabetic individuals, 3.7% indicating that there was no difference between the two groups. Only history of invasive procedures and chronic liver disease showed association with HBsAg seropositivity. Conclusion: In this study a positive relation was not indicated between HBV and Diabetes and the prevalence of HBsAg was equal between diabetic and non diabetic individuals

Meteorological drought assessment in north east highlands of Ethiopia

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the patterns and trends of drought incidence in north east highlands of Ethiopia using monthly rainfall record for the period 1984-2014. Design/methodology/approach – Standard precipitation index and Mann – Kendal test were used to analyze drought incident and trends of drought occurrences, respectively. The spatial extent of droughts in the study area has been interpolated by inverse distance weighted method using the spatial analyst tool of ArcGIS. Findings – Most of the studied stations experienced drought episodes in 1984, 1987/1988, 1992/1993, 1999, 2003/2004 and 2007/2008 which were among the worst drought years in the history of Ethiopia. The year 1984 was the most drastic and distinct-wide extreme drought episode in all studied stations. The Mann–Kendal test shows an increasing tendencies of drought at three-month (spring) timescale at all stations though significant (p < 0.05) only at Mekaneselam and decreasing tendencies at three-month (summer) and 12-month timescales at all stations. The frequency of total drought was the highest in central and north parts of the region in all study seasons. Originality/value – This detail drought characterization can be used as bench mark to take comprehensive drought management measures such as early warning system, preparation and contingency planning, climate change adaptation programs

First PCR Confirmed anthrax outbreaks in Ethiopia-Amhara region, 2018-2019.

BackgroundAnthrax is a disease that affects humans and animals. In Ethiopia, anthrax is a reportable disease and assumed to be endemic, although laboratory confirmation has not been routinely performed until recently. We describe the findings from the investigation of two outbreaks in Amhara region.MethodsFollowing reports of suspected outbreaks in Wag Hamra zone (Outbreak 1) and South Gondar zone (Outbreak 2), multi-sectoral teams involving both animal and public health officials were deployed to investigate and establish control programs. A suspect case was defined as: sudden death with rapid bloating or bleeding from orifice(s) with unclotted blood (animals); and signs compatible with cutaneous, ingestion, or inhalation anthrax ≤7 days after exposure to a suspect animal (humans). Suspect human cases were interviewed using a standard questionnaire. Samples were collected from humans with suspected anthrax (Outbreak 1 and Outbreak 2) as well as dried meat of suspect animal cases (Outbreak 2). A case was confirmed if a positive test was returned using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).ResultsIn Outbreak 1, a total of 49 cows died due to suspected anthrax and 22 humans developed symptoms consistent with cutaneous anthrax (40% attack rate), two of whom died due to suspected ingestion anthrax. Three people were confirmed to have anthrax by qPCR. In Outbreak 2, anthrax was suspected to have caused the deaths of two livestock animals and one human. Subsequent investigation revealed 18 suspected cases of cutaneous anthrax in humans (27% attack rate). None of the 12 human samples collected tested positive, however, a swab taken from the dried meat of one animal case (goat) was positive by qPCR.ConclusionWe report the first qPCR-confirmed outbreaks of anthrax in Ethiopia. Both outbreaks were controlled through active case finding, carcass management, ring vaccination of livestock, training of health professionals and outreach with livestock owners. Human and animal health authorities should work together using a One Health approach to improve case reporting and vaccine coverage

Soil properties in relation to topographic aspects, vegetation communities and land use in the south-eastern highlands of Ethiopia

Quantification of changes in soil properties (particularly organic carbon and total nitrogen) due to natural and anthropogenic influences is essential in understanding carbon fluxes between land and atmosphere. This thesis examines the effects of topographic aspect, vegetation community and land use on physical and chemical properties of soils in south-eastern Ethiopia. Soil samples were collected under three vegetation communities, Schefflera abyssinica/Hagenia abyssinica (SHaD), Hypericum revoltum/Erica arborea/Schefflera volkensii (HESD) and shrub-sized Erica arborea (EAD), at four topographic aspects (north/south/east/west-facing). Soil samples were also collected from three land use types (native forest, cropland, grazing) between 3000-3150 m altitude. The soil properties examined generally exhibited significant variations with respect to vegetation and aspect. Sand, silt and clay content was high under EAD, HESD and SHaD respectively. Soil bulk density was lower in A- than B-horizons for all vegetation types and aspects. Available P was high under all south-facing communities and in east-facing A-horizon soils under SHaD. Soil pH was high in both horizons under SHaD. Base cation adsorption in soil followed the trend Ca2+>Mg2+>K+>Na+ for all communities and aspects. CEC was high under south- and east-facing SHaD and EAD. Overall, percentage base saturation was high under SHaD across all aspects. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (N) stocks to 1.0 m depth were highest under EAD (46.03 kg C m-2, 3.61 kg N m-2) and southern aspect (44.97 kg C m-2, 3.75 kg N m-2). Mean annual temperature was important for variations in SOC and total N stocks along vegetation gradients across all aspects. About 45% of SOC was held in the upper 0.3 m, indicating that large amounts of CO2 can be released to the atmosphere if the vegetation communities are cleared for arable/grazing land. Conversion of native forest into cropland significantly increased soil bulk density and pH while reducing SOC, total N and CEC concentrations by 31, 32 and 38%, respectively (1.0 m layer). Protecting remnant afroalpine/afromontane vegetation communities or improving existing cropping systems could mitigate nutrient losses while enhancing organic carbon sequestration for sustainable agriculture, ecosystem functioning and climate change mitigation

The Effects of &apos;Fanya juu&apos; Soil Conservation Structure on Selected Soil Physical &amp; Chemical Properties: the Case of Goromti Watershed, Western Ethiopia

Abstract Soil degradation is evident in the mountainous areas of Ethiopia, is often represented as results of human pressure. It can be improved through different Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) measures. The study was conducted in Goromti watershed, in western Ethiopia to evaluate the impact of Fanya juu structures on some soil physical &amp; chemical properties. Cultivated fields treated by five years and ten years old fanyajuu structures were compared with non conserved cultivated land (control) and evaluated under three slope gradients. The slope gradients were; gentle (3-15%), moderately steep (15-30%) and steep slope (&gt;30%). A total of 27 soil samples were collected from the top 20 cm soil depth replicated three times and selected physical and chemical properties were analysed in the laboratory. The results of the study showed that soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N) were significantly (p≤0.05) different on farms treated by the fanyajuu compared to the non-conserved plots as well as under the different slope gradients. Bulk density (Db), sand and clay fractions were significantly varied with slope gradient. Soil organic carbon and total N were higher while bulk density was lower in soil under the non-conserved fields than in fields with fanyajuu structures. But no significant difference was observed in soil bulk density, sand and clay fractions among treatments. Similarly, CEC, available K and available P, and exchangeable K + , Ca 2+ , and Mg 2+ didn&apos;t show any significant differences with respect to structures and slope gradient. The research indicates that structures could benefit farmers through improving the nutrient status better if integrated with agronomic measures by using vegetation suitable for the local environment in one hand, and properly maintained for longer period of time, on the other