Physico chemical evaluation of coffee husk, wastes of enset (Enset ventricosum), vegetable and khat (Catha edulis) through vermicomposting employing an epigeic earthworm Dendrobaena veneta (Rosa, 1886)

The major objective of this 90 days vermicomposting work was to evaluate the performance of epigeic earthworms, Dendrobaena veneta, to alter and change four commonly dumped and littered solid wastes in Ethiopian cities and towns into a high quality vermicompost. The experiments were conducted in cylindrical plastic containers with 26 cm depth and 53 cm width under shade. All containers were perforated on the sides for aeration as well as bottom for leachate drainage purpose. The wastes were mixed with cow dung in 3:1 ratio and treated with D. veneta in the following waste and worm mass proportion: 9 kg of vegetable waste treated with 130 g of worms, 9 kg of enset waste treated with 130 g of worms, 5 kg of coffee husk treated with 70 g of worms, 8 kg of khat waste treated with 115 g of worms. Results from all beddings treated by this earthworm species show that total Kjeldhal nitrogen (TKN) increased by 68 to 95%, total potassium (TK) increased between 51 and 76%, total phosphorus (TP) increased between 76 and 100% while total organic carbon (TOC) decreased between 35.3 and 38.5%, the C: N ratio reduced between 62 and 65.5% and considerable reduction was also observed in pH value of the final product. The findings from this experiment indicate that vermicomposting could be one good option to improve solid waste management performance of Ethiopian cities and towns through the production of excellent bio-fertilizer for agronomic purpose.Key words: Dendrobaena veneta, enset, Khat, vermicomposting

Potential Allelopatic Impact of Potamogeton schweinfurthii on Cyanophytes in Lake Ziway, Ethiopia

We hypothesized that allelopathic interaction could occur between the submerged macrophyte, Potamogeton schweinfurthii, and the phytoplankton population in Lake Ziway (Ethiopia). Potential interactions were assessed using field and laboratory studies between January and July 2012. Mean phytoplankton biomass (as measured by chlorophyll a) was lower in P. schweinfurthii beds (29.04 ± 6.9 µg/L) compared to open water (56.34 ± 8.1 µg/L). Field incubation experiments showed that chlorophyll a increased slowly (2.5 µg/L per day), when incubated with P. schweinfurthii exudates, significantly different (t-test, p < 0.05) from values measured (10 µg/L per day) in controls. A similar observation was made in the laboratory experiments with phytoplankton growth inhibited when exposed to P. schweinfurthii extracts. These results suggest that extract of P. schweinfurthiii may be useful for controlling phytoplankton blooms in some Ethiopian lakes

Abundance, Diversity, and Distribution of Primates at Welel Mountain, Kellem Wollega Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Primates are the mammals of the order Primate that is characterized by advanced development of binocular vision and enlargement of the cerebral hemispheres. The aim of this study was to investigate the abundance, diversity, and distribution of primates on Welel Mountain. From August 2017 to February 2018, we collected data from different parts of Welel Mountain during wet and dry seasons of the year and analyzed them using SPSS version 20. We identified four primate species: Chlorocebus aethiops, Cercopithecus mitis, Papio anubis, and Colobus guereza. We conducted t-test analysis for abundance and distribution of primates in wet and dry season of the year, and the P value obtained was 0.20. The mean percentages of primates in forest, woodland, and shrubs were 43.16%, 32.26%, and 24.58%, respectively. Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H′) value was higher in wet season than in dry season. The current study showed that the species are distributed more evenly in wet season than in dry season, and the number of young individuals is more than that of adults. This indicates that currently the status of primates population on Welel Mountain is good. Therefore, to keep the status of primates in the study area effective, wildlife management and conservation policy should be formulated