On the difference between exclosures and enclosures in ecology and the environment

Rehabilitation of degraded land in arid and semiarid environments often involves excluding livestock from degraded sites, creating what are usually but unfortunately not consistently, called _exclosures_. Their main objective is to allow native vegetation to regenerate as a means of providing fodder and woody biomass, to reduce soil erosion and to increase rain water infiltration. We are concerned that some of the alternative names for this practice that are reported in the international literature, including _closed area_, _area closure_ and _enclosure_, may lead to confusion and misunderstanding, especially when these are used as synonyms. Here we aim to illustrate the difference between exclosures and enclosures using recent ecological and environmental literature and provide guidance for their proper use

A remote sensing technique for measuring spatio-temporal rainfall patterns in a mountainous region with a low density rain gauge network

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Evaluation of Multifunctional Fodder Bank Trees and Shrubs in Meskan Woreda Enseno Usma Kebele

Agroforestry is a system and/or practices which incorporates different component in the same piece of land to produce forage, crop product, wood product and so on. Forage is the major limiting factor in tropical specially, in Ethiopia, feed source is depends on natural grazing (green grass). This research is design to evaluate the biomass production potential and nutritive value fodder tree and shrubs during dry season, planted as protein band. The research was done in experimental plot of 26m*19.5m with 4m*4m plot size. Five fodder trees,susbania sesban, Moringa stenopetala, Morus alba, Lucenia luecocephala and Azandritcha indica were selected for experiment based on their adaptability to the area. According to the research Sesbania sesban had shows high growth rate having height of 0.67m and 2.84m in the first and the second years followed by Lucenia luecocephala with heght of 0.21m and 1.05m in the first and the second year respectively. Similarly, Sesbania sesban had provide high leaf biomass in dry season for animals followed by Lucenia luecocephala with 4.5kg and 0.87kg of biomass respectively.  On the other hand Morrus alba had show low growth rate, in height, leaf number, no. of branch and root collar diameter, and leaf biomass production. Azandritcha indica had no survived that means all most seedling were died and the remaining were not grow for measurable size with respect to others. The leaf chemical composition of those fodder tree were analyzed in laboratory. Dry matter content of all analyzed species were not show any significant differenc b/n them. Moringa stenopetala, Morus alba and Leuceana leucocephala have show high in crude protein, mineral matter and calcium relative to others. Based on this study we concluded that those tree species like Sesbania sesban, Moringa steopetala amd leuceana leucocephala were can provide enough forage during dry season having good chemical composition. Then farmers can plant those species as fodder source in piece of land. Keywords: Agroforestry, dry season, farmers, fodder bank, fodder tree, enseno usm

Plant-Parasitic Nematodes and Their Management: A Review

Nowhere will the need to sustainably increase agricultural productivity in line with increasing demand be more pertinent than in resource poor areas of the world, especially Africa, where populations are most rapidly expanding. Although a 35% population increase is projected by 2050. Significant improvements are consequently necessary in terms of resource use efficiency. In moving crop yields towards an efficiency frontier, optimal pest and disease management will be essential, especially as the proportional production of some commodities steadily shifts. With this in mind, it is essential that the full spectrums of crop production limitations are considered appropriately, including the often overlooked nematode constraints about half of all nematode species are marine nematodes, 25% are free-living, soil inhabiting nematodes, I5% are animal and human parasites and l0% are plant parasites. Today, even with modern technology, 5-l0% of crop production is lost due to nematodes in developed countries. So, the aim of this work was to review some agricultural nematodes genera, species they contain and their management methods. In this review work the species, feeding habit, morphology, host and symptoms they show on the effected plant and management of eleven nematode genera was reviewed. The review result indicated that all of the reviewed nematodes were different in terms of the above mentioned character; some have wide host range like Aphelenchoide while some have generally narrow host range and specialized like Heterodera. Some are ecto-parasite and some are endo- parasite and some are both in different part of the plant in their feeding habit like Aphelenchoide it is endoparasite in leaves, but also feeds ecto-parasitically on leaf and flower buds in some plants. Most of them have large number of species. They can be managed by using different methods like; Sanitation of fields and equipment like Pots potting soil, bio-control agents Paecilomyces lilacinus, Periodic rotation, fumigation and using of clean planting materials. Keywords: Nematodes, Aphelenchoide, Heterodera, bio-control, Periodic rotation and rotatio

Minimal pairs of polytopes and their number of vertices

We define what is called Blaschke difference for polytopes as an inverse operation to Blaschke addition. Using this operation we give a new algorithm to reduce and find a minimal pair of polytopes from the given class of the Rådström-Hörmander lattice containing a pair of polytopes in IR2. This method gives a better algorithmic insight and easy to handle than the one given by Handschug (1989). We also prove that a pair of polytopes in the plane is minimal if and only if the sum of the number of their vertices is minimal in the class. However, it is shown in the paper that, this last statement does not hold true in general for higher dimensional spaces

Prevalence of Induced Abortion and Associated Factors among Wachamo University Regular Female Students, Southern Ethiopia, 2015.

Background: All over the world, women experience unwanted pregnancy and some of them seek to terminate the pregnancy and undergo induced abortion. In Ethiopia, abortion is still common and it is one of the contributing factors for maternal death. In 2008 it was estimated that, there were 382,000 induced abortions in Ethiopia and 52,600 women were treated for complications of abortion. Most of these women who tend to experience induced abortion are adolescents and youth with age below 25 years. The aim of this study was, to assess the magnitude of induced abortion and associated factors among Wachamo University regular female students. Methods: A cross sectional study design was used. Data were collected from 461 randomly selected female students of Wachamo University by using pre-tested structured questionnaire from January to March, 2015. The collected data were entered using EPI info Version 3.5.1 and analyzed by SPSS version 16. Descriptive statistics was computed and odds ratio along with the 95% confidence interval was estimated to identify factors associated with induced abortion using multivariate logistic regression. Level of statistical significance was declared at P- value less or equal to 0.05. Results: In this study the prevalence of induced abortion was 5.9% (95% CI 3.8-8.0%), from which 9(33.3%) were conducted in an unsafe conditions. A total of 180(39 %) female students had sex and 58 (12.58%) of them get pregnant. Out of the total pregnancies, 53(91.4%) were unwanted. Based on the results from multivariate logistic regression, living out of campus [AOR= 6.78, 95% CI: (1.44, 31.97)], Substance use [AOR= 4.75, 95% CI: (1.12, 20.16)], and earning enough pocket money [AOR= 6.91, 95% CI: (1.62, 29.50)] were significantly associated factors with induced abortion. Conclusion and Recommendation: A significant proportion of pregnancies among students in higher educational institution are terminated with induced abortion. Living out of campus, substance use and pocket money have significant association with induced abortion. The university and local health bodies should work together to address for prevention of unintended pregnancy and induced abortion. Keywords: Induced abortion, Abortion, Adolescent and yout

Assessment of Postharvest Handling Practices and Problems on Major Crops of South Ari District, South Omo Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Currently world is facing serious concern over the equitable, rational and sustainable use of the natural resources that support fair food supply, labour, land, clean water, environment friendly and agricultural inputs because failure in these endeavors leads to starvation and civil war. In order to attain a high nutritional status, improved post-harvest management, reduced post- harvest losses, production of value added products, effective and efficient research programs on the post-harvest sector must be strengthened and promoted. So far, a number of researches have been done on different crops, no more research was done on the postharvest handling practices and problems on major crops especially in South Ari district of South Omo Zone, Southern region of  Ethiopia. Thus, the main objectives of this assessment were to assess and prioritize the major constraints on the postharvest handling of major cereal and pulse crops, coffee and spice, root and tuber crops and fruits and vegetable crops in major growing areas of South Ari district and to generate baseline information for further research work. In this specific zone, poor post harvest handling during storage, transportation and marketing were  identified as the main factors resulting in increased post harvest loss of major. Poor storage system, Poor roads, inappropriate means of transport combined with a bad arrangement of packaging materials and poor marketing structures aggravated the post harvest loss of major crops of the studied areas.  Appropriate packaging materials, proper storage facilities and transportation are required to minimize these losses. Also to reduce the levels of post harvest losses in the area and to rapidly transfer the produce from producers to consumers, a close integration of producers, wholesaler, retailer and consumer becomes necessary. Finally, in order to attain a high nutritional status, improved post-harvest management, reduced post- harvest losses, production of value added products, effective and efficient research programs on the post-harvest sector must be strengthened and promote Keywords: post harvest losses, Transportation, Marketing, Storage and Consume

Review on Agronomic Practices for Improving Production and Productivity of Lentil in Ethiopia

Lentil is among the most important cool season food legumes cultivated in rotation with cereal crops in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Poor agronomic practices are among the major constraints limiting the production and productivity of this crop. Improving agronomic practices such as seedbed preparation, sowing date, seed rate, weed control and pest management will enhance the production and productivity of lentil. Concerning sowing date, it varies with the pattern and total amount of rainfall, altitude, soil type and maturity period of the specific crop cultivar but in general, late June to mid July is the recommended time for planting lentil in the central highlands of Ethiopia. A seed rate of 50-65 kg ha-1 for small seeded lentil, 65-80 kg ha-1 for medium and up to 120 kg ha-1 for large seeded lentil cultivars were recommended in Ethiopia. For lentil, two hand-weeding within four to eight weeks after seedling emergence was recommended to control weed. Though not common practice, application of herbicides was also recommended for weed control in lentil. Keywords: Agronomic practices, Cultivar, Ethiopia, Lenti

Effect of Organizational Leadership and Training on Teachers’ Performance: The Case of Degga Woreda Public Primary Schools

The aim of this study was to investigate factors influencing teachers’ motivation and their effect on performances: in the case of Degga Woreda public primary schools. Descriptive and explanatory research designs were adopted with both qualitative and quantitative research approach. The study population comprised a totaling 297 teachers from primary schools and 170 teachers were sampled for this study by using Yemane (1967). Also to identify the target respondents from total population of the study systematic random sampling techniques was used. Questionnaires, interview, and researcher observation were served as data collection instruments. The data were analyzed using descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (multiple correlations and regression). The analysis was supported by the statistical software such as Statistical Package for Social Scientists 20 versions and Analysis of Moment Structures 22 versions. The key findings of doing so; organizational leadership and training and development have a positive direct effect on the performance of teachers. The study concluded that organizational leadership and training have a major positive direct effect on the performance of teachers. Finally, the study recommended that the regional education bureau, woreda education office, and head of schools will have developed a national training policy and award programs based on performance. Keywords: Organizational Leadership, Training, Performance of Teachers DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-3-01 Publication date: February 29th 202