Effect of Soil Incorporated Pruned Pigeon pea and Nitrogen on System Productivity in Maize/Pigeon pea Intercropping

አህፅሮትበቆሎን በተመሳሳይ ማሣ ላይ አከታትሎ በማምረት የሚከሰተውን የምርት ማሽቆልቆል ገለባ ማሳ ላይ በማስቀረትና የተወሰነ የአፈር ማዳበሪያ በመጨመር መቀነስ ይቻላል፡፡ የዚህ ጥናት ዓላማ በቆሎንና የርግብ አተርን አሰባጥሮ በመዝራትና የርግብ አተርን ቅርንጫፍ ገርዞ ከአፈር ጋር በማወሃድና የናይትሮጂንን መጠን በመቀነስ በሰብል ምርትና በአፈር ንጥረ ነገር ላይ ያለውን ተፅዕኖ መለየት ነው፡፡ ጥናቱ የርግብ አተርን ቅርንጫፍ በመግረዝ ከላይ 0፤2፤4፤6 በማስቀረትና 18፤41፤64፤87፤110 ኪ.ግ. በሄክታር ናይትሮጂን በመጨመር በበኮ ግብርና ምርምር ማዕከል በ2005፤2006፤2007 ዓ.ም. ተከናወነ፡፡ በቆሎንና የርግብ አተርን አሰባጥሮ በመዝራት ታችኞቹን የርግብ አተር ቅርንጫፍ በመግረዝ 2 የላይኞቹን ማስቀረት ብቻውን ከተዘራው በቆሎ ጋር ሲነፃፀር የበቆሎ ምርትን 8% ሲጨምር ተጨማሪ ርግብ አተር 972 ኪ.ግ. በሄክታር አስገኝቷል፡፡ ይህ አሠራር አሲዳማነትን በመቀነስ የአፈርን ንጥረ ነገር ከመጨመሩም በላይ እነዚህን ሁለት ሰብሎች ለየብቻ ለመዝራት ይፈለግ ነበረውን ተጨማሪ 0.42 ሄክታር በማስቀረት ለበቆሎ ይጨመር የነበረውን ናይትሮጂን በመቀነስ ምርትን መጨመሩ ተረጋግጧል፡፡AbstractDecline of return in maize monoculture requires amendment of nutrients removed from the soil through retention of biomass on the soil with some addition of inorganic fertilizers. This study was executed for three consecutive years (2013-2015)to evaluate the effect of pruning levels while leaving the upper (0, 2, 4 and 6) parts of perennial pigeon pea and N levels (18, 41, 64, 87 and 110 kg ha-1) on yields of component crops and on some soil nutrients in maize/pigeon pea intercropping. The result indicated that the main effects due to pruning of pigeon pea and incorporation in to the soil and N level were significant for maize biomass weight during 2013 and 2014 and for maize grain yield throughout the experimental periods. Pruning of lower branches of pigeon pea while leaving the upper 2 in maize/pigeon pea intercropping increased grain yield of maize by 8% compared to the sole maize monocropping and produced a mean pigeon pea grain yield of 972 kg ha-1. It also reduced soil acidity, increased soil organic carbon, total N and available P compared to the sole maize monoculture. The highest LER of 1.42 and the highest net benefit of Birr 32,347 ha-1 were also obtained due to pruning of pigeon pea while leaving the upper 2 and incorporating in to the soil in intercropping of maize/pigeon pea at reduced N level. This branch management at reduced N level is recommended for the high productivity and reduced resource use efficiency for sub-humid areas of Bako

Multiple Advantages of Pigeon Pea (Cajanas Cajan) in Maize Based Cropping Systems: Used as Live Stake for Climbing Bean with Phosphorus Rates and Maize Productivity Enhancement in Mono Cropping Areas

Continuous maize based monoculture is one of the major bottlenecks limiting land and crop productivity in western Ethiopia. Pigeon pea plays vital role in rehabilitating degraded land and depleted soils due to its high N-fixation capacity, high biomass production and high litter fall. It can also support climbing bean as live stake. Two sets of the experiment were conducted for five consecutive years at Bako Agricultural Research Center. In 2009 and 2010 cropping seasons, pigeon pea was established and two crops (tef and finger millet) which were considered as one factor were under sown as tangua systems until the pigeon pea reaches its maximum growth. In 2010 and 2011, climbing bean was planted in established pigeon pea under different pruning options ( 25%,50% and 75% branch remaining) and with P2O5 rates (0,15,30 and 46 kg/ha). Thus treatments were arranged in factorial combinations and replicated three times. In 2011 and 2012, maize was planted on the permanent plots that two crops sown during pigeon pea establishment and received pigeon pea biomass under different pruning options  and with N application rates (0, 36, 72 and 110 kg/ha) and designed in RCBD factorial arrangement. The result revealed that better biomass and grain yield of finger millet under sown during the establishment of pigeon pea was obtained compared to tef.  Significant yield increase of climbing bean was recorded when percentage of pigeon pea branch removal was increased. Application of phosphorus increased grain yield of climbing bean, but there was no significant difference on yield of pigeon pea. Seasonal variability highly affected maize yield performance and the yield was highly reduced during 2012 compared to 2011 due to the lowest annual rainfall amount received in this season against the last ten years. There was strong and positive correlation of maize yield and annual rainfall of cropping season. Maize yield was not significantly different due to the residual effects of pigeon pea biomass retained under different pruning levels. But, highly significant yield increase was observed due to residual effects of retained biomass as compared to farmers’ practices and even under maize-climbing bean intercropping. Application of N  to maize planted on previous plots that received pigeon pea biomass showed no significant variations though the  better yield was recorded when 33 kg/ha N and 72 kg/ha N were applied in 2012 and 2011 cropping seasons, respectively. However, significant yield increases were obtained when the crop was planted on previous plots that were retained by pigeon pea biomass, regardless of N application rates, compared to the sole maize monoculture and in intercropping system. The result also clarifies the performance of maize without N application gave similar grain yield compared to current farmers’ practices. Generally, significant yield increment by 6-17% and 5-30% over farmers’ practices were recorded in 2011 and 2012, respectively. In short rainy season, maize yield planted on previous plots retained by pigeon pea biomass or as litter fall and with no N performed significantly better than farmers’ practices. Retention of pigeon pea biomass or released as litter fall on the following year for maize production can also significantly reduce 66-100% of the total recommended N while significantly increase maize yield. In 2013, the maize was planted on the permanent plots that had pigeon biomass or litter fall and with no chemical fertilizers revealed more than 100% and 75% yield increments as compared to yield of maize under intercrops and farmers’ practices. Indeed, pigeon pea can be used as live stake for climbing bean production or pigeon pea-climbing bean intercropping at appropriate pruning level (up to 50% to 75% branch removals). Moreover, the buildup of soil fertility through establishing pigeon pea and its biomass retention evidently boost the productivity of the soil and even 100% reduction of chemical N fertilizer cost. Hence farmers are advised not to apply any N fertilizer sources in the following years since its left over effects significantly enhance maize yield. However, further investigation is needed to specify the frequency of organic matter buildup using this pigeon pea plant and its impact on availability of naturally fixed nutrients, likes phosphorus. Keywords: Pigeon pea, Climbing bean, Pruning levels, Nitrogen, Phosphoru

REAL-TIME SENSOR DATA ANALYTICS AND VISUALIZATION IN CLOUD-BASED SYSTEMS FOR FOREST ENVIRONMENT MONITORING

Forest environment monitoring is essential for natural resource management. The development of sensors using across forests enables for the collection massive volumes of data due to technological improvements in the sensor network. Raspberry Pi, a flexible and inexpensive single-board computer, is at the main of the system, connecting and interfacing with the many sensors spread throughout the system. Sensors such as this can collect crucial information about the forest's environment, such as the weather, humidity, and temperature. Data from various sensors can be acquired and processed in real-time due to Raspberry Pi's role as a data collection device. The system uses cloud-based services to overcome the limitations of on-premises data processing and storage. A fusion technique on the cloud platform combines and analyzes data from various sensors after receiving transmissions from Raspberry Pi. The cloud service provides a location for live monitoring and other visualization which greatly help data in real-time. These visuals can be accessed remotely, allowing users to access the forest from any location. Improved comprehension and control of forest environments are possible because of the combination of various technologies for collecting, analyzing, and evaluating sensor data

High Frequency of Symptomatic Zinc Deficiency in Infants in Northern Ethiopia

Background. Zinc deficiency occurs in infants when its demand exceeds its supply. It presents with cutaneous signs which, in severe cases, are associated with diarrhea, alopecia, and irritability. Genetic and acquired forms of zinc deficiency have been reported and often overlap clinical features. Malnutrition, prematurity, malabsorption syndromes, and burns may cause an increased demand for zinc. Methods. Cases of acquired transient infantile zinc deficiency (TIZD) observed during a period of 3 years at Ayder Referral Hospital of Mekelle, Northern Ethiopia, are reported here. Since no sophisticated tests were available at our center, the diagnosis was based on the clinical signs and prompt response to oral zinc supplementation. Results. We observed 18 cases of TIZD at our center. All patients were full-term and breastfeeding infants with no relevant associated diseases. Conclusions. In this region, a high incidence of this condition is observed. We could not rule out whether heterozygosity for the genetic mutation was present or that the disease was caused by a nutritional deficiency in the mothers or more probably because both the factors coexisted together. However, further studies are necessary to better understand the causes of the increased incidence of this disease in Northern Ethiopia

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

Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease, 1990–2017 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background Health system planning requires careful assessment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) epidemiology, but data for morbidity and mortality of this disease are scarce or non-existent in many countries. We estimated the global, regional, and national burden of CKD, as well as the burden of cardiovascular disease and gout attributable to impaired kidney function, for the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017. We use the term CKD to refer to the morbidity and mortality that can be directly attributed to all stages of CKD, and we use the term impaired kidney function to refer to the additional risk of CKD from cardiovascular disease and gout. Methods The main data sources we used were published literature, vital registration systems, end-stage kidney disease registries, and household surveys. Estimates of CKD burden were produced using a Cause of Death Ensemble model and a Bayesian meta-regression analytical tool, and included incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability, mortality, years of life lost, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). A comparative risk assessment approach was used to estimate the proportion of cardiovascular diseases and gout burden attributable to impaired kidney function. Findings Globally, in 2017, 1·2 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 1·2 to 1·3) people died from CKD. The global all-age mortality rate from CKD increased 41·5% (95% UI 35·2 to 46·5) between 1990 and 2017, although there was no significant change in the age-standardised mortality rate (2·8%, −1·5 to 6·3). In 2017, 697·5 million (95% UI 649·2 to 752·0) cases of all-stage CKD were recorded, for a global prevalence of 9·1% (8·5 to 9·8). The global all-age prevalence of CKD increased 29·3% (95% UI 26·4 to 32·6) since 1990, whereas the age-standardised prevalence remained stable (1·2%, −1·1 to 3·5). CKD resulted in 35·8 million (95% UI 33·7 to 38·0) DALYs in 2017, with diabetic nephropathy accounting for almost a third of DALYs. Most of the burden of CKD was concentrated in the three lowest quintiles of Socio-demographic Index (SDI). In several regions, particularly Oceania, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, the burden of CKD was much higher than expected for the level of development, whereas the disease burden in western, eastern, and central sub-Saharan Africa, east Asia, south Asia, central and eastern Europe, Australasia, and western Europe was lower than expected. 1·4 million (95% UI 1·2 to 1·6) cardiovascular disease-related deaths and 25·3 million (22·2 to 28·9) cardiovascular disease DALYs were attributable to impaired kidney function. Interpretation Kidney disease has a major effect on global health, both as a direct cause of global morbidity and mortality and as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. CKD is largely preventable and treatable and deserves greater attention in global health policy decision making, particularly in locations with low and middle SDI

Medicinal plant knowledge of the Bench ethnic group of Ethiopia: an ethnobotanical investigation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Plants have traditionally been used as a source of medicine in Ethiopia since early times for the control of various ailments afflicting humans and their domestic animals. However, little work has been made in the past to properly document and promote the knowledge. Today medicinal plants and the associated knowledge in the country are threatened due to deforestation, environmental degradation and acculturation. Urgent ethnobotanical studies and subsequent conservation measures are, therefore, required to salvage these resources from further loss. The purpose of the present study was to record and analyse traditional medicinal plant knowledge of the Bench ethnic group in Southwest Ethiopia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Bench informants selected during transect walks made to houses as well as those identified as knowledgeable by local administrators and elders to gather data regarding local names of medicinal plants used, parts harvested, ailments treated, remedy preparation methods, administration routes, dosage and side effects. The same method was also employed to gather information on marketability, habitat and abundance of the reported medicinal plants. Purposive sampling method was used in the selection of study sites within the study district. Fidelity Level (FL) value was calculated for each claimed medicinal plant to estimate its healing potential.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The study revealed 35 Bench medicinal plants: 32 used against human ailments and three to treat both human and livestock ailments. The majority of Bench medicinal plants were herbs and leaf was the most frequently used part in the preparation of remedies. Significantly higher average number of medicinal plants was claimed by men, older people and illiterate ones as compared to women, younger people and literate ones, respectively. The majority of the medicinal plants used in the study area were uncultivated ones.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study revealed acculturation as the major threat to the continuation of the traditional medical practice in the study area. Awareness should, therefore, be created among the Bench community, especially the young ones, by concerned organizations and individuals regarding the usefulness of the practice.</p

Technology generation to dissemination:lessons learned from the tef improvement project

Indigenous crops also known as orphan crops are key contributors to food security, which is becoming increasingly vulnerable with the current trend of population growth and climate change. They have the major advantage that they fit well into the general socio-economic and ecological context of developing world agriculture. However, most indigenous crops did not benefit from the Green Revolution, which dramatically increased the yield of major crops such as wheat and rice. Here, we describe the Tef Improvement Project, which employs both conventional- and molecular-breeding techniques to improve tef\u2014an orphan crop important to the food security in the Horn of Africa, a region of the world with recurring devastating famines. We have established an efficient pipeline to bring improved tef lines from the laboratory to the farmers of Ethiopia. Of critical importance to the long-term success of this project is the cooperation among participants in Ethiopia and Switzerland, including donors, policy makers, research institutions, and farmers. Together, European and African scientists have developed a pipeline using breeding and genomic tools to improve the orphan crop tef and bring new cultivars to the farmers in Ethiopia. We highlight a new variety, Tesfa, developed in this pipeline and possessing a novel and desirable combination of traits. Tesfa\u2019s recent approval for release illustrates the success of the project and marks a milestone as it is the first variety (of many in the pipeline) to be released

Global, regional, and national age-sex-specific mortality and life expectancy, 1950–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background Assessments of age-specific mortality and life expectancy have been done by the UN Population Division, Department of Economics and Social Affairs (UNPOP), the United States Census Bureau, WHO, and as part of previous iterations of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD). Previous iterations of the GBD used population estimates from UNPOP, which were not derived in a way that was internally consistent with the estimates of the numbers of deaths in the GBD. The present iteration of the GBD, GBD 2017, improves on previous assessments and provides timely estimates of the mortality experience of populations globally. Methods The GBD uses all available data to produce estimates of mortality rates between 1950 and 2017 for 23 age groups, both sexes, and 918 locations, including 195 countries and territories and subnational locations for 16 countries. Data used include vital registration systems, sample registration systems, household surveys (complete birth histories, summary birth histories, sibling histories), censuses (summary birth histories, household deaths), and Demographic Surveillance Sites. In total, this analysis used 8259 data sources. Estimates of the probability of death between birth and the age of 5 years and between ages 15 and 60 years are generated and then input into a model life table system to produce complete life tables for all locations and years. Fatal discontinuities and mortality due to HIV/AIDS are analysed separately and then incorporated into the estimation. We analyse the relationship between age-specific mortality and development status using the Socio-demographic Index, a composite measure based on fertility under the age of 25 years, education, and income. There are four main methodological improvements in GBD 2017 compared with GBD 2016: 622 additional data sources have been incorporated; new estimates of population, generated by the GBD study, are used; statistical methods used in different components of the analysis have been further standardised and improved; and the analysis has been extended backwards in time by two decades to start in 1950.Background Assessments of age-specific mortality and life expectancy have been done by the UN Population Division, Department of Economics and Social Affairs (UNPOP), the United States Census Bureau, WHO, and as part of previous iterations of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD). Previous iterations of the GBD used population estimates from UNPOP, which were not derived in a way that was internally consistent with the estimates of the numbers of deaths in the GBD. The present iteration of the GBD, GBD 2017, improves on previous assessments and provides timely estimates of the mortality experience of populations globally. Methods The GBD uses all available data to produce estimates of mortality rates between 1950 and 2017 for 23 age groups, both sexes, and 918 locations, including 195 countries and territories and subnational locations for 16 countries. Data used include vital registration systems, sample registration systems, household surveys (complete birth histories, summary birth histories, sibling histories), censuses (summary birth histories, household deaths), and Demographic Surveillance Sites. In total, this analysis used 8259 data sources. Estimates of the probability of death between birth and the age of 5 years and between ages 15 and 60 years are generated and then input into a model life table system to produce complete life tables for all locations and years. Fatal discontinuities and mortality due to HIV/AIDS are analysed separately and then incorporated into the estimation. We analyse the relationship between age-specific mortality and development status using the Socio-demographic Index, a composite measure based on fertility under the age of 25 years, education, and income. There are four main methodological improvements in GBD 2017 compared with GBD 2016: 622 additional data sources have been incorporated; new estimates of population, generated by the GBD study, are used; statistical methods used in different components of the analysis have been further standardised and improved; and the analysis has been extended backwards in time by two decades to start in 1950