Socio-economic assessment of two small-scale irrigation schemes in Adami Tullu Jido Kombolcha Woreda, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

The sustainability of irrigated agriculture is questioned and the challenge is to increase simultaneously land and water productivity in the face of the limited availability of land and water in the CRV, the Central Rift Valley. The aim of this research is to assess the social-economic performance of two communitybased small-scale irrigation schemes in Adami Tullu Jido Kombolcha Woreda (ATJK) and to identify options to improve irrigation performance and resource managemen

Investigations of Latrine Coverage and Associated Factors Among Debretabor Town, Amhara Region North West Ethiopia

Studies in a number of countries have shown that wherever inappropraite waste disposal morbidity and mortality rates are high. Although latrine coverage is an important indicator for measuring success of the health service program; data on latrine coverage scarce in the study area. Objective: To investigate latrine coverage and associated factors in among households of Debretabor town, Amhara region, Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in Debretabor town from September 1-30, 2013. A total of 422 households were included in the study using systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Degree of association between independent and dependent variables was assessed with a 95% confidence level and p-value less than 0.05 was used to detect statistical significance. Result: In this study. Ninety three point five percent of households have latrine. Graduated as model family was predictor for availability of latrine (AOR= 3.18,). Income and house ownership were also found to be predictors for availability of latrine (AOR=3.70), (AOR=8.46), respectively. Educational status of respondents was found to be predictors for availability of latrine (AOR= 2.65). Conclusion: latrine coverage was relatively lower from the national target of 100%, still there are households that use open defication. Educational status, house owner shipe, income and graduated as model family were main factors affecting latrine availability. Improving socio economic status of households, provision of continuous advice and technical support at household level on the availability of latrine are recommended

Dairy development in Ethiopia:

Ethiopia holds large potential for dairy development due to its large livestock population, the favorable climate for improved, high-yielding animal breeds, and the relatively disease-free environment for livestock. Given the considerable potential for smallholder income and employment generation from high-value dairy products, development of the dairy sector in Ethiopia can contribute significantly to poverty alleviation and nutrition in the country. Like other sectors of the economy, the dairy sector in Ethiopia has passed through three phases or turning points, following the economic and political policy in the country. In the most recent phase, characterized by the transition towards market-oriented economy, the dairy sector appears to be moving towards a takeoff stage. Liberalized markets and private sector investment and promotion of smallholder dairy are the main features of this phase. Milk production during the 1990s expanded at an annual rate of 3.0 percent compared to 1.63-1.66 percent during the preceding three decades. Review of the development of dairy sector in Ethiopia indicates that there is a need to focus interventions more coherently. Development interventions should be aimed at addressing both technological gaps and marketing problems. Integration of crossbred cattle to the sector is imperative for dairy development in the country. This can be achieved either through promotion of large private investment to introduce new technology in the sector such as improved genotypes, feed and processing, and promotion of integration of crossbred cattle into the smallholder sector through improving their access to improved cattle breeds, AI service, veterinary service, and credit. Similarly, government should also take the lead in building infrastructure and providing technical service to smallholders. Severe shortages, low quality and seasonal unavailability of feed likewise remain as major constraints to livestock production in Ethiopia. These constraints need to be addressed and technological change be promoted to increase milk production.Ethiopia, Dairy products industry, Livestock productivity Ethiopia, Africa sub-Saharan, East Africa,

Effects of Acidity on Growth and Symbiotic Performance of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae Strains Isolated from Faba Bean Producing Areas of Ethiopia

Faba bean is one of the legume crops commonly grown in Ethiopia. It is important source of dietary protein to the majority of population in the country. Soil acidity and related stresses are among the major yield limiting constraints for this crop. This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating acidity tolerance of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strains isolated from faba bean growing regions of the country and their symbiotic performance under different acidic conditions. Four strains isolated from root nodules of faba bean were tested for tolerance to acidity in a defined liquid media. The results indicated that none of the tested strains was tolerant to pH 4.0 while two of them (AUFR46 and AUFR100) were found to be tolerant of pH 4.5. When tested at pH 5.0 only one isolate (AUFR58) was sensitive. The results of the present study also showed that all acid tolerant strains were recovered from highly acidic soil (4.8- 5.2) and the acid sensitive strain was isolated from neutral soil. A positive correlation (r= 0.92) was observed between minimum pH tolerated in culture media and pH of origin soil of the strains. Nodulation and nitrogen fixation abilities of these strains were evaluated on sand culture. The results indicated that at pH 4.5 and 5.0 nodulation was totally inhibited and only one isolate (AUFR58) could not be able to induce nodule formation on host plant roots at pH 5.5. The results also showed that acidity (pH 5.5) reduced shoot dry weight, nodules number, total nitrogen at a highly significant level (P<0.01) compared to plants grown at pH 6.5 and 7.0. In pot experiment with soil of different pH, inoculation of the rhizobial strains improved the growth, nodulation and nitrogen content of the plants significantly over the uninoculated controls. Besides, acid tolerant strains showed better performance over acid sensitive strains in acidic soils and thus, they are highly recommended for field test in acidic soil.Keywords: Acidity tolerance; Nodulation; Nitrogen fixation; Vicia faba; Rhizobium; Faba bea

Characterization of Phosphate Solubilizing Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Nodulating Rhizobia Isolated from Acidic Soils of Wollega, Ethiopia

Some species of rhizobial bacteria nodulating faba bean are characterized by phosphate solubilization. In order to study their in vitro and symbiotic characteristics, twelve rhizobial isolates nodulating faba bean were collected from acidic soil of Wollega, Ethiopia. Solubilization index of the isolates ranges from 1.25 to 2.10. Mean Generation Time of the isolates were less than 2.34; and growth of isolates on Yeast Extract Mannitol agar with bromothymoleblue media were accompanied by change of color from blue to yellow. AUAVR-51 and AUAVR-52 were the highest in TCP-Solubilizion Index. The two isolates were also recognized as stress tolerant when tested in vitro for extreme temperature, osmotic, acidic pH, intrinsic antibiotics, and acidic-aluminum as compared to the other isolates. However, there was no unique metabolic diversity and specialization of AUAVR-51 and AUAVR-52 isolates with respect to carbon and nitrogen source utilization. On the other hand, isolates AUAVR-51 and AUAVR-52 were characterized by effective and highly effective symbiosis on sterile potted sand growth, respectively. In general, phosphate solubilizing rhizobia nodulating faba bean from acidic soil are fast grower; and their solubilization potential varies. However, the contribution of these isolates as double fertilizer should be tested in the real acidic soil characterized by immobilized phosphorous.Keywords: Faba bean Rhizobial isolates Phosphate solubilization Symbiotic effectivenes

Distribution and abundance of rodents in farmlands: a case study in Alleltu Woreda, Ethiopia

A study on the distribution and abundance of rodents was carried out in three live trapping grids in wheat, bean and lentil fields in Alleltu Woreda, Ethiopia. A survey was also conducted in habitats outside the cul tivated fields. A total of 260 rodents were trapped from the cultivated fields during 3087 trap-nights and 61 from outside cultivated areas during 675 trap-nights. The rodents trapped were Mastomys natalensis , Mus mahomet and Arvicanthis abyssinicus. Rodent populations reached their peak when the crops were maturing, and declined after harvest. Distribution and abundance of rodents showed significant temporal variation. M. natalensis was the dominant species in the cultivated fields whereas A. abyssinicus was more outside the cultivated fields. The population density of rodents estimated by Capture - Mark - Recapture method ranged from 120/ha in the lentil field to 379/ha in the wheat field. The total biomass of rodents in wheat, bean and lentil grids was 5019 g, 2200 g and 1520 g, respectively. SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol. 29(1) 2006: 63–7

Influence of Time of Nitrogen Application on Productivity and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Rain- fed Lowland Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the Vertisols of Fogera plain, Northwestern Ethiopia

An experiment consisting of two fertilizer rates (69/10 and 46/20 kg N/P ha-1) and five nitrogen (N) application times (half at planting + half at tillering (control), half at planting + half at panicle initiation, one-third at planting + two-third at tillering, one-third at planting + two-third at panicle initiation and one-third at planting + one-third at tillering +one-third at panicle initiation) was conducted in factorial RCBD on the Vertisols of Fogera plain during the 2006 and 2007 cropping seasons. The objective of the experiment was to identify the best time of N application for maximum rain-fed lowland rice yield in the Fogera plain. Results showed significant difference in grain yield in response to the time of N application. The highest mean grain yield (4409 kg ha-1) was recorded when N was applied one-third at planting and two-third at the tillering stage of the crop. Nitrogen fertilizer rates and the interaction with its time of application showed non-significant differences for all parameters. The agronomic Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) was found to be higher for one-third at planting and two-third at tillering nitrogen application compared to the other treatments. Hence, application of nitrogen one-third at planting and two-third at tillering stage of rice, irrespective of the fertilizer rate, is recommended for rice production in the Fogera plain.Keywords: split application, yield, NUE,

Radiological Features and Postoperative Histopathologic Diagnosis of Intracranial Masses at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and MCM Hospital

Background: Intracranial mass lesions are common causes of neurological morbidity and are detectable by cranial imaging. Given the wide range of pathological processes that can present as intracranial mass lesions, the radiologist can limit the differential diagnosis to inform clinical decision-making. The main objective of this review was to analyze radiologicfeatures and postoperative histopathology diagnosis of intracranial mass lesions.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 96 patients who underwent surgery for intracranial mass lesions at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) and Myungsung Christian Medical Center (MCM) in a period of 3 years (Feb 2009-Dec 2011). Patients werelimited to those who had histopathologic result and either CT (n=67), MRI (n=14) scan report or both (n=15).Results: Histopathologically confirmed intracranial masses constituted meningioma = 32 (39%), glioma =15 (18.3%), pituitary adenoma = 14 (17%), and tuberculoma = 6 (7.3%).The CT scan sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in differentiating meningiomas from other intracranial masses, taking the first differential as most likely diagnosis, was 80%, 95% and 88.6% whereas for gliomas it was 71%, 85.7% and 83% respectively. The higher rate of meningiomas found in this study may result from surgeons bias toward preference of resection of extra axial tumors or longer survival of meningioma patients.Conclusion: Meningiomas were the commonest histologically diagnosed intracranial mass lesions followed by glioma, but their prevalence may have been overestimated in this study because surgeons are more likely to resect them and confirm their diagnosis. Tuberculoma was the commonest non-tumor lesion. CT scan was more accurate, sensitive and specific in diagnosing benign than malignant masses

A Comprehensive Review on Water Quality Parameters Estimation Using Remote Sensing Techniques

Remotely sensed data can reinforce the abilities of water resources researchers and decision makers to monitor waterbodies more effectively. Remote sensing techniques have been widely used to measure the qualitative parameters of waterbodies (i.e., suspended sediments, colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), chlorophyll-a, and pollutants). A large number of different sensors on board various satellites and other platforms, such as airplanes, are currently used to measure the amount of radiation at different wavelengths reflected from the water’s surface. In this review paper, various properties (spectral, spatial and temporal, etc.) of the more commonly employed spaceborne and airborne sensors are tabulated to be used as a sensor selection guide. Furthermore, this paper investigates the commonly used approaches and sensors employed in evaluating and quantifying the eleven water quality parameters. The parameters include: chlorophyll-a (chl-a), colored dissolved organic matters (CDOM), Secchi disk depth (SDD), turbidity, total suspended sediments (TSS), water temperature (WT), total phosphorus (TP), sea surface salinity (SSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD)