Preliminary Evaluation of the Risk of Accidental Spills of Hazardous Materials in Illinois Waterways

HWRIC Project 89/90-059NTIS PB91-20877

synthesis and characterization of nano alumina by gel combustion menthod

This paper reports the synthesis of nano sized alumina powders by the combustion method using urea and citric acid as fuels. The effect of the three factors, which are type of fuel- urea/citric acid, fuel to oxidizer ratio and PH of the starting solution, on the thermal decomposition characteristics of alumina precursor and the properties of nanocrystalline alumina synthesized using this gel combustion process. The technique involves the combustion of a urea/citrate-nitrate gel occurring between Al(NO3)3 and urea/citric acid to yield an ash powder that upon calcination at 1373 K produced nano alumina. The ignition was restricted to a particular range of urea/citrate to nitrate ratio in the gel. Once the powder is synthesized, the product was characterized by SEM. The resulting powder exhibited fine crystallite size. It was established from various characterization techniques that the alumina powder prepared with a stoichiometric urea to oxidizer ratio and PH of 10 and citric acid to oxidizer ratio of 1.5 and pH of 10 has got the optimum powder characteristics compared to the rest of the batches. This shows the importance of maintaining a stoichiornetric or near stoichiometric urea to oxidizer ratio and maintain above stoichiometric ratio of citric acid to oxidizer. Generally, the process has a higher degree of reproducibility and a good potential for large-scale production of alumina

Review on the Effects of Seed Priming on Performance of Maize Seedlings

Maize (Zea mays L.) is members of the grass family, Poaceae (Gramineae). It is believed that the crop was originated in Mexico. Maize is an important food crop in southeastern Ethiopian produced in a number of agro ecologies in region. The main objective of this senior seminar is to review the effect of seed priming on performance of maize seedling. The effect of Priming and ambient temperature due to different sowing dates on emergence of maize seedlings. Seed priming also called is osmo conditioning is one of the most promising treatments for reducing the time needed between sowing and seedling emergence. Seeds planted in early spring frequently experience low temperatures stress in soil during Germination and early plant growth. All part of the crop can be used for food and non-food products. In industrialized countries, maize is largely used as livestock feed and as a raw material for industrial products. .Different factors, such as soil moisture stress, temperature extremities, and soil salinity, poor seed bed preparation, weed competition, low seed quality, and extreme disease pressure adversely affect the emergence of maize seed. Seed priming could be used as a viable technology to improve seedling establishment. Rapid and uniform emergence has been achieved by seed priming in some field. Seed priming is an effective technology to enhance rapid and uniform emergence and to achieve high vigour, leading to better stand establishment and yield .There are several priming techniques, such as hydro priming osmo priming, halo priming, matrix priming and bio priming. Keywords: Seed physiological quality, Seed priming, Sowing date, Seedling emergence DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-14-05 Publication date:July 31st 202

Adoption and Impact of Coffee Production Technologies in the Case of Western Ethiopia

Although Jimma Agricultural Research Center has been disseminating and popularizing lots of coffee production technologies to the farmers, the level of adoption and its impact was not well known and till not output delivered in this regard. Having understood this gap, the study has been conducted in order to identify and know the level of adoption as well as prevailing impacts of these technologies in the livelihood of farmers in Western part of Ethiopia  (N=133)  purposively in three Districts based on  its potential of coffee production. Generally, study result shows that adoption level of coffee production technologies in three districts is in good progress. The mean yield components of each coffee variety identified and the source of coffee technologies assessed. Also types of coffee farms were detected such as garden coffee, semi-forest coffee and forest coffee from which farmers who have both garden and semi forest coffee took the largest proportion. Moreover, coffee agronomic management practices have been largely adopted in all districts. Climate change, adversely affecting coffee production and productivity in the study area. Adopting coffee production technologies have made a tremendous contribution in the saving, children access to formal school, and generally livelihood of majority of farmers. Coffee price over the last 10 years has been dynamic. Most of the farmers have been using both family and hired labor for coffee production. Women participation in coffee farming and production was not that much relatively from men and children.  Further extension effort need to be exerted in order to upgrade the adoption level of coffee production technologies. Besides, climate change mitigating strategies, drought and pest resistant coffee varieties have to be released. Keywords: Adoption, Impact, Coffee, Technology, climate change, Extension

Identification of Adaptable Improved Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Genotypes in North Western Ethiopia

The experiment was conducted at experimental sites of Adet Agricultural Research Center namely Finoteselam, Adet, Simada, Injibara and Debretabor in 2014 cropping season under rain fed condition in North Western Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, although there are recently released and better performing bread wheat varieties, Western Amhara Region farmers grow relatively older varieties. Therefore genotype by environment interaction study is the substantial way to evaluate the performance of genotypes across environments. The objectives of the experiment were to evaluate the extent of genotype by environment interaction in grain yield; to examine adaptability and yield stability, and to differentiate the yield advantage of improved bread wheat genotypes over the standard check and local genotypes at five environments. Twelve bread wheat genotypes were used as experimental treatments. The genotypes were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications per site. The AMMI and GGE biplot analysis of variance showed significant differences among genotypes across environments (P≤ 0.05). Even if G5, G9, G2, G4 and G11 showed higher mean grain yield than G7 (standard check) and G12 (local check), based on AMMI and GGE biplot analysis G9, G2, G4 and G11 were wide adapted genotypes across the test environments. Among these widely adapted genotypes G4 and G11 were relatively stable. In case of grain yield stability coefficient analysis G4 was highest performed genotype while G11 was higher static stable genotype all over the test environments. Therefore uses of different statistical analysis techniques are vital to overcome wrong conclusions of the studies. Promising genotypes like Gambo(G4), Ogolcho (G2) and Tsehay (G9) could be used as alternative varieties at test environments. Shorima (G11) in all environments except Finoteselam, and Tay (G7) in all environments except Simada could be recommended for production where as Kubsa(G12), Hidase(G1), Huluka(G3) and Gassay(G6) should not be used for production over the tested environments. However, it's better to repeat the experiment to know the effect of seasonal variation on yield stability of promising genotypes. Keywords: Adaptability, AMMI, GEI, GGE, Yield stabilit

Rice Production, Technologies Adoption and Its Determining Factors in Fogera-Plain of North West Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Fogera plain which is one of rice production hubs in South Gondar Zone in North West part of Ethiopia on rice production, adoption of technologies and its determinant factors for small holder rice producing farmers. A total sample size of respondents (n=74) were selected through random sampling method. Binary logistic regression model was applied to the specification of socio-economic, demographic and institutional factors determining to adoption of improved rice technologies. Both continuous and categorical variables were used based on their logical and statistical hypothesis in relation to adoption of rice technologies. Poor infrastructure, timely un-availability of technology, membership of the household to farm organizations such as cooperatives, access to farm credit and price of technologies were statistically and significantly identified as determinant factors for adoption of improved rice technologies. Age, family size, sex, education level, farming experience, access to extension and advisory services of the household head and size of cultivated land didn’t significantly affect adoption of technologies. Hence it is recommended that availability of improved technologies at appropriate time, infrastructural development to rice producing farmers and strengthening farmers’ organizations especially seed cooperatives as well as efficient access of farmers to credit and saving services in their proximate areas were paramount importance to enhance adoption of improved rice technologies. Keywords: Adoption, Fogera plain, improved variety, Oryza Sativa DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-7-06 Publication date: April 30th 202

THE EXPANSION AND IMPACT OF ISLAM IN WOLLO PROVINCE, ETHIOPIA

Wollo is a centrally located province in Ethiopia where Islam made early expansion. It is  a region where the two major religions of the country, Orthodox Christianity and Islam had their base. Many of the older Monasteries, as well as mosques of the country, are found in this province. It also served as a center for Islamic religious education for centuries. The expansion of Islam towards Wolo made the province has resulted in many forms of diversity. Such optimistic aspects of religious interactions are well studied. Thus, this paper examines the expansion of Islam in Wollo and its impact in transforming the socio-political atmosphere of the province. The expansion and Impact of Islam in Wollo Province, Ethiopi

Assessment of the impact of anthropogenic activities on water quality, biodiversity and livelihood in Lake Tana, Northwestern Ethiopia

Lake Tana is a biodiversity and natural reservoir for fresh water supply contributing significantly to the economy of Ethiopia and downstream recipient countries, namely: Sudan and Egypt. The Lake Tana Ecosystem provides a variety of goods and services such as: provisioning, regulating, amenity and supporting services. These services are affected by high human activities which threaten the water quality and biodiversity of the lake. Hence, this study aims to assess the impact of human activities on water quality, biodiversity and livelihood of Lake Tana and its shore sides.To assess the impact of anthropogenic activities of Lake Tana; physicochemical parameters, macroinvertebrates, macrophytes and livelihood of the Lake side communities were collected in the year 2014/2015 during dry and wet seasons for 11 sampling sites as indicated in Figure 1.1 and Table 1.1. The variations of physicochemical, metals and bacterial parameters were investigated. The overall water quality parameters (mean analytical results) of Lake Tana were found to be: Temp (Temperature)23.0OC, pH 7.5, EC (Electrical conductivity)180.1 μS/cm, BOD5 (Biological oxygen demand in 5 days)37.3 mg/l, COD (Chemical oxygen demand)316.5 mg/l, TSS 0.3 mg/l, TDS 93.1 mg/l, SO4 2- 11.0 mg/l, PO4 3- 42.4 mg/l, Cr (0.08 mg/l), (Mn (0.01 mg/l), E. Coli (13.4 Cell/ml), F. Coliform (82.5 Cell/ml), T. Coliform (113.0 Cell/ml), etc. These parameters did not show significant variation among the sites but were significantly different between wet and dry seasons (P<0.05). The highest concentration values were recorded during the wet season. However, most of the parameters under investigation were within the Ethiopian EPA (Environmental protection agency) permissible range except PO4 3-, S2-, E. Coli (Cell/ml), F. Coliform (Cell/ml) and T. Coliform (Cell/ml). Based on the analysis of the water quality index (WQI), Lake Tana water was unfit for drinking purpose and needs treatment. For theMacroinvertebrates analysis, a total number of 629 macroinvertebrate individuals are belonging to 9 orders and 38 families were found. In the study year impacted areas number of identified macroinvertebrates were 478 (76%); of this, 233 (37%) were in the wet season and 245 (39%) in the dry season and the total number of individuals identified in the reference area was 151 (24% of the total) in the wet season 61 (9.7%) and in the dry season 90 (14.3%) individuals. The diversity was more in the dry season. The dominant orders were Odonata (156 individuals), Coleoptera (153 individuals) and Hemiptera (141 individuals). The literature indicated that the presence of more Odonata, Coleptera and Hemipteran larvae is an indication of water quality deterioration due to pollution. From the collected samples, the total number of tolerant individuals was 303 (48.2%) and facultative individuals were 243 (38.7%) while intolerant individuals were 80 (12.7%). Most of the taxa (48.2%) had tolerance scores ranging from 7 to 10. The analysis of different forms of indices showed poor water quality. The water quality of Lake Tana was also determined by developing the LTMI (Lake Tana Metric Index). The index indicated the impairment levels of the study sites. Seven of the sites were in the category of poor (disturbed) and the other three were very poor (highly disturbed). The study on macrophytes recorded 43 species and 18 families during the two seasons (wet and dry), throughout the study year. 2687 individual macrophytes were collected; 1756 in the wet season and 931 in the dry season. Poaceae (15 species) with abundance mean 215.40 ± 421.7 was the most dominant family, followed by Cyperaceae (5 species) 35.40 ± 68.3. Sacciolepis africana was the dominant macrophyte species in Lake Tana. But in the study area Ambobahir, the dominant species was Cyperus papyrus while the Megech study area was invaded by the nuisance exotic weed Eichhornia crassipes. In the present study, the low macrophyte diversity values of Shannon Wiener index (2.90), Simpson Diversity Index (1-D) (0.90), Simpson Dominance Index (D) (0.10), Margalef’s index (M’) richness index (5.32) and Evenness Index (E) (0.77) throughout the study year indicate moderate water quality status while the presence of certain bio-indicator species like Eichhornia, Potamogeton and Cyperus in the lake also confirm pollution. Because of the effect of human activities on water quality and biodiversity, the livelihood of the riparian community is affected indirectly. Hence, to recommend mitigation and remediation actions, this study also focused on the assessment of the change of livelihoods of people living in the study area using qualitative research methods (key informant interview, focus group discussion (FGD), observations, published and unpublished materials and photographes). Lake Tana is a home to different flora and fauna including endemic species. The flora such as macrophytes and forest resources are used mainly for traditional medicine, fuel wood, rope, pole, habitat for birds, animal feed, etc. and the fauna includes fish, hippos, crocodiles, invertebrates, etc. Further, the Lake Tana area is a good habitat for indigenous cattle breeds (Fogera breed) and field crops gene center. The major resources around Lake Tana are land (the major source of livelihood), vegetation resources (macrophytes and forest resources), wildlife resources (fish, the other important source of livelihood) and cultural landscapes (churches and monasteries). Lake Tana is exposed to a set of interrelated environmental problems induced by human influence such as deforestation, erosion, sedimentation, water level reduction, erratic rainfall, flood, and competition for water resources, pollution and introduction of alien species. The causes to these problems were overgrazing, farmland expansion, cultivation of marginal lands (shorelines), encroachment of communal land, pollution and vegetation removal to meet demand for food and fuel wood. It is observed that alteration of Lake Tana and its fringe wetlands has affected the whole dynamics of the Lake’s ecosystem and the livelihood of the surrounding community. Ecosystem components are interlinked; hence correlation analysis was done between physicochemical parameters and macroinvertebrates of Lake Tana. Thus, correlations among many of the physicochemical parameters and macroinvertebrates families have been observed. To mention some of the correlations, the changes in the physical, chemical and biological characteristic of the lake affected the aquatic life forms and significantly affect economic activities that the lake supports. The RDA(Canonical redundency analysis) ordination of the species-environmental variable association indicated that pH, Cd, Pb and SO42- and Velidae, Chironomidae, Physidae, Gerridae, Corixidae, Dytiscidae, Caenidae, Coenogrionidae Simuliidae and Psephenidae were negatively correlated while Mussidae positively correlated with these environmental variables. This study concludes that the main threat to aquatic ecosystems in Lake Tana arises from agricultural activities, urbanization and industrialization that deteriorated water quality and biodiversity. Thus, it is recommended that proper management of Lake Tana should be put in place to prevent further deterioration of water quality and biodiversity of the lake for its sustainable development.Environmental SciencesPh. D. (Environmental Science