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Evaluation and Selection of Physical Soil and Water Conservation Techniques for Early Mature Sorghum Root Zone Moisture Retention at Harari, Erer Research Station
Robe Elema,
Hussein Abiro,
Sisay Negash
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 3, June 2021
Pages:
29-35
Received:
5 February 2021
Accepted:
21 May 2021
Published:
27 May 2021
Abstract: The experiment was conducted at Babille district, during 2018 and 2019 main cropping season at Erer Research Station. Erer research sub site is located latitude of 09° 10' 41.5" north and longitude of 042° 15' 27.3". The objectives of the experiments were to evaluate and select best methods of root zone moisture retention and soil conservation techniques suited for early mature sorghum. The treatments of experiments were, Control (no soil and water conservation measures), open ended tied ridge, level soil bund, contour furrow, closed ended tied ridge, Broad bed, Semi-circular and mulch respectively. The design of the experiment was RCBD with three replication. Genstats 18th editions was used for data Analysis. Statistically there is highly significant variation among the treatments in terms of all parameters at 5% significance level across three planting years. First year, the highest plant height was obtained from the treatment with Broad bed followed by closed ended tied ridge. On other hand, the lowest plant height was recorded from the treatments with soil bund followed by control (no conservation structure). This is because of no more top fertile soil disturbance during first year. During the second and third planting year, the highest, plant height (132.86cm) and the longest panicle diameter (6.5) was recorded, from the treatments with open ended tied ridge, followed by soil bund and contour furrow respectively. That was because of soil and water conservation (swc) structures design and extra moisture harvested in those structure than rest treatments. During the first year of the experiment, the highest grain yield was obtained from the mulch followed by open ended tied ridge treatments. This is because of no and slight top soil disturbance during the construction stage. But, the third year, the maximum grain yield was recorded from contour furrow followed by open ended tied ridge (2130.9 and 2000kg ha-1) respectively. The lowest yield was obtained from no conservation measures followed by mulching (1125 and 1232.1 kg ha-1). The most probable reason for this variation can be due to the amount of the moisture harvested in the root zone of sorghum because of conservation structure. So contour furrow and open ended tied ridges are suitable swc measures for the area.
Abstract: The experiment was conducted at Babille district, during 2018 and 2019 main cropping season at Erer Research Station. Erer research sub site is located latitude of 09° 10' 41.5" north and longitude of 042° 15' 27.3". The objectives of the experiments were to evaluate and select best methods of root zone moisture retention and soil conservation tech...
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Modeling the Impact of Fertilizers on Groundwater Quality in Hormat-Golina Sub-basin, Golina-Basin, Ethiopia
Mengesha Tesfaw,
Tewodros Assefa Nigussie
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 3, June 2021
Pages:
36-42
Received:
3 March 2021
Accepted:
11 May 2021
Published:
3 June 2021
Abstract: Groundwater, in many parts of the world, is under risk as a result of excessive withdrawal, mismanagement and contamination. A number of studies have been carried out in this respect, but most of them have not predicted groundwater quality concerning anthropogenic stress. As opposed to this, in this study, groundwater fluctuation with respect to human pressure was investigated in Hormat-Golina Sub-basin of the Golina-Basin of Ethiopia. Visual MODFLOW Flex 5.1 model was used to simulate groundwater flow in response to different stress periods in the study area. The study showed that the initial concentration values were measured in each nutrient chemical species. The impacts of climate change and human pressure on groundwater have been the greatest threats in those supply wells. Decreased in pumping rate with increased recharge rate has accomplished to restore and protect the groundwater resources which is the best option for groundwater restoration and monitoring. Anthropogenic pressures including the application of fertilizers were a considerable cause of degraded groundwater quality in relation to Nitrate and Phosphate concentration with series of time. The groundwater quality has deteriorating with the applied Urea and DAP fertilizes in the selected wells of Hormat-Golina Sub-basin. Farmers have encouraged using practices that minimize the risk of groundwater pollution by carefully controlling and timing of the use of fertilizers to avoid over application.
Abstract: Groundwater, in many parts of the world, is under risk as a result of excessive withdrawal, mismanagement and contamination. A number of studies have been carried out in this respect, but most of them have not predicted groundwater quality concerning anthropogenic stress. As opposed to this, in this study, groundwater fluctuation with respect to hu...
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The Implications of Area Morphology and Particulate Matters’ Distributions on the Kwa Iboe River Basin Restoration, Southeastern Nigeria
Ikpong Sunday Umo,
Angela Iweka Enwereuzor
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 3, June 2021
Pages:
43-50
Received:
24 May 2021
Accepted:
7 June 2021
Published:
22 June 2021
Abstract: The upsurge pressure from natural and anthropogenic agents at the Kwa Iboe River ecology necessitates the exploration of the association of area morphology and particulate matters’ distributions with a view to developing sound policy for the protection and sustainability of its heritage. This study uses direct field survey and laboratory techniques. The area morphology of the Kwa Iboe River Basin (KIRB) was delineated using Shuttle Radar Topography Mission on a 30 meter resolution for the determination its size. Using stratified and systematic sampling methods, eight sampled sub-units comprising one first-order stream, six fourth order tributaries, and the estuary were selected. A set of core bedload samples were collected along each transect during the months of November (2017), February (2018), and July (2018); homogenized, treated, and analyzed to ensure standard compliance to the National Research Laboratory Umudike. Data generated were analyzed descriptively and inferentially. The results showed the dominant of mean sand fraction across seasons and sub-basins. A linear regression model of the influence of area morphology on the distributions of particulate matters generated a high coefficient of 0.954 that explained 90.9 percent of the total variance. The analysis of variance test of the influence at 0.05 confidence level showed that variations in area morphology have no significant influence on particulate matters’ (sand, silt, clay, organic matter, and organic carbon) distributions in KIRB. The study recommended (i) strict implementation of the basin management plans to avert natural and anthropogenic activities that accelerate siltation and drying of Kwa Iboe River tributaries, losses of terrestrial habitats, and pollution of surface water. (ii) Enforcement of existing laws to facilitate stringent control of human exploitative excesses with obvious negative implications on the KIRB ecology in this post-modern age.
Abstract: The upsurge pressure from natural and anthropogenic agents at the Kwa Iboe River ecology necessitates the exploration of the association of area morphology and particulate matters’ distributions with a view to developing sound policy for the protection and sustainability of its heritage. This study uses direct field survey and laboratory techniques...
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Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Primary Production in the Mozambique Channel
Avelino Ângelo Adolfo Langa
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 3, June 2021
Pages:
51-57
Received:
12 May 2021
Accepted:
16 June 2021
Published:
26 June 2021
Abstract: The surface circulation in the Mozambique Channel changes from the northern part, where the system is under dominance of the monsoons, to the central and southern parts, where mesoscale eddies are more frequent. Despite these differences in the physics between the three regions, satellite-based primary production shows that the whole region is characterized by similar seasonal variability of primary production, in which winter is the most productive season. A coupled physical-biogeochemical model configuration applied for the Mozambique Channel is used to investigate how wind stress and heat fluxes modulate seasonally and spatially the distribution of new and primary production in the region. Higher new production integrated over the euphotic layer depth in winter accounts for about 50% of the total primary production in the Mozambique Channel, indicating the seasonality of primary production is driven by new nutrients upwelled from bellow the euphotic zone. During the other seasons of the year the depth-integrated primary production is low, which is the period when the system depends on remineralization of the organic matter to sustain phytoplankton growth at the subsurface. Stronger wind stress is the dominant surface forcing in the northern part of the Mozambique Channel, which is responsible for vertical advection and entrainment of nitrate from below the euphotic zone that sustain the primary production during winter, while intense negative net heat flux is the dominant forcing in the central/southern parts. However, it is important to note that mesoscale eddies also enhance primary productivity in the region with a focus on the winter period.
Abstract: The surface circulation in the Mozambique Channel changes from the northern part, where the system is under dominance of the monsoons, to the central and southern parts, where mesoscale eddies are more frequent. Despite these differences in the physics between the three regions, satellite-based primary production shows that the whole region is char...
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