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Potential of Agroforestry in Sustainable Fuelwood Supply in Kenya
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 1, March 2022
Pages:
1-6
Received:
31 December 2021
Accepted:
19 January 2022
Published:
25 January 2022
Abstract: Sub Saharan African (SSA) region rely heavily on fuelwood for their energy needs and will potentially increase in the foreseeable future due to increased population growth in the region. The continued utilization of fuelwood in the region subject to inefficient technology of energy conversion is projected to put more increasing pressure on forest cover and resources. The decline in forest resources is a precursor to exploration of other resources that may provide energy to human, in which agroforestry comes in mind. Therefore, the aim of this discussion paper was to review the status of fuelwood consumption patterns in Kenya, while highlighting the status and sustainability of fuelwood sector in the country. One of the approaches to deal with fuelwood problem is to enhance adoption of agroforestry, with an aim of reducing the harvest of wood and non-wood products in forests through sustainable planting of trees in the farms. However, the main constraints identified in adopting agroforestry for sustainable forest management were: Lack of suitable laws, legislation and policy framework, unavailability of planting material, inadequacy of research and extension services, long gestation time, access to credit, and finally land tenure and security. In order to expand the adoption of agroforestry for sustainable forest resource use, there is a need for logical approach aimed in promoting a multi-purpose agroforestry system under local farming systems where there is still large land capable of sustaining the practice.
Abstract: Sub Saharan African (SSA) region rely heavily on fuelwood for their energy needs and will potentially increase in the foreseeable future due to increased population growth in the region. The continued utilization of fuelwood in the region subject to inefficient technology of energy conversion is projected to put more increasing pressure on forest c...
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Renewable Energy and Its Implications in the African Context
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 1, March 2022
Pages:
7-17
Received:
25 January 2022
Accepted:
10 February 2022
Published:
16 February 2022
Abstract: The environmental implications of energy systems in developing countries have significant impacts on the daily and long-term life quality of the population. These implications include mitigating impacts of climate change, deforestation, improving food security and the multidimensional energy security concerns. Increasing accessibility of reliable and cost-effective renewable energy streams, creating sustainable and profitable businesses that improve living standards and create economic opportunities, which co-create social and environmental values are necessary and essential markers for transitions towards a flourishing society. Energy is essential to sustain modern life. Here, security implies the economic, social, and environmental impacts of energy on the wellbeing of a society. The energy regime that a country chooses has wider implications on its national security strategy and foreign relations. It affects the economic and technological pathways it takes and impinges on overall developments, which include industry, education, environment, and the way of life. Selecting the optimal innovation strategy that includes appropriate renewable energy technologies which meet the needs and harness the available energy resources is one of the primary variables that impact the performance renewable energy projects. Cost, reliability, maintenance, and cultural orientation need to be considered for innovation & technology selection. In the African context, our research indicates addressing the environmental implications of energy systems necessitates whole system wide change that is underpinned by transitions from utilizing conventional energy sources to renewable energy streams. Furthermore, it requires re-configuration of research & development to applied research, re-constitution & focus on incubating enterprises & entrepreneurs, re-configuration of education from abstract education to education that enables solutions development to address local challenges, development in the energy & other sectors to address climate change, health impacts, job creation, energy & food security in concert with developing synergistic and symbiotic shared vision and paradigm shift towards a flourishing future. Our research findings inform us that the meaning and application of energy affordability has a significant difference from what is in the current literature. Energy affordability is defined as the financial capability of a household to pay for basic energy services. In other words, it could be expressed as the monthly energy expenditure of a household divided by its monthly income. Expenditure substitution, digital/electronic payments for energy services, which are configured as “pay-as-you-go” have changed the affordability landscape. While affordability is an important factor, its meaning and application is more nuanced from what is reported in extant literatures.
Abstract: The environmental implications of energy systems in developing countries have significant impacts on the daily and long-term life quality of the population. These implications include mitigating impacts of climate change, deforestation, improving food security and the multidimensional energy security concerns. Increasing accessibility of reliable a...
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Impacts of Soil and Water Conservation Measures on Selected Soil Quality Attributes at Jima Bako Area, Western Ethiopia
Getu Emiru Gonde,
Getahun Kitila
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 1, March 2022
Pages:
18-25
Received:
21 January 2022
Accepted:
15 February 2022
Published:
25 February 2022
Abstract: The problem of soil erosion is one of the major environmental problems contributing to food insecurity. It needs to attention to carried out conservation measures to reduce the problem of soil erosion and to improve the food insecurity. However, the impact of soil and water conservation measures on soil quality attributes has not been well investigated in the Bako Tibe district, Western Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the impact of soil and water conservation measures on selected soil quality attributes in the study area. Soil samples were taken from cultivated land (teff and maize) and grazing land from conserved and unconserved sites at the depth of 0-20 cm from top and bottom slope positions. Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS version 9.2 following GLM procedure. The results of the study revealed that soil quality attributes, such as soil bulk density, porosity and soil pH were affected by soil and water conservation practices and slope gradients and results were statistically significant (p < 0.05). With the exception of soil pH, all studied chemical attributes such as Soil Organic Matter, Total Nitrogen, Available Phosphorus, Exchangeable Bases such as K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ and CEC of the soil under the conserved and un conserved sites were not affected by SWC practices and slope positions.
Abstract: The problem of soil erosion is one of the major environmental problems contributing to food insecurity. It needs to attention to carried out conservation measures to reduce the problem of soil erosion and to improve the food insecurity. However, the impact of soil and water conservation measures on soil quality attributes has not been well investig...
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Evaluation of Pigeon Pea Varieties and Cultivars for Soil Nutrient Addition and Fertility Level in Case of Fadis District of Eastern Hararghe Zone
Robe Elema,
Sisay Negash,
Alamu Tolosa,
Musa Abdella
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 1, March 2022
Pages:
26-31
Received:
14 February 2022
Accepted:
21 March 2022
Published:
31 March 2022
Abstract: The study was conducted at Fadis research station of Fadis district in the eastern hararghe zone during 2019, 2020 and 2021. Pigeon pea is a deep-rooted and drought tolerant grain legume that adds substantial amount of organic matter to the soil and has the ability to fix up to 235 kg N/ha and produces more N per unit area from plant biomass than many other legumes. Seven pigeon pea cultivars and four variety were used as treatment materials. The objective of study was to quantify amount of soil nutrient (N) obtained/fixed because of the pigeon pea cultivars or varieties. Treatments of the experiments were pigeon pea cultivars and variety, ELR16555, ILRI16526, ELR16524, ILRI 11575, Tsegas variety, Local, Danda’a variety, ELR 11566, Belabas, ELR 16537 and ELR 11563 respectively. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications of each. Data like Plant height, Total biomass, canopy area, soil sample before and after were collected and analyzed using SAS version 9.1 (SAS, 2002). Different Pigeon pea cultivars shows highly significant difference among the treatment in terms of plant height at 5% significance level. Different Pigeon pea cultivars and variety shows highly significant difference among the treatment in terms of plant height at 5% significance level (table 2). The highest plant height (331.5cm) was recorded from Belabas variety followed by Tsegas (308.6 cm) and Danda’a variety (294.4cm). On the other hand, ELRI 16555 cultivars shows the shortest plant height (213.0cm) followed by local check (221.7cm). The highest biomass (125000 kg/ha) was recorded from Tsegas variety and the lowest biomass (45000 kg/ha) was recorded from ELRI 16537 cultivars. The highest %OC, %TN and available phosphorus and CEC were recorded from the soil under the Tsegas pigeon pea variety followed by Belabas pigeon pea variety. On the contrary the lowest were recorded from ELR11575 and local check. Generally, from the result it is possible to conclude that the highest biomass yield and almost all of the highest desired soil parameters were recorded by Tsegas variety and it is possible to recommend for the farmers of Fadis District and similar agro- ecologies.
Abstract: The study was conducted at Fadis research station of Fadis district in the eastern hararghe zone during 2019, 2020 and 2021. Pigeon pea is a deep-rooted and drought tolerant grain legume that adds substantial amount of organic matter to the soil and has the ability to fix up to 235 kg N/ha and produces more N per unit area from plant biomass than m...
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