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The Effects of ENSO Phenomenon on Rainfall and Crop Yield in Arsi Zone, Ethiopia

Published in Hydrology (Volume 13, Issue 2)
Received: 14 January 2025     Accepted: 21 April 2025     Published: 22 May 2025
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Abstract

The primary coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon responsible for regional and global climate variability over an interannual time period is the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Evaluating the effects of El Niño and La Niña phenomena on rainfall and crop yield production over the Arsi zone is the primary goal. The issues facing decision-makers simply assign grades to individuals and communities without considering the effects of ENSO occurrences on crop yield and the various ways that seasonal rainfall is used in agriculture. The knowledge is restricted on El Niño and La Niña phenomena and their impact on crop production during the Belg and Kiremt seasons in the Arsi zone. The Central Statistical Service (CSS) provided agricultural data from 1995 to 2020, while https://data.chc.ucsb.edu/products/CHIRPS-2.0 provided satellite rainfall data from 1981 to 2021. Crop yields over the study period and the correlations between crop, ENSO phase, and rainfall data were established. When we examined the relationship between agricultural yields and rainfall during ENSO events, the crops showed that they produced more during neutral, El Niño, and La Niña events relative to rainfall amounts and the distribution showed a decline during El Niño compared to neutral and La Niña events. Meher and Belg crop yields were more affected by strong ENSO episodes. Over the Arsi zone, the ENSO phases affect the distribution of seasonal rainfall and agriculture productivity. In the end, this research can provide important insights for developing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies to lessen the effects of climate change.

Published in Hydrology (Volume 13, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.13
Page(s) 114-125
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Belg, Kiremt, Effect, Rainfall, ENSO, Crop Yield

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Tullu, G. M., Habtegebreal, A. K. (2025). The Effects of ENSO Phenomenon on Rainfall and Crop Yield in Arsi Zone, Ethiopia. Hydrology, 13(2), 114-125. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.13

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    ACS Style

    Tullu, G. M.; Habtegebreal, A. K. The Effects of ENSO Phenomenon on Rainfall and Crop Yield in Arsi Zone, Ethiopia. Hydrology. 2025, 13(2), 114-125. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.13

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    AMA Style

    Tullu GM, Habtegebreal AK. The Effects of ENSO Phenomenon on Rainfall and Crop Yield in Arsi Zone, Ethiopia. Hydrology. 2025;13(2):114-125. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.13,
      author = {Gezahegn Mergia Tullu and Abebe Kebede Habtegebreal},
      title = {The Effects of ENSO Phenomenon on Rainfall and Crop Yield in Arsi Zone, Ethiopia
    },
      journal = {Hydrology},
      volume = {13},
      number = {2},
      pages = {114-125},
      doi = {10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hyd.20251302.13},
      abstract = {The primary coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon responsible for regional and global climate variability over an interannual time period is the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Evaluating the effects of El Niño and La Niña phenomena on rainfall and crop yield production over the Arsi zone is the primary goal. The issues facing decision-makers simply assign grades to individuals and communities without considering the effects of ENSO occurrences on crop yield and the various ways that seasonal rainfall is used in agriculture. The knowledge is restricted on El Niño and La Niña phenomena and their impact on crop production during the Belg and Kiremt seasons in the Arsi zone. The Central Statistical Service (CSS) provided agricultural data from 1995 to 2020, while https://data.chc.ucsb.edu/products/CHIRPS-2.0 provided satellite rainfall data from 1981 to 2021. Crop yields over the study period and the correlations between crop, ENSO phase, and rainfall data were established. When we examined the relationship between agricultural yields and rainfall during ENSO events, the crops showed that they produced more during neutral, El Niño, and La Niña events relative to rainfall amounts and the distribution showed a decline during El Niño compared to neutral and La Niña events. Meher and Belg crop yields were more affected by strong ENSO episodes. Over the Arsi zone, the ENSO phases affect the distribution of seasonal rainfall and agriculture productivity. In the end, this research can provide important insights for developing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies to lessen the effects of climate change.
    },
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Effects of ENSO Phenomenon on Rainfall and Crop Yield in Arsi Zone, Ethiopia
    
    AU  - Gezahegn Mergia Tullu
    AU  - Abebe Kebede Habtegebreal
    Y1  - 2025/05/22
    PY  - 2025
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.13
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    JF  - Hydrology
    JO  - Hydrology
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    EP  - 125
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20251302.13
    AB  - The primary coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon responsible for regional and global climate variability over an interannual time period is the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Evaluating the effects of El Niño and La Niña phenomena on rainfall and crop yield production over the Arsi zone is the primary goal. The issues facing decision-makers simply assign grades to individuals and communities without considering the effects of ENSO occurrences on crop yield and the various ways that seasonal rainfall is used in agriculture. The knowledge is restricted on El Niño and La Niña phenomena and their impact on crop production during the Belg and Kiremt seasons in the Arsi zone. The Central Statistical Service (CSS) provided agricultural data from 1995 to 2020, while https://data.chc.ucsb.edu/products/CHIRPS-2.0 provided satellite rainfall data from 1981 to 2021. Crop yields over the study period and the correlations between crop, ENSO phase, and rainfall data were established. When we examined the relationship between agricultural yields and rainfall during ENSO events, the crops showed that they produced more during neutral, El Niño, and La Niña events relative to rainfall amounts and the distribution showed a decline during El Niño compared to neutral and La Niña events. Meher and Belg crop yields were more affected by strong ENSO episodes. Over the Arsi zone, the ENSO phases affect the distribution of seasonal rainfall and agriculture productivity. In the end, this research can provide important insights for developing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies to lessen the effects of climate change.
    
    VL  - 13
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Ethiopian Meteorology Institute, Eastern and Central Oromiya Meteorological Service Centre, Adama, Ethiopia

  • Water Technology Institute, Faculty of Meteorology and Hydrology, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia

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