Effect of Firewood Energy Consumption of Households on Status of Soil Fertility in Debis Watershed, Ambo District, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
Journal Title: STAR Journal - Year 2015, Vol 4, Issue 1
Abstract
The increasing population of Ethiopia has resulted in excessive forest clearing for agricultural purpose, overgrazing and exploitation of the existing forests for fuel. The Environmental impact of over dependence on forest resources for energy source was not studied in sufficient detail in Debis watershed. Thus study was initiated to investigate the status of firewood consumption and its impact on soil fertility status. In order to investigate the impact of firewood consumption on soil fertility status, soil samples were collected from different land use types (deforested, grazing and natural forest) lands from soil of the upper (0-20cm) depth and analyzed for soil quality parameters (pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, CEC, and exchangable bases). Data obtained were analyzed using PROC-GLM procedure of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute, 2004). The results obtained from laboratory study of soil analysis, showed that, soil taken from natural forest had higher value of soil quality parameters such as: soil pH, organic carbon, CEC, total nitrogen and available phosphorus and potassium contents. The results clearly demonstrated that the different land use types had significant effects on soil quality, suggesting that a land cover change from forest land to the other land use types aggravated soil degradation, thereby resulting in soil fertility decline. Therefore, there is a need to develop sustainable and environmental friendly energy sources and practicing afforestation and forest management programs to overcome the deterioration of soil fertility of the study area in particular and other similar agro-ecological environments in the country.
Authors and Affiliations
Abaynesh Kebede| College of Computational and Natural Sciences, Ambo university, P.O.Box 19, Ambo, Ethiopia, Achalu Chimdi| College of Computational and Natural Sciences, Wollega University, P.O Box: 395, Nekemte, Ethiopia, Akhila S. Nair| College of Computational and Natural Sciences, Wollega University, P.O Box: 395, Nekemte, Ethiopia
Synthesis and Characterization of BaBiO3 Perovskite through Chemical Route
BaBiO3 (perovskite) polycrystalline semiconducting material was synthesised by sol-gel chemical method. Structure of the sample was characterised by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Grain, Grain boundary topography and chemical...
Effects of Feeding Frequency Variation on the Growth and Survival of Clarias gariepinus Fingerlings
No Abstract
Degradation of Para-Phenylenediamine in Aqueous Solution by Photo-Fenton Oxidation Processes
In this research Photo-Fenton Oxidation of Para-Phenylenediamine (PPD) in aqueous solution by UV/Fenton’s reagent (Fe2+ and H2O2) was investigated. Experiments were conducted in a batch reactor, at pH 3.5 and at 25°...
Effects of Seed Proportion and Planting Pattern on Dry Matter Yield, Compatibility and Nutritive Value of Panicum coloratum and Stylosanthes guianensis Mixtures under Bako Condition, Western Oromia, Ethiopia
Panicum coloratum (PC) and Stylosanthes guianensis (SG) mixed pasture was established to assess the effect of seed proportion and planting pattern on Dry Matter Yield (DMY), compatibility and nutrient content of the mi...
Replacement of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets in Malarious Kebeles of Gida Ayana District, East Wollega Zone, Ethiopia
The main objective of the study was to determine the sustainability of owning and utilization of long lasting insecticide treated nets in malarious kebeles of Gida Ayana District. A communitybased cross-sectional study...