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In Ethiopia, large-scale agricultural investment (LAI) is promoted to foster adaptation to climate change among smallholder farmers by improving farming conditions and productivity. However, little has been known about this condition so far. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to study the implications of LAI for the capacity for climate change adaptation among smallholder farmers, based on a study conducted in Merti district in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. An asset-based approach was used to measure the adaptive capacity of smallholders, via data collected from a household survey, undertaken among smallholder households who had, or had not, benefited, from LAI, and supported by key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Descriptive and inferential statistics and qualitative thematic analysis methods were used to analyze the data. The study found that the adaptive capacity of smallholder households was improved under the influence of LAI. LAI motivated and prompted farmers to use technologies that fostered climate change adaption, including the use of irrigation, improved crop varieties, chemical fertilizer, and engagement in alternative sources of income, which improved their food security status. But this technology and knowledge transfer mainly occurred through observation (learning by doing), not by capacity-building. However, both group of smallholders (within and without contact with the LAI) received similar benefits through government rural extension services. Therefore, the paper concludes that scaling up these technologies and alternative income sources could enhance the adaptive capacity of smallholders, but that LAIs should contribute actual technical and financial support as part of benefit-sharing or corporate responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We have developed a soil quality index to assess the interplay of soil quality. • Soil quality indicators in forestlands and human-managed ecosystems were compared. • Soil quality index is one of the most important indicators of soil health. • Soil quality provides a threshold to prevent ecosystems degradation. Soil quality degrades when natural forests are converted to human-managed ecosystems. Limited empirical evidence of such soil quality changes has been observed in tropical sub-humid ecosystems. This study aimed to analyze the impact of land use change on soil quality dynamics in a tropical sub-humid ecosystem in western Ethiopia. To analyze some impacts, 80 composite soil samples (0–20 cm depth) and 45 undisturbed soil samples (0–7 cm depth) were collected from different land use patterns, including natural forests, grasslands, recently developed commercial lands, old commercial farmlands, and smallholder cultivated farmlands. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine the effect of different land uses on soil quality indicators. The soil quality index (SQI) was used to evaluate the impact of land use on selected soil quality indicators, using the weighted additive SQI method derived from Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Our results showed that certain soil quality indicators, such as soil organic matter, total nitrogen, bulk density, porosity, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable calcium, and magnesium, were significantly degraded when compared to forest soils as a benchmark (at significance levels of P < 0.05, 0.01, and 0.001). Our study concluded that soil organic matter content, pH, field capacity, exchangeable calcium and potassium, available phosphorus, and bulk density could be used as key SQI assessment attributes in tropical sub-humid ecosystems and similar environments. Sustainable land management practices are crucial in enhancing soil quality indicators across different land use systems in tropical sub-humid ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane cultivation has been practiced over decades in a semi-arid area of the Ethiopian Rift Valley. This study evaluated the effect of sugarcane cultivation on soil C and N storages. We measured the differences in soil C and N along chronosequence fields. We estimated soil C and N losses associated with land conversion and the rate of changes over time. Results indicated that the soil C accumulation was lower under sugarcane field but slowly approached to never tilled (NT) condition. Land conversion resulted in soil C initial losses predicted to 37 Mg C ha −1 or 58%, which recovered with a net change of 0.35 Mg C ha −1 yr −1 or 0.29% yr −1 . Under the current management practices, the loss in soil C is projected to require a century to reach the sugarcane pre-establishment levels. Land conversion induced soil total nitrogen (TN) initial losses estimated to be 113 kg N ha −1 . However, the predicted net change in soil TN as a function of time appeared to be insignificant. Sugarcane as a direct replacement of native vegetation triggered losses in soil C levels. Yet, sugarcane cultivation as land use option established on marginal lands can have a great potential for soil carbon sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor radiation is a concern for people living in buildings constructed from materials with high emission of radionuclides. In this study, radiation rate measurements of 39 rooms in nine buildings of three different age groups at three locations were made using Electronic Personal Dosimeter (EPD). The measurements included both interiors and exteriors of the rooms. Interior measurements were made in two perpendicular directions from two adjacent walls at distance interval of 0.5 m. The EPD measurement revealed a decrease in the magnitude of the radiation as the days of measurement progressed, and that necessitated the need of correction factors, which were evaluated using background radiation rates of each location separately. All measured radiation rates were then corrected using the respective correction factors. The results obtained are summarized as follows. Background radiation doses at HU campus and Harar and Dire Dawa towns, averaged over the measurement days is, 4.1, 2.8 and 2.4 mSv/y, respectively. These values reflect effective external doses of 0.82, 0.55 and 0.47 mSv/y, respectively, for the three locations. Dire Dawa old building differed from all the other buildings of the three locations and it exhibited the highest interior radiation of average dose of 0.027±0.011 mSv/y above the background radiation. There were no significant differences between the new and the intermediate buildings of the three locations. When averaged out, irrespective of building ages of each location, HU buildings showed average dose of 0.004±0.004 mSv/y, Harar, -0.008±0.006 mSv/y and Dire Dawa, 0.009±0.008 mSv/y. No difference in radiation rates were observed between the two directions but radiation rates slightly increased from walls to the centers of rooms up to a certain point. Radiation rates of the interior and exterior of each room did not show a significant difference. Though differences were observed among buildings of the three different ages, the differences were not uniform at the three locations. The doses from all the rooms were within the limit set by IAEA for indoor radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of models to identify soil erosion processes, estimate sediment accumulations into lakes, technically design best management practices, and monitor and evaluate different management scenarios in the Ethiopian highlands has been growing. However, proper model implementation will require verification of the model against known output parameters. This study investigated the performance and applicability of one such model, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Sequential Uncertainty Fitting-2 (SUFI-2), a SWAT-CUP2012 sub-module computer program, was applied to optimize the parameters of the SWAT using monthly observed sediment yield data at a monitoring site in Maybar experimental watershed, Ethiopia. Thirteen hydrological years were used for model calibration, validation and uncertainty analysis. Multi-objective function statistics: P-factor (23%, 12%), R-factor (0.63, 0.40), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency, NSE (0.55, 0.53), root mean square error-observations standard deviation ratio (RSR) (0.67, 0.69), coefficient of determination, R 2 (0.55, 0.52), and percent bias, PBIAS (− 14.6%, 0.8%) for calibration and validation, respectively were obtained. The model evaluation statistics suggested that SWAT extremely under-predicted peak sediment loads in both calibration and validation periods. However, according to model evaluation guidelines and performance ratings, modeled sediment yield can be rated as satisfactory. Although the accuracy of modeling of soil erosion processes using SWAT is likely affected by spatial variation of watershed characteristics, and scale of management, among other factors, Maybar calibrated SWAT model do suggest a broad guide: prediction of sediment yield at ungauged watershed with SWAT could be possible under comparable topography, land use, soil, management and climate condition for the purpose of soil erosion assessment, scenario analysis, and recommendation of best management practices to support watershed management initiatives in the Ethiopian highlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use/land cover changes in a lake drainage basin reflect changes in the magnitude of the water balance components and rate of sediment deposition in a lake as a reflection of the fundamental linkage between what happens in a lake considered against what is happening in the drainage basin of the lake. The objective of this study was to quantify the spatio-temporal land cover/land use changes across the Lake Hayq closed drainage basin in north-east Ethiopia over a 50-years period, using multitemporal remote sensing and geospatial data. Two historical occasions of aerial photographs (1957 and 1986) and one satellite image (2007) were examined with image analysis tools: Leica Photogrammetric Suite ( LPS 9.2) Project Manager, ArcGIS10.0, and ERDAS EMAGINE 9.2. Seven aerial coverage of land use/land cover categories were identified and mapped for the past three historical times. The results indicated that farmlands/settlements and shrublands/degraded lands increased by 43.1% and 136.9%, at an annual rate of 27.4 and 13.5 ha year−1, respectively, between 1957 and 2007. In contrast, bushlands, grasslands, forestlands and lake surface area were diminished by 68.8%, 62.7%, 90.5% and 7.6%, at a rate of 24.0, 7.6, 6.1 and 3.7 ha year−1, respectively, over the past five decades. The basin had undergone significant transformation in land use/land cover over the past half century, affecting the lake's biophysical stability by accelerating soil erosion in the basin, sediment accumulation, and a reduced quantity and quality of cumulative stream flow into the lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the spatial variation of topsoil properties as influenced by slope aspects and vegetation types. Three vegetation types and two slope aspects were considered. Disturbed and undisturbed samples were taken from the top soils. A two-way analysis of variance was used to test significant mean differences (α = 0.05). Results showed that contents of bulk density, total porosity, organic matter and exchangeable magnesium were significantly different with changes in slope aspect ( P < 0.05). Textural classes, organic matter, available phosphorus, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, cation-exchange capacity, per cent base saturation and exchangeable bases demonstrated significant variation among vegetation types ( P < 0.05). The south-facing aspect and the grass vegetation showed higher bulk density but lower organic matter and total porosity. As a remedy for the identified problems, there is a need to undertake plantation of indigenous trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Drought is a serious issue which might be caused by climate change that could create famine and health problems. Drought reduces air quality, increases fungal infestation, reduces people hand washing, affects mental health, leads to malnutrition by decreasing agricultural production, and increases diseases transmitted by insects. This study aimed to determine and describe community health status through building drought resilience in Ethiopia. METHODS: This review was conducted based on the available peer-reviewed articles that were published from January 2004 to December 2018 Online databases from PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE and Google Scholar were searched for studies related to the building drought and community health resilience at different regions of Ethiopia that were published in English language. The search was made by using "Emergency disaster", "prevention", "preparedness", "response", "recovery", "drought", "food insecurity", "coping strategies" and "drought health policy" as keywords. RESULTS: Most of the reviewed articles deal with the impact of climate change on the human health in relation to food security. The associated factors of the impact of drought on food security is basically due to lack of irrigation and farmland, the scarcity of water due to the direct effect of drought, flood, severe soil erosion, livestock dispossession, family size of the household and literacy of the households. Various coping strategies were employed by the households to alleviate the high and continued food insecurity problem such as reducing the number and amount of meal, scrounging cash and grain, searching for off-farm and non-farm jobs, getting food aid, vending of livestock, and partake in food for work programs. CONCLUSION: The findings explored components of the coping strategies to the building resilience create fruitful health conditions for the food insecure household. The effect of agricultural support services as reliance's on drought and community health situation was regarded as a positive outcome. Moreover, the means to get adequate food security strategies in all regions of Ethiopia should be designed. Furthermore, future researches are recommended for finding the best building strategies for each region of Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Famines and food shortages are one of the most common long time histories of Ethiopia. Hence, malnutrition has been persisted at alarming raters in the country. Moreover, it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Afar National Regional State of Ethiopia. Specifically, in Amibara and Awash Fentale districts. The anthropometric data were presented on height, weight, MUAC, weight/height/Age and Body Mass Index (BMI) of under-five children. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted from March 01, 2017 to June 15, 2018. The data was collected by using anthropometric measurement. A multi stage random sampling procedure was applied in order to recruit the required sample size. The data collections were conducted at two selected districts in Afar region by trained interviewers and health care providers. The data were analyzed by using SPSS Version 23. Bivariate analysis between dependent and independent variables was employed. Multivariate analysis was also done to control for possible confounding variable by selecting variable which show statistically significant association (P < 0.05). RESULTS: Out of 410 under five children's anthropometric finding, the majorities (62.7%) of those registered under five children were male and (33.3%) were female. The majority (46.8%) of under five children were less than or equal to 50 cm by their height. Most (54.1%) of under five children were less than or equal to 12.5 cm by their MUAC. It indicated that they were diagnosed with severe malnutrition based on anthropometric measurements. Meanwhile, majority (64%) of under five children were less than 60% their weight/age. Regression analysis result indicated that all of the variables were not significant predictors of BMI for under five children (P > 0.05). Based on ANOVA result, there was significant difference between sex and other predictors (P = 0.031). This finding implies that improvement in food aid and poverty alleviation programs are very important. Based on the finding, it is important to provide high quality and quantity of food. Moreover, less access to assets and health services commonly contributed for malnutrition. Highlighting under five children's malnutrition will help to develop and design future policies and programs in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation of scientific information for improved understating of the physical dynamics of a lake is fundamental for guiding lake stakeholders and managers at the local level to implement best management practices and help design effective management strategies and policies at higher levels. Multitemporal bathymetric information on lakes is very important in hydrology and sediment studies to more clearly indicate environmental changes and to understand the effects of land processes on the hydrology of lakes. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to map bathymetric charts of Lake Hayq in Ethiopia and to derive morphometric parameters, including depth, volume, area, width and length, and to plot curves illustrating the relationships between these parameters. The bathymetric survey was carried out using a combination of a SonarLite Portable Echo Sounder and Global Positioning System ( GPS) to generate three-dimensional ( XYZ) hydrographic data. Surfer 8.01 and Arc GIS 9.3 software program were used for surface, gridding and morphometric analyses. Comparison of the results of this study with a previous study conducted in 1941 indicated the lake has experienced changes in depth and surface area. To reduce the negative impacts of human-induced activities on the ecohydrology of the lake, and to maintain its ecological integrity, appropriate and integrated lake management practices must be adopted. This will necessitate policy formulation, active lake basin stakeholder involvement and implementation of basin-wide lake management to ensure sustainable use of the lake and its basin resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]