Browsing by Author "Solomon, N."

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Effect of the composting process on physicochemical properties and concentration of heavy metals in market waste with additive materials in the Ga West Municipality, Ghana
(International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture, 2019-05-16) Tibu, C.; Annang, T.Y.; Solomon, N.; Yirenya‑Tawiah, D.
Purpose The main objective of this study was to assess the physiochemical properties and phytotoxicity of compost made from different organic waste materials sourced from local markets. Methods The Stack pile composting was carried out with market waste, sawdust, rice straw, and swine manure in four different combinations. Parameters such as temperature, pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and heavy metal concentrations were monitored. Germination test with water extracts of the composts was done to assess phytotoxicity of the composts. Results All compost piles recorded temperatures of 38 °C slightly above the recorded ambient temperature of 34 °C at the start of composting. The pH value ranged from 7.12 to 8.2 for the different compost types. The total organic carbon and total nitrogen values ranged from 27.05–31.06 to 0.77–0.97%, respectively. The total phosphorus and total potassium values ranged from 0.2–1.87 to 0.39–2.3%, respectively, for different compost types. The C/N ratio values ranged from 29.09:1 to 36.22:1. All the composts had heavy metal concentrations below the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment standards. Germination indices, a measure of plant vs supporting potential, ranged from 80 to 99% for Solanum lycopersicum, 170 to 198% for Cucumis sativus, and 114 to 166% for Brassica oleracea. Conclusion The study confirms the notion that composting municipal solid waste is a viable organic waste management strategy, and with the potential to enhance waste management system, while promoting cultivation of vegetables for food security.
The effects of land cover change on carbon stock dynamics in a dry Afromontane forest in northern Ethiopia
(Carbon Balance and Management, 2018-12) Solomon, N.; Pabi, O.; Annang, T.; Asante, I.K.; Birhane, E.
Background: Forests play an important role in mitigating global climate change by capturing and sequestering atmospheric carbon. Quantitative estimation of the temporal and spatial pattern of carbon storage in forest ecosystems is critical for formulating forest management policies to combat climate change. This study explored the effects of land cover change on carbon stock dynamics in the Wujig Mahgo Waren forest, a dry Afromontane forest that covers an area of 17,000 ha in northern Ethiopia. Results: The total carbon stocks of the Wujig Mahgo Waren forest ecosystems estimated using a multi-disciplinary approach that combined remote sensing with a ground survey were 1951, 1999, and 1955 GgC in 1985, 2000 and 2016 years respectively. The mean carbon stocks in the dense forests, open forests, grasslands, cultivated lands and bare lands were estimated at 181.78 ± 27.06, 104.83 ± 12.35, 108.77 ± 6.77, 76.54 ± 7.84 and 83.11 ± 8.53 MgC ha-1 respectively. The aboveground vegetation parameters (tree density, DBH and height) explain 59% of the variance in soil organic carbon. Conclusions: The obtained estimates of mean carbon stocks in ecosystems representing the major land cover types are of importance in the development of forest management plan aimed at enhancing mitigation potential of dry Afromontane forests in northern Ethiopia.
Environmental impacts and causes of conflict in the Horn of Africa: A review
(Earth-Science Reviews, 2018-02) Solomon, N.; Birhane, E.; Gordon, C.; Haile, M.; Taheri, F.; Azadi, H.; Scheffran, J.
The Horn of Africa region stands out amongst the planet's territories that are most volatile and vulnerable to armed violence. Conflicts have greatly affected the region over the past 50 years. The conflicts have disrupted the lives of people as well as the environment in ways that are not fully understood. Although armed conflict has generally had a negative impact on the environment, the environmental impact of conflict within the Horn of Africa has barely been evaluated. Similarly, our understanding that climate variability as well as change could have played a role in increasing or decreasing the impacts of conflicts within the Horn of Africa is insufficient. Therefore, this paper looks at the environmental impacts of conflict in the Horn of Africa since 1970 and also the role of climate variability in increasing or decreasing the impacts of conflict. Scientific publications as well as grey literature were reviewed with the aim to understand the status of past and present conflicts in the Horn of Africa, environmental impacts of conflict and the role of climate variability in decreasing or increasing impacts of conflict. The review demonstrates that conflict has extensive negative impacts on the environment in the Horn of Africa with main causes like grievances, government behaviour and interests, resource scarcity and transborder conflict as well as internal migration and climate variability. Similarly, climate variability plays a great role in exacerbating the impacts of conflict in the region. However, further research is needed to clearly show the impact of conflict and climate variability on the environment in the Horn of Africa.
Forest Cover Change, Key Drivers and Community Perception in Wujig Mahgo Waren Forest of Northern Ethiopia
(Land, 2018-03) Solomon, N.; Hishe, H.; Annang, T.; Pabi, O.; Asante, I.K.; Birhane, E.
This study assessed forest cover change from 1985 to 2016, analyzed community perception on forest cover change and its drivers, and suggested possible solutions in northern Ethiopia. Landsat images of 1985, 2000 and 2016, household interviews and focus group discussions were used. While dense forests and open forests increased by 8.2% and 32.3% respectively between 1985 and 2000, they decreased by 10.4% and 9.8% respectively from 2000 to 2016. Grasslands and cultivated land decreased in the first period by 37.3% and 5.5% but increased in the second period by 89.5% and 28.5% respectively. Fuel wood collection, cultivated land expansion, population growth; free grazing, logging for income generation and drought were the major drivers of the change reported by local communities. Soil erosion, reduction in honey bee production, flooding and drought were the most perceived impacts of the changes. Most of the farmers have a holistic understanding of forest cover change. Strengthening of forest protection, improving soil and water conservation, enrichment planting, awareness creation, payment for ecosystem services and zero grazing campaigns were mentioned as possible solutions to the current state of deforestation. In addition, concerted efforts of conservation will ensure that the forests' ecosystems contribute to increased ecosystem services.
Topographic variables to determine the diversity of woody species in the exclosure of Northern Ethiopia
(Heliyon, 2019-12-31) Solomon, N.; Woldu, G.; Hishe, H.; Gebrewahid, H.; Gebremedhin, M.A.; Birhane, E.
Exclosures are established with the objective of rehabilitating degraded lands and restoring of woody vegetation. Various studies have been conducted to evaluate the success of exclosure on restoring woody species diversity. However, works focusing on the effect of topographic factors on woody species diversity are scarce. Understanding the factors that determine woody species diversity is important for management purposes. Therefore, this paper analyzes the effect of altitude, slope, and aspect as topographic variables on woody species diversity in Dawsura exclosure in northern Ethiopia. Data on species identity, abundance, slope, elevation and aspect were recorded from 58 sampling plots. Different diversity indices were used to analyze the data and one-way ANOVA and linear regression was conducted. There were a total of 34 woody species represented 15 families, of which 62% and 38% were trees and shrubs respectively. Altitude (r2 ¼ 0.63, p ¼ 0.000 and r ¼ 0.794, p < 0.01) and slope (r2 ¼ 0.57, p ¼ 0.002 and r ¼ 0.68, p < 0.01) correlated significantly and positively with Shannon diversity, whereas aspect (r2 ¼ 0.12, p ¼ 0.378 and r ¼ 0.27, p > 0.05) did not correlate significantly with Shannon diversity. Woody species diversity at moderate (1.44) and high (1.85) altitudes was significantly different from that of low (0.86) altitude areas (p ¼ 0.0013). Furthermore, significantly higher woody species diversity was recorded at steep slope (1.88) and moderately steep slope (1.62) areas as compared to the gentle slope (0.95) areas. No significant variation was observed in woody species diversity among the aspect categories (p > 0.05). The study concludes that woody species diversity is largely regulated by slope and altitude than aspect in the exclosure. We suggest other environmental and anthropogenic variables should be taken into consideration in future studies on woody species diversity