Authors:Gemeda Terfassa Fida Abstract: Homegarden (HG) in southwestern Ethiopia is a well-known practice that plays an important role not only in socioeconomic aspects, but also in biodiversity conservation. However, increased human population in line with the scarcity of land for food production and expansion of cash crops in the area have put pressure on the component diversity of which horticultural crops are the major. The aim of this study was to examine the trends of horticultural crop production based on local's point of view and measures of plant diversity by using multistage sampling from a total of 133 households and 15 key informants using a semi-structured questionnaire with 9 FGD discussions. Descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, and diversity index measures were used for data analysis and interpretation. Results showed that socioeconomic variables had a significant impact on farmers' perceptions of horticultural crop production trends (explaining 58% of the variance). Most of the respondents agreed that the little progress towards horticultural production was related to market efficiency. The study also revealed a total of 79 plant species, grouped in the order of herbs (42%), trees (28%), shrubs (24%), and vines (6%). The diversity index indicated that the plant species present in HG of the study area had moderately high diversity and species richness. Keywords: Homegarden Agroforestry, production trends, Biosphere Reserve, Biodiversity DOI : 10.7176/JEES/13-3-01 Publication date: April 30th 2023 Issue No:Vol. 13
Authors:Olanrewaju Akinfemiwa Akanbi, Oluwagbemileke Samuel Akinola, Jeremiah Nwajei, Joshua Adegbite Abstract: Groundwater from shallow hand-dug wells is the only reliable source of water supply in the ancient town of Oyo in the southwestern region of Nigeria. The present work studied the water quality in twenty-five wells across this area by measuring the ancillary parameters, and analyzing the major and trace elements and taking the inventory of the wells as well as assessing the total coliform and Escherichia coliform in sampled water. The field measurement showed that the groundwater is slightly acidic with an average pH of 6.6 and fresh from the total dissolved solids values between 70 and 630 mg/L. From the average concentrations of major ions, the dominance order of the cations constituents in groundwater is in the order- Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+ > Na+ and HCO- > CI- > NO3- > SO42- for anions. The ranges of trace elements concentrations were; Iron II- 0.01 – 0.06; Chromium VI: 0 - 0.34; manganese 0 – 1.2 in mg/L, while Copper was between 0.38 – 32.7; Cadmium 0.03 – 1.87; lead 0.02 – 3.57; Zinc 0.01 – 7.79; and Arsenic 0.05 – 7.35 in µg/L. The total coliform count ranges from 6 – 1860 cfu/100 mL while Escherichia coliform (E. coli) units was between 2 and 1640 cfu/100 mL with frequency occurrence from nil in three wells representing 12% of the wells, 1 – 50 units (28%), 51 – 100 (20%), 101 – 500 (20%) and > 500 units (20%). The groundwater is grossly contaminated with nitrate and coliform bacteria while four wells were found to be contaminated with manganese and chromium. It is mandatory that the water be treated for metal and bacterial contaminations prior to consumption and public enlightenment on drinking water guidelines be in place. Keywords: Groundwater. Major ions. Trace elements. Coliform Bacteria. DOI : 10.7176/JEES/13-3-02 Publication date: April 30th 2023 Issue No:Vol. 13
Authors:Francis Chibuike Nwalozie, Ifeanyi Christian Enete Abstract: This study analysed the monthly and seasonal dynamics of subsurface urban heat island in Enugu metropolis, using secondary soil temperature data set that was sourced from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency. The descriptive statistical tool used was the line graph. The study showed that the monthly subsurface urban heat island intensity peaks at 0.6 0C in May and remains fairly constant from September to February. It also revealed that the seasonal subsurface urban heat island intensity peaks at 0.5 0C in spring (March, April and May) before staying relatively stable from summer (June, July and August) to winter (December, January and February). From the study, it was clear that the urban heat island effect occurred in the subsurface in Enugu, as it does above the ground. Therefore, this study recommends the creation of gardens and parklands and direct tree planting as part of the mitigation measures to this problem. Keywords: Enugu, mitigation, soil temperature, subsurface, urban heat island, urbanisation DOI : 10.7176/JEES/13-3-03 Publication date: April 30th 2023 Issue No:Vol. 13
Authors:Isaac Kwabena Ayereka, Patience Binambiba Jaman Abstract: Flooding is the most common environmental hazard worldwide, after diseases and transport accidents. Excessive rainfall coupled with the spillage of excess water upstream from the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso has resulted in the death of humans and animals and destroyed farms, buildings, storage facilities, and crops. This is because of the wide geographical distribution of river floodplains and low-lying coasts and their long-standing attraction for human settlement. The research focused on communities along the White Volta basin in the Kumbungu District. The study discussed local farmers’ perception of the causes of floods in the affected communities, identified factors that exposed the people staying in these communities to vulnerability, and identified coping mechanisms employed by the community during and after floods. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The research used household and institutional surveys and face-to-face interviews to collect data on flood disaster experiences. A sample size of 168 respondents was selected using systematic, purposive, and simple random methods. The study established that floods negatively impacted food security and people's livelihoods, especially agriculture. Children, women, and the elderly were groups identified to be most vulnerable to flooding. The research revealed that victims do not receive timely and adequate support in the aftermath of flooding. Most respondents used wood, grass, and mud as building materials that are not flood resistant. Some coping mechanisms are pito brewing, petty trading, fish mongering, prematurely harvesting crops, weaving thatch for local roofing, planting early maturing crops, and selling livestock. Keywords: Flood, Vulnerability, Food, Farms, Households DOI : 10.7176/JEES/13-3-04 Publication date: April 30th 2023 Issue No:Vol. 13
Authors:Peter I. Emoit, Niamh Gaynor Abstract: Smallholder Farmers in Kenya have several challenges in implementing adaptation strategies due to the prevailing climate change and variability. It is unclear how various challenges have affected the farmers, especially in Evurore division, Embu County. Therefore, this paper examined the challenges smallholder farmers face in implementing adaptation strategies to climate variability in Kenya's arid and semi-arid areas. The study adopted a descriptive research design with a target population of 50,620 people from 13,008 households in the Evurore division. A sample of 169 respondents was selected scientifically from the target population using the Yamane Taro formula. The sample population was also comprised of 17 key officials purposively chosen for the study. The study relied on primary and secondary data obtained using semi-structured questionnaires and published metrological data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean and frequencies and regression analysis. The paper established that implementing the adaptation strategies has been minimal due to smallholder farmers' challenges, including a lack of training for smallholder farmers on climate-smart agriculture, conservation agriculture, soil conservation, and water conservation. These challenges negatively influenced the farmer's adaptation strategies. This study used a regression model to determine the relationship between the smallholder farmers' perception of climate change and the adaptation strategies used to adapt to climate change. The study results indicate a significant positive correlation between challenges (r = 0.068; p< 0.05). The paper recommended that the government, through agricultural extension officers, train farmers on the effective implementation of adaptive strategies in the region. Keywords: Climate Variability, Arid and semi-arid areas, Smallholder Farmers and Adaptation Strategies to Climate variability DOI : 10.7176/JEES/13-3-05 Publication date: April 30th 2023 Issue No:Vol. 13
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