Ejerie is a woreda in Oromia Region , Ethiopia . Part of the West Shewa Zone , it is bordered on the south by the Southwest Shewa Zone , on the west by Dendi , on the northwest by Jeldu , on the north by Meta Robi , on the northeast by Adda Berga , and on the east by Walmara . The major town in Ejerie is Ejerie town, after which the district has been named.
96-511: The source of the Awash River , Mount Warqe , lies in this woreda. The August 2006 floods affected Ejerie, causing widespread damage. In this woreda—combined with Sebata, Awas, and Elu woredas—14,790 persons were affected and 2,052 people displaced. The 2007 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 86,934, of whom 44,222 were men and 42,712 were women; 10,071 or 11.59% of its population were urban dwellers. The majority of
192-456: A cadmium content of as low as 0.14 mg/kg or as high as 50.9 mg/kg. This is because the phosphate rock used in their manufacture can contain as much as 188 mg/kg cadmium (examples are deposits on Nauru and the Christmas islands). Continuous use of high-cadmium fertilizer can contaminate soil and plants. Limits to the cadmium content of phosphate fertilizers has been considered by
288-503: A cause of heavy metal pollution (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, U, and Zn) in aquatic bodies, and industrial disposal could also lead to high heavy metals concentrations such as As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Zn, and Pb concentrations. A study of river water quality in 2023 showed that high levels of heavy metals, such as Al, Mn, Mo, As, V, Fe, and Ba were exhibited with values of 1257 μg/L, 626.8 μg/L, 116.7 μg/L, 61.2 μg/L, 100.5 μg/L, 1082.7 μg/L, and 211.7 μg/L, respectively. Among 20 heavy metals analyzed, 20% of
384-429: A few exceptions of small eucalyptus plantations. Outside of Awash National Park the open and woody savannas have been almost completely cultivated with crops. This especially accounts for all escarpment terraces. Thereby the scattered tree cover remained similar to the primary state of the savannas, while the grass layer has been replaced by crops. Only highest altitudes still show connected woodlands. Partly reforestation
480-431: A greater number of deficiencies in essential nutrients although they would get a greater excess of energy, possibly leading to greater obesity. The increasing globalization of agriculture has resulted in the accidental transport of pests, weeds, and diseases to novel ranges. If they establish, they become an invasive species that can impact populations of native species and threaten agricultural production. For example,
576-431: A large influx of nitrogen from agricultural runoff can cause serious disruption. A common result of this in aquatic ecosystems is eutrophication , which in turn creates hypoxic and anoxic conditions – both of which are deadly and/or damaging to many species. Nitrogen fertilization can also release NH 3 gases into the atmosphere which can then be converted into NO x compounds. A greater amount of NO x compounds in
672-639: A parasitoid of butterflies was introduced to control gypsy moth and browntail moth. This parasitoid is capable of utilizing many butterfly host species, and likely resulted in the decline and extirpation of several native silk moth species. International exploration for potential biocontrol agents is aided by agencies such as the European Biological Control Laboratory, the United States Department of Agriculture/ Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS),
768-483: A result of the larger inputs of nitrogen from fertilizers and carbon compounds through decomposed biomass. Because of the increase in decomposition in the soil, its organic matter content will be depleted which results in lower overall soil health . The most common form of phosphorus fertilizer used in agricultural practices is phosphate (PO 4 ), and it is applied in synthetic compounds that incorporate PO 4 or in organic forms such as manure and compost. Phosphorus
864-594: A role in the Main Ethiopian Rift and in southern Afar. The Awash Basin is a densely populated and industrialized area where numerous enterprises rely on groundwater for their operation. Therefore, the majority of human development initiatives in the basin will continue to depend heavily on the quantity and quality of groundwater. Groundwater management requires proactive measures due to the global challenges posed by rapid population growth, urbanization, climate change, and various human activities. Most of
960-534: A severe drought and a humanitarian response targeting over 10 million people nationally, with many priority districts located in the Awash basin. Municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants are scant and inefficient in the Awash River basin. Where they exist, their effluents (often poorly treated) are channeled into nearby streams, thus polluting them. Growing industrialization and urbanization in
1056-436: A solid and liquid portion for easier management. Liquids (4–8% dry matter) can be used easily in pump systems for convenient spread over crops and the solid fraction (15–30% dry matter) can be used as stall bedding, spread on crops, composted or exported. Anaerobic digestion is the biological treatment of liquid animal waste using bacteria in an area absent of air, which promotes the decomposition of organic solids. Hot water
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#17327872423861152-407: A study in 2023 in the river and shallow groundwater systems: "Pesticides, veterinary drugs , artificial sweeteners , and personal care products were detected in samples from all sources (surface, ground, and tap water). Endocrine disruptors and equine drugs were found in both surface and groundwater sources." The river water and shallow groundwater are intrinsically connected. Contaminants in
1248-434: A variety of sources, ranging from point source water pollution (from a single discharge point) to more diffuse, landscape-level causes, also known as non-point source pollution and air pollution . Once in the environment these pollutants can have both direct effects in surrounding ecosystems, i.e. killing local wildlife or contaminating drinking water, and downstream effects such as dead zones caused by agricultural runoff
1344-402: Is 'flood-centric' in its thinking and approach [...]. This means identifying (and protecting) flood zones near build-up areas and identifying zones that can be allowed to flood to absorb the impact of extreme events." Groundwater recharge varies between values exceeding 350 millimetres (14 in) per year in the upper highlands and no recharge at the bottom of the rift valley. Groundwater
1440-689: Is a dry season, called Bega . Semi-arid to arid conditions prevail in the Rift Valley. In contrast, the highlands partly receive more than 1,600 millimetres (63 in) of rainfall in ca. six months per year. A study in 2018 investigated the effects of climate change on water resources in the Awash basin. They used three climate models from Coupled Models Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) and for three future periods (2006–2030, 2031–2055, and 2056–2080). The models were selected based on their performance in capturing historical precipitation characteristics. The baseline period used for comparison
1536-982: Is a major source of groundwater pollution . Leaching is affected by the soil, the pesticide, and rainfall and irrigation. Leaching is most likely to happen if using a water-soluble pesticide, when the soil tends to be sandy in texture; if excessive watering occurs just after pesticide application; if the adsorption ability of the pesticide to the soil is low. Leaching may not only originate from treated fields, but also from pesticide mixing areas, pesticide application machinery washing sites, or disposal areas. Fertilizers are used to provide crops with additional sources of nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, that promote plant growth and increase crop yields. While they are beneficial for plant growth, they can also disrupt natural nutrient and mineral biogeochemical cycles and pose risks to human and ecological health. Most common nitrogen sources are NO 3 (nitrate) and NH 4 (ammonium). These fertilizers have greatly increased
1632-481: Is an essential nutrient in all organisms because of the roles it plays in cell and metabolic functions such as nucleic acid production and metabolic energy transfers. However, most organisms, including agricultural crops, only require a small amount of phosphorus because they have evolved in ecosystems with relatively low amounts of it. Microbial populations in soils are able to convert organic forms of phosphorus to soluble plant available forms such as phosphate. This step
1728-814: Is concentrated in large water bodies. Management practices, or ignorance of them, play a crucial role in the amount and impact of these pollutants. Management techniques range from animal management and housing to the spread of pesticides and fertilizers in global agricultural practices, which can have major environmental impacts . Bad management practices include poorly managed animal feeding operations, overgrazing , plowing, fertilizer, and improper, excessive, or badly timed use of pesticides. Pollutants from agriculture greatly affect water quality and can be found in lakes, rivers, wetlands , estuaries, and groundwater . Pollutants from farming include sediments, nutrients, pathogens, pesticides, metals, and salts. Animal agriculture has an outsized impact on pollutants that enter
1824-483: Is different for the upper, middle and lower Awash basin. Research has found that "the type and range of flooding in the Awash Basin varies widely reflecting the basin’s complex geography". For example, in urban areas, flash floods and river overflows are known to occur. Rapid growth of agriculture, industries and urbanization within the Awash basin, as well as population growth is placing increasing demands on
1920-534: Is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia and empties into a chain of interconnected lakes that begin with Lake Gargori and end with Lake Abbe (or Abhe Bad) on the border with Djibouti , some 100 kilometres (60 or 70 miles) from the head of the Gulf of Tadjoura . The Awash River is the principal stream of an endorheic drainage basin covering parts of the Amhara , Oromia and Somali Regions , as well as
2016-419: Is generally bypassed with inorganic fertilizers because it is applied as phosphate or other plant available forms. Any phosphorus that is not taken up by plants is adsorbed to soil particles which helps it remain in place. Because of this, it typically enters surface waters when the soil particles it is attached to are eroded as a result of precipitation or stormwater runoff . The amount that enters surface waters
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#17327872423862112-456: Is greater than the Zone average of 12.3%. With an estimated area of 592.19 square kilometers, Ejerie has an estimated population density of 166.9 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 152.8. The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 69,686, of whom 35,038 were men and 34,648 women; 7,516 or 10.79% of its population were urban dwellers at
2208-551: Is leading to an irreversible decline in fertility on about 6 million ha of fertile land each year. The accumulation of sediments (i.e. sedimentation) in runoff water affects water quality in various ways. Sedimentation can decrease the transport capacity of ditches, streams, rivers, and navigation channels. It can also limit the amount of light penetrating the water, which affects aquatic biota. The resulting turbidity from sedimentation can interfere with feeding habits of fishes, affecting population dynamics. Sedimentation also affects
2304-602: Is modest. Furthermore, biopesticides often suffer the same negative impacts as synthetic pesticides. In the United States, biopesticides are subject to fewer environmental regulations. Many biopesticides are permitted under the National Organic Program , United States Department of Agriculture , standards for organic crop production. Pesticide leaching occurs when pesticides dissolve in water, and these solutions migrate to off-target sites. Leaching
2400-516: Is one hundred times more concentrated than domestic sewage, and can carry an intestinal parasite, Cryptosporidium , which is difficult to detect but can be passed to humans. Silage liquor (from fermented wet grass) is even stronger than slurry, with a low pH and very high biological oxygen demand. With a low pH, silage liquor can be highly corrosive; it can attack synthetic materials, causing damage to storage equipment, and leading to accidental spillage. All of these advantages can be optimized by using
2496-521: Is partly located in the Main Ethiopian Rift . The Awash River is 1,200 kilometers long. It starts in Ethiopia’s central highlands at an elevation of 3000 m and passes through a number of locations before joining Lake Abbe at a height of 250 m. The Awash River basin is divided into three sections: upper, middle, and lower. The Awash rises south of Mount Warqe , west of Addis Ababa in
2592-498: Is possible to minimize both the cost of animal production and the environmental damage. One successful example of this technology and its potential application is the Enviropig. The Enviropig is a genetically modified Yorkshire pig that expresses phytase in its saliva. Grains, such as corn and wheat, have phosphorus that is bound in a naturally indigestible form known as phytic acid. Phosphorus , an essential nutrient for pigs,
2688-425: Is predominantly recharged at the escarpments and highlands above 1,900 m a.s.l., where annual rainfall is higher than 1,000 millimetres (39 in). Localized small-scale recharge is also supposed to occur at the flanks of the rift valley volcanoes. Artificial groundwater recharge takes further place at irrigated plantations at the rift valley. Recharge from river channel losses and via infiltration from lakes plays
2784-658: Is present to areas in which it is absent. The World Trade Organization has international regulations concerning the quarantine of pests and diseases under the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures . Individual countries often have their own quarantine regulations. In the United States, for example, the United States Department of Agriculture / Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) administers domestic (within
2880-402: Is relatively low in comparison to the amount that is applied as fertilizer, but because it acts as a limiting nutrient in most environments, even a small amount can disrupt an ecosystem's natural phosphorus biogeochemical cycles. Although nitrogen plays a role in harmful algae and cyanobacteria blooms that cause eutrophication, excess phosphorus is considered the largest contributing factor due to
2976-444: Is the best method for controlling the odor associated with manure management. Biological treatment lagoons also use anaerobic digestion to break down solids, but at a much slower rate. Lagoons are kept at ambient temperatures as opposed to the heated digestion tanks. Lagoons require large land areas and high dilution volumes to work properly, so they do not work well in many climates in the northern United States. Lagoons also offer
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3072-413: Is then added to the diet, since it can not be broken down in the pigs digestive tract. As a result, nearly all of the phosphorus naturally found in the grain is wasted in the feces, and can contribute to elevated levels in the soil. Phytase is an enzyme that is able to break down the otherwise indigestible phytic acid, making it available to the pig. The ability of the Enviropig to digest the phosphorus from
3168-627: Is then joined on its left bank by its chief affluent, the Germama (or Kasam) River, before turning northeast at approximately 11° N 40° 30' E as far north as 12° before turning completely east to reach lake Gargori. Other tributaries of the Awash include (in order upstream): the Logiya , Mille , Borkana , Ataye , Hawadi , Kabenna and Durkham Rivers . Towns and cities along its course include Metehara , Awash , Gewane and Asaita . There are tributary rivers, lakes, hot springs , and swamps in
3264-476: Is used to heat the waste in order to increase the rate of biogas production. The remaining liquid is nutrient rich and can be used on fields as a fertilizer and methane gas that can be burned directly on the biogas stove or in an engine generator to produce electricity and heat. Methane is about 20 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, which has significant negative environmental effects if not controlled properly. Anaerobic treatment of waste
3360-493: Is worse in winter, after autumn ploughing has released a surge of nitrates; winter rainfall is heavier increasing runoff and leaching, and there is lower plant uptake. EPA suggests that one dairy farm with 2,500 cows produces as much waste as a city with around 411,000 residents. The US National Research Council has identified odors as the most significant animal emission problem at the local level. Different animal systems have adopted several waste management procedures to deal with
3456-474: The European Commission . Producers of phosphorus-containing fertilizers now select phosphate rock based on the cadmium content. Phosphate rocks contain high levels of fluoride . Consequently, the widespread use of phosphate fertilizers has increased soil fluoride concentrations. It has been found that food contamination from fertilizer is of little concern as plants accumulate little fluoride from
3552-575: The Koka Reservoir ), has an area of about 180 square kilometres (69 sq mi). Both lake and dam are threatened by increasing sedimentation . The valley of the Awash from about 9° N downstream is the traditional home of the Afar people and Issa people . The valley of the Awash have been included as part of the Fatagar , Ifat , and Shewa . The Awash International Bank is named after
3648-675: The Middle Awash ) is internationally famous for its high density of hominin fossils, offering unparalleled insight into the early evolution of humans . " Lucy ", one of the most famous early hominin fossils, was discovered in the lower Awash Valley. For its paleontological and anthropological importance, the lower valley of the Awash was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980. The Awash River basin, spanning 23 administrative zones, covers 10% of Ethiopia's area and hosts about 17% of its population. It
3744-461: The monarch butterfly found that the threat to populations of the monarch was low. The use of GMO crop plants engineered for herbicide resistance can also indirectly increase the amount of agricultural pollution associated with herbicide use. For example, the increased use of herbicide in herbicide-resistant corn fields in the mid-western United States is decreasing the amount of milkweeds available for monarch butterfly larvae. Regulation of
3840-558: The woreda of Dandi , close to the town of Ginchi , West Shewa Zone , Oromia . After entering the bottom of the Great Rift Valley , the Awash flows south to loop around Mount Zuqualla in an easterly then northeasterly direction, before entering Koka Reservoir . There, water is used for the irrigation of sugar cane plantations. Downstream, the Awash passes the city of Adama and the Awash National Park . It
3936-559: The 2024 UNEP Actions on Air Quality report. Mitigation of agricultural pollution is a key component in the development of a sustainable food system . It has been approximated that in the absence of pest control measures, crop losses before harvesting would typically amount to 40 percent. Persistence is a major issue. For example 2,4-D and atrazine have with lifetimes up to 20 years—such as DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, and toxaphene), or even permanent (as seen in substances like lead, mercury, and arsenic). The extent to which
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4032-551: The Awash River basin has severely damaged the ecosystem due to the toxins discharged into water bodies. The main sources of water pollution in the upper Awash River basin come from industrial and urban wastes, agricultural runoff ( pesticides , fertilizers ), and sewage discharge. Both anthropogenic and geogenic activities contribute to the observed water quality degradation. The term geogenic refers to naturally occurring contamination through tectonic, clay, volcanic ash, and sand weathering phenomena. Heavy metal pollution in
4128-434: The Awash River. 11°06′00″N 40°34′46″E / 11.10000°N 40.57944°E / 11.10000; 40.57944 Agricultural runoff Agricultural pollution refers to biotic and abiotic byproducts of farming practices that result in contamination or degradation of the environment and surrounding ecosystems, and/or cause injury to humans and their economic interests. The pollution may come from
4224-593: The Awash basin is part of the Ethiopian montane forests ecoregion. At high altitudes the Ethiopian montane grasslands and woodlands and Ethiopian montane moorlands predominate. The Somali Acacia–Commiphora bushlands and thickets ecoregion occupies low elevations in the Rift. The basin's vegetation has a strong anthropogenic impact. All over the upper and central Awash basin, remains of different savanna types are still clearly visible. They range from thorn savannas in
4320-432: The Awash basin. Recurrent extreme wet and dry weather events challenge economic activities in the basin. The large portion of rural poor engaged in rainfed agriculture in the drought-prone marginal lands located in the middle and lower reaches of the basin suffer greatly from recurring drought. Climate variability already has a severe impact on populations and economic productivity in the Awash basin. Severe droughts in
4416-787: The Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control, and the International Organization for Biological Control of Noxious Plants and Animals. In order to prevent agricultural pollution, quarantine and extensive research on the organism's potential efficacy and ecological impacts are required prior to introduction. If approved, attempts are made to colonize and disperse the biocontrol agent in appropriate agricultural settings. Continual evaluations on their efficacy are conducted. GMO crops can, however, result in genetic contamination of native plant species through hybridization. This could lead to increased weediness of
4512-667: The Middle Awash Basin. The climate of the Awash River basin is mostly influenced by the movement of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). During its movement northwards in March/April and its retreat southwards, ITCZ creates two rainy seasons, a shorter one around March ( Belg ), and a longer one between June and September ( Kiremt ), which partly fall into one longer rainy season. The rainy season tends to be bimodal towards eastern Ethiopia and almost unimodal towards western Ethiopia. The time between October and March
4608-632: The Technical University of Munich found that the greenhouse gas emissions of organically farmed plant-based food were lower than conventionally-farmed plant-based food. The greenhouse gas costs of organically produced meat were approximately the same as non-organically produced meat. However, the same paper noted that a shift from conventional to organic practices would likely be beneficial for long-term efficiency and ecosystem services, and probably improve soil over time. Conservation agriculture relies on principles of minimal soil disturbance,
4704-599: The United States) and foreign (importations from outside the United States) quarantines. These quarantines are enforced by inspectors at state borders and ports of entry. The use of biological pest control agents, or using predators, parasitoids , parasites, and pathogens to control agricultural pests, has the potential to reduce agricultural pollution associated with other pest control techniques, such as pesticide use. The merits of introducing non-native biocontrol agents have been widely debated, however. Once released,
4800-508: The amount of human sewage sludge processed in US municipal waste water plants each year. Diffuse source pollution from agricultural fertilizers is more difficult to trace, monitor and control. High nitrate concentrations are found in groundwater and may reach 50 mg/litre (the EU Directive limit). In ditches and river courses, nutrient pollution from fertilizers causes eutrophication. This
4896-463: The atmosphere can result in the acidification of aquatic ecosystems and cause various respiratory issues in humans. Fertilization can also release N 2 O which is a greenhouse gas and can facilitate the destruction of ozone (O 3 ) in the stratosphere. Soils that receive nitrogen fertilizers can also be damaged. An increase in plant available nitrogen will increase a crop's net primary production, and eventually, soil microbial activity will increase as
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#17327872423864992-448: The atmosphere, and degrade soil health . Not all nutrient applied through fertilizer are taken up by the crops, and the remainder accumulates in the soil or is lost as runoff . Nitrate fertilizers are much more likely to be lost to the soil profile through runoff because of its high solubility and like charges between the molecule and negatively charged clay particles. High application rates of nitrogen-containing fertilizers combined with
5088-426: The basin have led to a significant depression of crop yields and death of livestock, resulting in increases in food insecurity . A modest (5%) decrease in rainfall was estimated to reduce the basin’s gross domestic product (GDP) 5%, with a 10% decrease in agricultural productivity. Humanitarian assistance requests are relatively common due to climate shocks , such as the 2015/2016 El Niño events which resulted in
5184-465: The basin, due to a projected increase in temperature and decrease in precipitation. The Awash River basin is the most developed, utilized, abused, impacted, and most populous (over 15% or nearly 18.6 million out of 120 million) basin in Ethiopia (as of 2021). Rapid growth of agriculture, industries and urbanization within the Awash basin, as well as population growth is placing increasing demands on
5280-578: The basin, further threatening water security for different sectors. Rainfall varies a lot in the basin from one year to the next (this is called high intra-annual variability ). Dry season water shortage is recognized as a challenge for various activities such as irrigation and domestic water supply by the Awash Basin Authority. However, flooding also occurs frequently during the main rainy season in July and August. The type of flooding
5376-454: The basin’s water resources . The main sources of water pollution in the upper Awash River basin come from industrial and urban wastes, agricultural runoff ( pesticides , fertilizers ), and sewage discharge. Polluting industries in the Awash River basin include tanneries , paint factories, slaughterhouses , textiles , breweries , soft drink factories, sugar factories, hospitals, and pharmaceuticals. The Awash Valley (and especially
5472-408: The basin’s water resources. The basin is known for high climate variability involving droughts and floods, and climate change will likely intensify the existing challenges. Future water management strategies needs to be inclusive of all sectors and consider the equity for different users. Flood adaption measures have been investigated and one of the recommendations is to use " land-use planning that
5568-422: The basis for economic growth in the coming years. Crop production in particular is a major component of the basin's economy and has seen rapid growth in recent years, with the value of output expanding by 7.9% per year in real terms between 2004 and 2014. As of 2012, the total irrigated area of the basin is less than 2% of the total area under cultivation. Forestry hardly exists inside the Awash River basin, with
5664-520: The environment . Bacteria and pathogens in manure can make their way into streams and groundwater if grazing, storing manure in lagoons and applying manure to fields is not properly managed. Air pollution caused by agriculture through land use changes and animal agriculture practices have an outsized impact on climate change . Addressing these concerns was a central part of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land as well as in
5760-430: The establishment of these introduced organisms. Contaminated machinery, livestock and fodder, and contaminated crop or pasture seed can also lead to the spread of weeds. Quarantines (see biosecurity ) are one way in which prevention of the spread of invasive species can be regulated at the policy level. A quarantine is a legal instrument that restricts the movement of infested material from areas where an invasive species
5856-629: The explorer L. M. Nesbitt had followed parts of the course of the Awash in 1928, he turned away from the river at Asaita and proceeded north through the Afar Depression to the Red Sea. ) In 1960, the Koka Dam was completed across the Awash River at a point around 75 kilometres (47 mi) from Addis Ababa. With its opening, it became a major source of hydroelectric power in the area. The resulting freshwater lake, Lake Gelila (also known as
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#17327872423865952-456: The fact that phosphorus is often the most limiting nutrient, especially in freshwaters. In addition to depleting oxygen levels in surface waters, algae and cyanobacteria blooms can produce cyanotoxins which are harmful to human and animal health as well as many aquatic organisms. The concentration of cadmium in phosphorus -containing fertilizers varies considerably and can be problematic. For example, mono-ammonium phosphate fertilizer may have
6048-527: The grains eliminates the waste of that natural phosphorus (20-60% reduction), while also eliminating the need to supplement the nutrient in feed. One of the main contributors to air, soil and water pollution is animal waste. According to a 2005 report by the USDA, more than 335–million tons of "dry matter" waste (the waste after water is removed) is produced annually on farms in the United States. Animal feeding operations produce about 100 times more manure than
6144-562: The groundwater sources were unsuitable for drinking, posing significant health risks to local communities that rely heavily on these sources due to limited access to clean surface water. In the Middle Awash Basin and the country at large, the water quality of most groundwater sources is inadequately monitored and insufficiently regulated. Consequently, areas within the upstream Awash Basin, particularly around Modjo, Bishoftu, Gelan, and Addis Ababa, are highly susceptible to unregulated abstraction and pollution of groundwater. Humans have lived in
6240-545: The high water-solubility of nitrate leads to increased runoff into surface water as well as leaching into groundwater, thereby causing groundwater pollution . Nitrate levels above 10 mg/L (10 ppm) in groundwater can cause " blue baby syndrome " (acquired methemoglobinemia) in infants and possibly thyroid disease and various types of cancer. Nitrogen fixation, which converts atmospheric nitrogen (N 2 ) to ammonia, and denitrification, which converts biologically available nitrogen compounds to N 2 and N 2 O, are two of
6336-411: The impact of these increases on the risk to human health from radionuclide contamination of foods is very small (less than 0.05 mSv/y). Farm machinery and equipment emitting substantial quantities of harmful gases. Agriculture contributes greatly to soil erosion and sediment deposition through intensive management or inefficient land cover. It is estimated that agricultural land degradation
6432-550: The inhabitants said they practised Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity , with 82.18% of the population reporting they observed this belief, while 13.64% of the population practiced traditional beliefs, and 3.04% were Protestant . Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 98,832, of whom 49,332 were males and 49,500 were females; 13,423 or 13.58% of its population are urban dwellers, which
6528-535: The introduction of a biocontrol agent can be irreversible. Potential ecological issues could include the dispersal from agricultural habitats into natural environments, and host-switching or adapting to utilize a native species. In addition, predicting the interaction outcomes in complex ecosystems and potential ecological impacts prior to release can be difficult. One example of a biocontrol program that resulted in ecological damage occurred in North America, where
6624-407: The irrigation waters for local and commercial agricultural lands (such as sugarcane plantation) depend on the Awash River and its tributaries. The Awash basin's economy is dominated by the agricultural and service sectors, with the latter prevailing in the large urban center of Addis Ababa . Agriculture dominates water use (about 89% of total water use in the basin) and is expected to continue to be
6720-475: The large amount of waste produced annually. The advantages of manure treatment are a reduction in the amount of manure that needs to be transported and applied to crops, as well as reduced soil compaction. Nutrients are reduced as well, meaning that less cropland is needed for manure to be spread upon. Manure treatment can also reduce the risk of human health and biosecurity risks by reducing the amount of pathogens present in manure. Undiluted animal manure or slurry
6816-631: The lower rift, bush, grass and open savannas above 800 m and woody savannas on the escarpments and the highlands. The lower Awash Valley is one of the last wildlife preserves for the African wild ass . The mammal is now extinct in Yangudi Rassa National Park , but still found in the adjacent Mille-Serdo Wildlife Reserve . Other large animals native to the area include Beisa Oryx , Soemmering's gazelle , Dorcas gazelle , gerenuk and Grevy's zebra . Crocodiles also flourish within
6912-512: The most important metabolic processes involved in the nitrogen cycle because they are the largest inputs and outputs of nitrogen to ecosystems. They allow nitrogen to flow between the atmosphere, which is around 78% nitrogen) and the biosphere. Other significant processes in the nitrogen cycle are nitrification and ammonification which convert ammonium to nitrate or nitrite and organic matter to ammonia respectively. Because these processes keep nitrogen concentrations relatively stable in most ecosystems,
7008-636: The parameters within the study area were above the WHO limit for drinking water ; Al (157 μg/L), V (100.5 μg/L), Fe (1082.7 μg/L), Mn (626.8 μg/L), and Mo (103.8 μg/L) were exhibited at sites along the river system. This is a problem as water from the river is used as a source of drinking water and irrigation . The presence of emerging organic contaminants in the river water is another concern. These substances include pharmaceuticals, personal care products , industrial byproducts, and agricultural chemicals. High levels of emerging organic contaminants were detected in
7104-671: The pesticides and herbicides persist depends on the compound's unique chemistry, which affects sorption dynamics and resulting fate and transport in the soil environment. Pesticides can also accumulate in animals that eat contaminated pests and soil organisms. The primary danger associated with pesticide application lies in its impact on non-target organisms. These encompass species we typically perceive as beneficial or desirable, such as pollinators, and to natural enemies of pests (i.e. insects that prey on or parasitize pests). In principle, biopesticides , derived from natural sources, could reduce overall agricultural pollution. Their utilization
7200-444: The plant or the extinction of the native species. In addition, the transgenic plant itself may become a weed if the modification improves its fitness in a given environment. There are also concerns that non-target organisms, such as pollinators and natural enemies, could be poisoned by accidental ingestion of Bt-producing plants. A recent study testing the effects of Bt corn pollen dusting nearby milkweed plants on larval feeding of
7296-401: The population reporting they practiced that belief, while 7.91% practiced traditional beliefs. 8°55′N 38°35′E / 8.917°N 38.583°E / 8.917; 38.583 Awash River The Awash River (sometimes spelled Awaash ; Oromo : Awaash OR Hawaas , Amharic : ዐዋሽ, Afar : Hawaash We'ayot , Somali : Webiga Dir ) is a major river of Ethiopia . Its course
7392-459: The productivity of agricultural land: With average crop yields remaining at the 1900 level the crop harvest in the year 2000 would have required nearly four times more land and the cultivated area would have claimed nearly half of all ice-free continents, rather than under 15% of the total land area that is required today. Although leading to increased crop yield, nitrogen fertilizers can also negatively affect groundwater and surface waters, pollute
7488-444: The release of genetic modified organisms vary based on the type of organism and the country concerned. While there may be some concerns regarding the use of GM products, it may also be the solution to some of the existing animal agriculture pollution issues. One of the main sources of pollution, particularly vitamin and mineral drift in soils, comes from a lack of digestive efficiency in animals. By improving digestive efficiency, it
7584-581: The right manure management system on the right farm based on the resources that are available. Composting is a solid manure management system that relies on solid manure from bedded pack pens, or the solids from a liquid manure separator. There are two methods of composting, active and passive. Manure is churned periodically during active composting, whereas in passive composting it is not. Passive composting has been found to have lower green house gas emissions due to incomplete decomposition and lower gas diffusion rates. Manure can be mechanically separated into
7680-442: The river water can pollute the groundwater and vice versa. A study in 2024 investigated the characteristics of groundwater in a region of Middle Awash for multipurpose use. It found that contaminants such as arsenic, vanadium, gallium, lithium, rubidium, chromium, manganese, copper, and zinc were found enriched in groundwater near Lake Beseka, majorly influenced by geogenic activities, volcanic ash, and weathering of rocks. Over half of
7776-429: The river. The Awash basin is the most developed, utilized, abused, impacted, and most populous (over 15% or nearly 18.6 million out of 120 million) basin in Ethiopia. Middle Awash is known for having both large- and small-scale irrigation, as well as agroindustry and sugar factories (Wenji, Methara, and Kesem Sugar factories). The water supplies of the major urban centers like Addis Ababa, Mojo and Adama, and also,
7872-458: The same assessment for the transportation sector. Alternate sources claim that FAO estimates are too low, stating that the global livestock industry could be responsible for up to 51% of emitted atmospheric greenhouse gasses rather than 18%. Critics say the difference in estimates come from the FAO's use of outdated data. Regardless, if the FAO's report of 18% is accurate, that still makes livestock
7968-463: The second-largest greenhouse-gas-polluter. A PNAS model showed that even if animals were completely removed from U.S. agriculture and diets, U.S. GHG emissions would be decreased by 2.6% only (or 28% of agricultural GHG emissions). This is because of the need replace animal manures by fertilizers and to replace also other animal coproducts, and because livestock now use human-inedible food and fiber processing byproducts. Moreover, people would suffer from
8064-611: The site include Homo erectus and Ardipithecus . In the 16th century the Awash River was called the great Dir river and lay in the country of the Muslims. The first European to trace the course of the Awash to its end in the Aussa oasis was Wilfred Thesiger in 1933/1934, who started at the city of Awash, followed the river's course to its final end in Lake Abhebad, and continued his expedition east to Tadjoura . (Although
8160-704: The soil; of greater concern is the possibility of fluoride toxicity to livestock that ingest contaminated soils. Also of possible concern are the effects of fluoride on soil microorganisms. The radioactive content of the fertilizers varies considerably and depends both on their concentrations in the parent mineral and on the fertilizer production process. Uranium-238 concentrations range can range from 7 to 100 pCi/g in phosphate rock and from 1 to 67 pCi/g in phosphate fertilizers. Where high annual rates of phosphorus fertilizer are used, this can result in uranium-238 concentrations in soils and drainage waters that are several times greater than are normally present. However,
8256-466: The southern half of the Afar Region . The Awash River basin, spanning 23 administrative zones, covers 10% of Ethiopia's area. The basin usually has two rainy seasons, a shorter one around March ( Belg ), and a longer one between June and September ( Kiremt ), which partly fall into one longer rainy season. Climate change is predicted to increase the water deficiency in all seasons and for parts of
8352-446: The surface water has become a growing concern for the environment and people’s health. Polluting industries in the Awash River basin include tanneries , paint factories, slaughterhouses , textiles , breweries , soft drink factories, sugar factories, hospitals, and pharmaceuticals. Wastewater enters the river from cities such as Addis Abeba , Awash 7 Kilo, Ambo, Sebeta , Bishoftu , Gelan, Adama , Modjo. Agricultural runoff may be
8448-609: The time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Ejerie were the Oromo (82.97%), the Amhara (14.78%), and the Sebat Bet Gurage (0.92%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.33% of the population. Oromo was spoken as a first language by 84.01%, and 15.27% spoke Amharic ; the remaining 0.72% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity , with 90.86% of
8544-430: The transport and accumulation of pollutants, including phosphorus and various pesticides. Natural soil biogeochemical processes result in the emission of various greenhouse gases, including nitrous oxide. Agricultural management practices can affect emission levels. For example, tillage levels have also been shown to affect nitrous oxide emissions. From an environmental perspective, fertilizing , overproduction and
8640-654: The transport of bumblebees reared in Europe and shipped to the United States and/or Canada for use as commercial pollinators has led to the introduction of an Old World parasite to the New World. This introduction may play a role in recent native bumble bee declines in North America. Agriculturally introduced species can also hybridize with native species resulting in a decline in genetic biodiversity and threaten agricultural production. Habitat disturbance associated with farming practices themselves can also facilitate
8736-550: The use of pesticides in conventional farming has caused, and is causing, enormous damage worldwide to local ecosystems , soil health , biodiversity, groundwater and drinking water supplies, and sometimes farmers' health and fertility . Organic farming typically reduces some environmental impact relative to conventional farming, but the scale of reduction can be difficult to quantify and varies depending on farming methods. In some cases, reducing food waste and dietary changes might provide greater benefits. A 2020 study at
8832-664: The use of mulch and/or cover crops as soil cover, and crop species diversification. It enables the reduction of fertilizers, which in turn reduces ammonia emissions and greenhouse gas emissions. It also stabilizes soil, which slows down the release of carbon into the atmosphere. Manures and biosolids , although having value as fertilizers, they may also contain contaminants, including pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). A wide variety and vast quantity of PPCPs consumed by animals. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicted that 18% of anthropogenic greenhouse gases come directly or indirectly from
8928-499: The valley of the Awash almost since the beginning of the species. Numerous pre-human hominid remains have been found in the Middle Awash . The remains found in the Awash Valley date from the late Miocene , Pliocene , and early Pleistocene (roughly 5.6–2.5 million years ago), and include fossils of many Australopithecines , including "Lucy", the most famous individual Australopithecus . Other extinct hominids discovered at
9024-465: The world's livestock. This report also suggested that the emissions from livestock were greater than that of the transportation sector. While livestock do currently play a role in producing greenhouse gas emissions , the estimates have been argued to be a misrepresentation. While the FAO used a life-cycle assessment of animal agriculture (i.e. all aspects including emissions from growing crops for feed, transportation to slaughter, etc.), they did not apply
9120-582: Was 1981–2005. The future water availability was estimated as the difference between precipitation and potential evapotranspiration projections using the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP8.5) emission scenarios. The projections for the future three periods show an increase in water deficiency in all seasons and for parts of the basin, due to a projected increase in temperature and decrease in precipitation. This decrease in water availability will increase water stress in
9216-416: Was carried out on not cultivable altitudes with secondary coniferous forests. The cultivated crops are (endemic) teff , maize, sorghum , beans and vegetables. Pastures hardly exist where agriculture is possible. The cattle graze on field edges and waysides and on steep escarpments. This is one major reason for erosion , because vegetation cover is partly destroyed. Stubble-grazing is a common practice in
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