-
Participatory Identification of Major Natural Resource Constraints and Potentials Under Koka-Lewate Watershed, Tembaro Woreda, Kambata Tambaro Zone of Southern Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 1, January 2020
Pages:
1-6
Received:
8 January 2020
Accepted:
24 February 2020
Published:
31 March 2020
Abstract: Koka-Lewate watershed is located in the Tambaro district of Southern Ethiopia and it is about 328 km and 185 km far from Addis Ababa and Hawassa respectively. It was selected by a virtual team (team of researchers from a natural resource, crop science, livestock, and socioeconomic departments) organized from Areka Agricultural Research Center, Southern Agricultural Research Institute (SARI). It was selected for its high level of degradation, minimal intervention and high amount of sediment load contribution on the Gibe III hydroelectric power dam. This study aimed to identify and prioritize natural resource constraints of the watershed and to document reports as baseline information for comparison after project implementation. Data for this study were collected from primary and secondary sources. The study catchment is characterized by intensive. The study revealed, soil erosion is severe and caused damage to house, inputs, and farmland fragmentation. Human and livestock damaged by a flood during the heavy storm were also reported. Intensive rainfall in combination with steep slope cultivation, lack of fallowing and deforestation were the prime causes of soil erosion. Soil fertility degradation is the major crop production constraint of the catchment which accounts for 97.9%. Mainly it is devastated by soil erosion, lack of fallowing, and intensive cultivation. The result shows that topography, skill gap, and inaccessibility of technology limited irrigation practice in the watershed. Furthermore, forest resources are deteriorating at an alarming rate owing to rapid population growth and agricultural land expansion.
Abstract: Koka-Lewate watershed is located in the Tambaro district of Southern Ethiopia and it is about 328 km and 185 km far from Addis Ababa and Hawassa respectively. It was selected by a virtual team (team of researchers from a natural resource, crop science, livestock, and socioeconomic departments) organized from Areka Agricultural Research Center, Sout...
Show More
-
Determination of Optimum Tilt Angle for Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic System Installation for KikuKinderhaus in Kumasi
Theophilus Frimpong Adu,
Emmanuel Kwaku Anto,
Emmanuel Ramde,
Lena Dzifa Mensah
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 1, January 2020
Pages:
7-13
Received:
5 September 2019
Accepted:
14 October 2019
Published:
8 April 2020
Abstract: The population growth in the Ghanaian urban areas and the high energy consumption per unit area compared to the low solar energy capture by Photovoltaic (PV) systems makes solar PV energy systems investment an unattractive venture for most urban settlers. Because building architectures mostly do not incorporate solar PV systems in facility planning, most building roofs pose challenges for solar PV array installation leading to lower PV energy output. The effects of tilt angle on the output of Solar Photovoltaic Systems were analyzed in this study using RETScreen 4. The optimum tilt angle and the corresponding PV output were estimated annually for three different PV systems. It was found that, the optimum tilt angle for all the systems that would give better yield and allow self-cleaning is 10°. The information presented in this study can serve as inputs for the development of grid-tied PV system without battery storage, grid-tied PV system with battery storage and stand-alone systems in Kumasi, Ghana.
Abstract: The population growth in the Ghanaian urban areas and the high energy consumption per unit area compared to the low solar energy capture by Photovoltaic (PV) systems makes solar PV energy systems investment an unattractive venture for most urban settlers. Because building architectures mostly do not incorporate solar PV systems in facility planning...
Show More
-
Rejuvenating Yamuna River by Wastewater Treatment and Management
Natarajan Pachamuthu Muthaiyah
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 1, January 2020
Pages:
14-29
Received:
12 July 2019
Accepted:
13 November 2019
Published:
8 April 2020
Abstract: Yamuna is the most important tributary of Ganga River originating from the Yamunotri glacier of Himalaya, the ‘Asian Water Tower’. Since Yamuna is fed by the above glacier, the Ganga River supplies water perennially. The catchment area of Yamuna River is 3, 45,848km2 which is the largest among the other tributaries of Ganga. Surface water resource of the Yamuna River is 61.22km3 and the net groundwater availability is 45.43km3. Total sewage generation per annum from domestic and industrial sources in Yamuna River basin is about 9.63km3. Due to the mixing of the above human influenced sewage, the waterways of this basin are stinking in many reaches and almost dead near Delhi. The pollution loads of the stinking and dead reaches of this river pollute the groundwater of the Yamuna River basin in many reaches. To treat and recycle the above sewage load about 1,320 sewage treatment plants are necessary. The capital and annual maintenance cost of these plants are Rs. 22, 440 million/$320.57million, Rs. 10,070million/$143.86million respectively (at one US dollar equal to Rs. 70). Benefits of the Yamuna River basin sewage treatment and recycling are 1. About 1,156.32million m3 of biogas can be produced per annum 2. Or from the biogas about 2,312.64million kwh electricity can be produced and the value of the electricity is Rs. 8,044.24million/$144.92 million 3. The biogas can be used for running the sewage treatment plants and for cooking directly through pipes 4. About 433.62million tons of bio-sludge can be obtained per annum and used of agriculture with suitable amendments 5. About 45.43km3 of groundwater of this basin can be protected from the sewage loads 6. About 9.63km3 of the treated sewage per annum can be used for nondomestic uses and this much quantity of fresh water can be conserved from this basin for future use 7. The foul smell and the stinking environment of this basin can be completely stopped 8. The waterborne diseases and other water miseries will be arrested and 9. Above all the waterways can be made living rivers once again. The value of the 9.63km3 of conserved freshwater per annum is Rs. 14, 45,185.33million/$20,645.50million. In the present scenario of water stress and scarcity in the 21st century in many nations, using freshwater for all uses including for toilet is the outdated hypothesis.
Abstract: Yamuna is the most important tributary of Ganga River originating from the Yamunotri glacier of Himalaya, the ‘Asian Water Tower’. Since Yamuna is fed by the above glacier, the Ganga River supplies water perennially. The catchment area of Yamuna River is 3, 45,848km2 which is the largest among the other tributaries of Ganga. Surface water resource ...
Show More
