Raya University is located at Maichew, Tigray at a distance of 668 km north of Addis Ababa along Ethiopian Highway 2 or 130 km south of Mekelle city.
Soil organic carbon (SOC) and vegetation cover are critical indicators of ecosystem health, playing a vital role in mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration and enhancing land productivity. This study aimed to assess the spatial and temporal effects of the Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) on SOC distribution and related biophysical parameters between 2018 and 2025. A geospatial approach integrating Landsat-derived indices: Soil Organic Carbon (SOC), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI), Bare Soil Index (BSI), and Land Surface Temperature (LST) were used. Results revealed that very high SOC was increased by 7.7
The current study intended to optimize Biogas Production through Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Blackwater and Food Waste. It’s interesting to note that food waste and blackwater co-digestion for the production of renewable energy in order to simultaneously address the energy crisis and waste management. This study examined the effects of temperature (30–45 °C), pH (6–8), and C/N ratio (20:1–35:1) using Design Expert Version 13, Response Surface Methodology technique. The C/N ratio has a significant impact on biogas generation and methane from its yield, according to a Box-Behnken Design. The process’s numerical optimization revealed that 37.5 °C temperature, 7 pH, and a 27.5:1 C/N ratio were the ideal parameters for specific biogas production (SBP) and biomethane. At this ideal point, the greatest SBP and biomethane values were 0.464 l/g-CODrem and 74.68
Localized climate evidence for agricultural risk assessment remains scarce in northern Ethiopia. This study integrates long-term station observations with CHIRPS v3 and ERA5 to extend climate analysis in Tigray to 2024 and to link sub-regional rainfall and temperature variability directly to agricultural risk. Data from six meteorological stations in south Tigray were combined with high-resolution gridded rainfall and temperature datasets. Long-term seasonal and annual trends and variability in rainfall and temperature were assessed using standard non-parametric trend and rainfall variability analysis methods. Rainfall anomalies identified severe dry years (1984, 2002, 2015, 2022) and wet years (1998, 2006, 2010), highlighting pronounced interannual variability. Regional aggregates revealed statistically significant warming across Tmax, Tmin, and Tmean, with Sen’s slopes ranging from + 0.018 to + 0.046 °C yr⁻¹. Warming was strongest in Tmin, implying reduced night-time cooling and narrowing diurnal ranges. Between 1981 and 2008, temperatures rose steadily, briefly cooled during 2009–2011, then accelerated markedly through the 2010–2020s. Precipitation Concentration Index (PCI) results suggested increasing intra-annual rainfall concentration in some areas, with more rain concentrated in fewer events. Overall, the results indicate clear warming trends with spatially and temporally variable rainfall changes, carrying important implications for rain-fed agriculture. Improved observational networks, combined with downscaled projections, and expanded use of agro-climatic metrics, are critical for robust climate risk assessment and adaptation planning.
Expansion of surface irrigation has an effect on soil moisture and salinity patterns in an intensively cultivated semi-arid landscape. In this study, we evaluated the dynamics of soil moisture and salinity implications for sustainable land management in semi-arid croplands of the Omo Gibe River Sub-Basin over 25 years (2000–2025). Multispectral and thermal Landsat images from 2000 to 2025 were used to classify LULC and to calculate the Soil Moisture Index (SMI) and Normalized Difference Salinity Index (NDSI) using ArcGIS and ERDAS Imagine software. LULC analysis from 2000 to 2025 revealed a substantial increase in irrigated land from 389.3 km² (4.9 Irrigation expansion expanded cultivated land but contracted grassland areas. Soil moisture improved, with wet and extremely wet soils increased from 2000. Extremely saline soils expanded by 42
Apple cultivation represents a sustainable livelihood strategy that enhances farmers’ income while contributing to environmental conservation. Apple production is highly constrained by winter chilling requirements, which are strongly influenced by altitude and local climate. This study assessed the spatial distribution of land suitability for apple cultivation in the study area using geospatial modeling techniques. Climatic, topographic, and environmental variables were integrated using GIS-based multi-criteria analysis to identify suitable zones for apple production. The results obtained from the evaluation of the suitability of the land for growing apple (Malus domestica) showed large variability in space. While 1.6
