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
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
In the Varanasi region of Uttar Pradesh, the study evaluated the distribution and correlations of soil physico-chemical parameters under major orchard systems. Ninety soil samples were taken at five depths (0–15 to 90–120 cm) from six orchards (mango, guava, citrus, bael, ber, and pomegranate). Physical characteristics (bulk density, particle density, porosity, water-holding capacity), chemical characteristics (pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, macronutrients, and secondary nutrients), and DTPA-extractable micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) were all examined in the samples. The findings revealed distinct vertical trends: whereas organic carbon, porosity, and nutrient availability decreased with depth, bulk density rose. In deeper levels, the pH of the soil changed from slightly acidic at the surface to neutral to slightly alkaline. While bulk density had a negative impact on fertility, correlation analysis revealed that organic carbon was a crucial regulator of nutritional availability. Strong connections between nutrients and organic matter were shown by cluster analysis, which divided characteristics into three clusters. PCA verified that the primary causes of variability were fertility factors and organic matter. Supported by SFI and SEF, mango and pomegranate orchards demonstrated more fertility than citrus and bael.
