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Comparison of Environmental Performance of Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Chemical Fertilizer
Zerihun Abate,
Berhanu Assefa,
Wakene Negassa
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 3, August 2017
Pages:
96-101
Received:
8 August 2016
Accepted:
24 August 2016
Published:
10 April 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.11
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Abstract: Addis Ababa city is undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization where solid waste generation is also increasing at the same pace. It would be difficult to continue with the current landfilling waste disposal in the city. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the positive environmental effect of municipal solid waste (MSW) composting and its environmental effect over the synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer; (ii) compare the environmental performance of MSW compost and synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. We investigated the application of MSW effects on selected soil properties, wheat yield and yield components and leachate chemistry. Application of MSW composts to the soil also increased soil total nitrogen (Nt), organic C, available P, pH, and other micronutrients. Similarly, the application of both MSW compost and N-fertilizer produced higher concentrations of NO3-N fluxes in the collected leachate that clearly showed fertilization during application poses serious threat to water quality in the absence of growing plants. In general, both MSW compost and N-fertilizer applications had positively responded in improving wheat yield and yield components. The results of the present study revealed that using MSW as a soil amendment after appropriate composting techniques and soil management not only improve soil fertility and reduce the investment on chemical fertilizers but also can alleviate the contribution of MSW to environmental pollution.
Abstract: Addis Ababa city is undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization where solid waste generation is also increasing at the same pace. It would be difficult to continue with the current landfilling waste disposal in the city. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the positive environmental effect of municipal solid waste (MSW) compos...
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The Environment and the Development: Between Levels of Harmony and Costs of Distortion
Mostéfaoui Sofiane,
Yousfat Ali
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 3, August 2017
Pages:
102-106
Received:
3 February 2017
Accepted:
16 March 2017
Published:
17 April 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.12
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Abstract: The issue of development is at once important and controversial. The former stands on the meaning that the progress is the prime condition of social welfare and human well-being. The second concern stems from the variety of conditions and tips to be respected in order to cope with the development targets. In addition, the development planning strategy is bracketed by the patterns of the ground on which this strategy is applied. These patterns vary according to the specificities of the region- the ground of the development strategy- and its legacies. This assumption leads to think purposefully about the compatibility or the incompatibility of the environment considered as a factor to achieve the development targets. The paper tries to investigate the inter-relationship between the environment and the sustained growth and to explore the level at which the environment is more reliable to get the perceived outcomes.
Abstract: The issue of development is at once important and controversial. The former stands on the meaning that the progress is the prime condition of social welfare and human well-being. The second concern stems from the variety of conditions and tips to be respected in order to cope with the development targets. In addition, the development planning strat...
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Ensuring a Safe Working Environment in Nigeria: Reality or Myth
Olatubi Matthew Idowu,
Olatubi Victoria Iyabo
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 3, August 2017
Pages:
107-115
Received:
29 November 2016
Accepted:
29 March 2017
Published:
5 May 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13
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Abstract: The importance work to man and man to work cannot be overemphasized. Because of this essentiality of work, workers spend most of their time in the work environment. The safety of work environment is therefore essential and important. The paper assessed issues related to ensuring safety in the work environment, taking into cognizance the important roles of the government (regulatory bodies), employer and employee, vis-a-vis policy formulations, policy enforcement and compliance and assess how Nigeria as a nation has performed to draw a conclusion whether the nation is on the part to securing her work environment or otherwise. While they are some occupational health and safety policies/laws in Nigeria, majority of those laws are obsolete and poorly enforced. Safety guideline compliance is very poor among both the employers and employee. If this trend is not corrected ensuring a safe working environment in Nigeria is largely a myth than been a reality.
Abstract: The importance work to man and man to work cannot be overemphasized. Because of this essentiality of work, workers spend most of their time in the work environment. The safety of work environment is therefore essential and important. The paper assessed issues related to ensuring safety in the work environment, taking into cognizance the important r...
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Willingness to Pay for Improved Water Supply: A Policy Implications for Future Water Security
Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman,
Khurshed Alam,
Rezaul Karim,
Molla Karimul Islam
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 3, August 2017
Pages:
116-122
Received:
10 April 2017
Accepted:
26 April 2017
Published:
8 June 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.14
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Abstract: Despite recent improvements in ensuring access to safe drinking water, a huge number of people still do not have access to that safe water. Bangladesh achieved laudable success in achieving Millennium Development Goals including extension of water supply and sanitation coverage. The country would face more challenges as the number of semi-urban and urban dwellers grows each day, and grows at a faster rate. It is always difficult for a country like Bangladesh to become proactive to any apprehending challenges due to her limited financial strength. However, cost recovery approaches (CRA) for water supply services could reduce the burden. A typical CRA intends to recover the cost of investment (often only operating cost) through charging additional bills for the utility usages. Applicability of CRA can be determined by estimating the consumer’s willingness to pay (WTP) for the intended intervension. WTP is a widely used economic tool to assess the economic value of of non-marketed commodities. This study investigated the consumers’ WTP for an improved water supply system in a semi-urban area of Bangladesh. The study adopted a Contingent Valuation Method to estimate consumer’s WTP for animproved water supply system as compared that of present condition. A total of 396 out of 11605 households were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Presently, the residents (28% of the total) receive supply water twice a day and only 2 hours of running tap water with complains of high iron and arsenic content. A household consumes about 421 liters of water per day and pays only BDT 100 per month. About 65% of the surveyed households expressed their WTP for a safe and uninterrupted water supply. The average stated WTP is BDT 87.25 (± 91.92) per month in addition to the present water utility charges. The stated amount is only 0.49% of their monthly household income (BDT 18058) and less than 25% of the money (BDT 365.79/month) they currently spend for collection and purification of water for household consumption. Considering a present water coverage (28%) and revenue collection efficiency (80%), the stated extra money could earn about 150% of the present annual operation and maintenance cost.
Abstract: Despite recent improvements in ensuring access to safe drinking water, a huge number of people still do not have access to that safe water. Bangladesh achieved laudable success in achieving Millennium Development Goals including extension of water supply and sanitation coverage. The country would face more challenges as the number of semi-urban and...
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Comparative Performance Evaluation of Alternate and Convectional Furrow Irrigation under Different Water Application Level on Cabbage Water Use Efficiency and Economic Analysis
Jemal Nur Hassene,
Mukerem Taha Seid
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 3, August 2017
Pages:
123-131
Received:
10 April 2017
Accepted:
24 April 2017
Published:
20 June 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.15
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Abstract: Suitable irrigation method with application level is essential for adaptation and adoption in the areas where water resources are limited. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to test the performance of alternate furrow irrigation (AFI or FFI) and convectional furrow irrigation (CFI) with three water application level on crop, yield response, water use efficiency and cost benefit analysis of cabbage. The experiment had two factors, factorial design arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with nine treatments of three replicate. The treatment namely three furrow Irrigation method alternative Furrow Irrigation (AFI), Fixed Furrow Irrigation (FFI) and Convectional Furrow Irrigation methods (CFI) and three application levels full (100%), three forth 75% and half 50% of full ETc (crop water requirement). The result shows CWUE, IWUE and EWP were highly significantly (P<0.01) affected by both IMs and ALs. The highest and the lowest mean crop and irrigation water use efficiency (CWUE and IWUE), and economic water productivity (EWP) were recorded by AFI and CFI irrigation. Whereas, under ALs the highest and the lowest mean CWUE, IWUE and EWP were recorded by 50% and 100% ETc Application depth. Maximum water saved resulted from AFI and FFI, with 50%, 75% and 100% ETc application depth was equally computed as 58.33%, 37.50% and 16.67% which could irrigate additional area of 0.20, 0.60 and 1.40 ha for each treatment respectively. Contrarily yield reduction was higher in FFI followed by AFI and CFI with the same ALs. NR (net return) produced per hectare was higher in CFI followed by AFI and FFI. In case of BCR, AFI with 75% and 50% ETc was higher than FFI followed and the smallest by CFI of 50% and 75% ETc deficit level. Hence yield reduction and NR incurred by alternate (AFI and FFI) were compensated from additional irrigable area by diverting the water and labour saved. Generally from over all investigation of CWUE, IWUE, EWP, NR and BCR alternative furrow irrigation method (AFI) was better than FFI and CFI for the water scarce area.
Abstract: Suitable irrigation method with application level is essential for adaptation and adoption in the areas where water resources are limited. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to test the performance of alternate furrow irrigation (AFI or FFI) and convectional furrow irrigation (CFI) with three water application level on crop, yield response...
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Geoblocks Delineation and Recognition of Earthquake Prone Areas in the Tuan Giao Area (Northwest Vietnam)
Nguyen Huu Tuyen,
Pham Nam Hung,
Cao Dinh Trong,
Nguyen TrungThanh,
Phung Van Phach,
Renat Shakirov
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 3, August 2017
Pages:
132-150
Received:
24 May 2017
Accepted:
3 June 2017
Published:
24 July 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.16
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Abstract: The goal of the paper is to delineate the hierarchical block- structure in the Tuan Giao area (Northwest Vietnam) and, on that base, to identify earthquake prone areas for M5+. Four large geoblocks of the second rank have been delineated on the basis of the joint analysis of geological, geophysical, geomorphic, and remote sensing data. The second rank geoblocks have been divided into smaller sub-blocks of the third rank. The recent geodynamics of the geoblocks have been characterized using geomorphic, seismological, gravity, and GPS data. The system of the delineated geoblocks is viewed as the Geodynamic Blocks model (GB). Earthquake prone areas for M5+ have been identified with the pattern recognition algorithm CORA-3. The objects of the recognition were defined as the circular areas where boundaries of the geoblocks intersect each other. The results of the recognition confirms high seismic potential of the study region and provides information on potential earthquake sources for seismic hazard assessment: a number of boundary intersections have been identified as prone to M5+ in the areas where events of such size are not recorded up to date.
Abstract: The goal of the paper is to delineate the hierarchical block- structure in the Tuan Giao area (Northwest Vietnam) and, on that base, to identify earthquake prone areas for M5+. Four large geoblocks of the second rank have been delineated on the basis of the joint analysis of geological, geophysical, geomorphic, and remote sensing data. The second r...
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