Bezaye Tessema

Rice University, Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Post-Doc

Addis Ababa University, Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC), Post-Doc

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Bezaye Tessema is an Environmentalist by profession and is conducting research on Sustainable Land Water Management and Environmental issues. She earned her PhD in Terrestrial carbon from the University of New England, Australia, MSc in Environmental Sciences and BSc in Plant Science from Addis Ababa and Haramaya Universities Ethiopia, respectively. She is passionate about contributing to the research and development efforts for viable social impact towards food security, sustainable development, climate change adaptation and mitigation through networking, partnership, innovation, and active participation of different stakeholders including multi-disciplines, institutions and the community at large.

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Papers by Bezaye Tessema

Assessing soil erosion risk in a peri-urban catchment of the Lake Victoria basin

Modeling Earth Systems and Environment

Soil erosion and sedimentation contribute to deteriorating water quality, adverse alterations in ... more Soil erosion and sedimentation contribute to deteriorating water quality, adverse alterations in basin hydrology and overall ecosystem biogeochemistry. Thus, understanding soil erosion patterns in catchments is critical for conservation planning. This study was conducted in a peri-urban Inner Murchison Bay (IMB) catchment on the northern shores of Lake Victoria since most soil erosion studies in Sub-Saharan Africa have been focused on rural landscapes. The study sought to identify sediment sources by mapping erosion hotspots using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model in appendage with field walks. RUSLE model was built in ArcGIS 10.5 software with factors including: rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, slope length and steepness, land cover and support practices. The model was run, producing an erosion risk map and field assessments conducted to ground-truth findings and identify other hotspots. The percentage areas for RUSLE modelled erosion rates were: 66.8% for 0-2 t ha −1 year −1 ; 10.8% for 2-5 t ha −1 year −1 ; 10.1% for 5-10 t ha −1 year −1 ; 9% for 10-50 t ha −1 year −1 and 3.3% for 50-100 t ha −1 year −1. Average erosion risk was 7 t ha −1 year −1 and the total watershed erosion risk was 197,400 t year −1 , with croplands and steep areas (slope factor > 20) as the major hotspots (> 5 t ha −1 year −1). Field walks revealed exposed soils, marrum (gravel) roads and unlined drainage channels as other sediment sources. This study provided the first assessment of erosion risk in this peri-urban catchment, to serve as a basis for identifying mitigation priorities. It is recommended that tailored soil and water conservation measures be integrated into physical planning, focusing on identified non-conventional hotspots to ameliorate sediment pollution in Lake Victoria.

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Significance of social networks in sustainable land management in central Ethiopia and eastern Uganda

Social networks (SNs) are social frameworks that form good entry points for business and socioeco... more Social networks (SNs) are social frameworks that form good entry points for business and socioeconomic developments. Social networks are important for small-scale, resource-poor farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa, who overly rely on informal sources of information. SNs provide opportunities for establishing effective functional multi-stakeholder Innovation Platforms (IPs) necessary for catalysing wide adoption of SLM innovations. This paper analyses the significance of SNs in sustainable land management (SLM), focusing on stakeholders' characteristics and their association among agricultural rural communities in central Ethiopia and eastern Uganda. The analysis conducted in both countries revealed a positive relationship between the strength of social networks and SLM innovation practices. The closeness of centralisation of networks in Ethiopian and Uganda was 56 and 45%, respectively; implying that only about half of the potential networks among partners actually function. The factors associated with strength of the networks included the age, the physical distance between partners, frequency of interaction, and source of information. Unfortunately, significant weaknesses remain in the existing networks. There exist several networks in both countries without active interactions with key actors in land management. Also, private sector networks particularly important in playing critical roles such as fostering market-led innovations for enhanced adoption, are conspicuously lacking.

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Soil organic carbon in agricultural systems of six countries in East Africa – a literature review of status and carbon sequestration potential

South African Journal of Plant and Soil, 2020

Cropland soils are considered to have the potential to sequester atmospheric CO 2 through agronom... more Cropland soils are considered to have the potential to sequester atmospheric CO 2 through agronomic best management practices (BMPs). To estimate this potential in East Africa, the authors reviewed 69 published studies from Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi assessing the effect of land use conversion from native vegetation to cropland on soil organic carbon (SOC) and the extent to which carbon sequestration is feasible through BMPs. Reported losses of SOC in the top 30 cm of the soil profile in short (<10 years), medium (10-25 years), and long (>25 years) term were 6.7 ± 6.0, 13.0 ± 9.2, and 2.8 ± 1.0 t C ha-1 year-1 , respectively, for forest-to-cropland; and 16.0, 2.1 ± 2.2 and 0.3 ± 0.8 t C ha-1 year-1 respectively, for woodland-to-cropland conversion. Duration to steadystate SOC was 21-38 years for forest-to-cropland conversion. Short-term SOC sequestration (t C ha-1 year-1) in the 0-30 cm layer as a result of BMPs was 19.7 ± 3.9 from crop residues, 14.8 ± 8.7 from farmyard manure, 3.5 ± 4.5 from inorganic fertilizers, 2.7 from agroforestry, and 2.5 from improved fallow. However, the studies reviewed were mostly short-term and concentrated to a few locations. Future research should address these gaps.

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S2.0 S221475002200138X main

by Bitew Dessie and Bezaye Tessema

The recent expansion of industries in Addis Ababa is causing additional environmental pollution t... more The recent expansion of industries in Addis Ababa is causing additional environmental pollution through wastewater discharges; this is becoming a critical concern. Addis Ababa is located in the upper Awash River basin, and is the main source of industrial pollutants to the river. In this study, physicochemical parameters, nutrients and heavy metal content of wastewaters released from 16 factories, 6 tanneries, 6 beverages and 4 diverse factories, and the Akaki-Kality central wastewater treatment plant in Addis Ababa, were sampled to assess the level of pollutants. Heavy metals were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Analysis of nutrients were conducted using Palintest Photometer. Physicochemical characteristics were measured either in situ using a portable micro meter or in the laboratory. Among the measured physicochemical properties, critical issues were observed with electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and total hardness. Effluents from all of the tanneries, and a number of other factories, were found at levels higher than the maximum limits of various guideline standards. In addition, samples from two of the tanneries (T1 and T5), two beverage factories (B3 and B6) and the central wastewater treatment plant showed elevated concentrations of PO 4 3-, which violated the limit (10 mg/l) set by Environmental Protection Agency of Ethiopia (ETHEPA). The two tanneries (T1 and T5) also contained higher SO 4 2than the guideline limit of 1000 mg/l. On the other hand, only one factory, one brewery (B3), exhibited NO 3 above the standard limit of 20 mg/l. Whereas NH 3 , NH 4 + , Cl-, S 2and NO 2 were within the limits in all of the samples. Severe pollution was found in wastewaters from tanneries, where half of them (T1, T5 and T6) contained Cr beyond the maximum limit of 2000 µg/l. Furthermore, a third of the tanneries (T1 and T5) and a beverage factory (B5) contained Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu, higher than the ETHEPA limits of 10000, 5000, 5000 and 2000 µg/l, respectively. Waste disposal from factories without proper treatment can cause great harm to the local people and the environment. Hence, the results of this study call for regulatory bodies to pay close attention to factories, particularly tanneries, in Addis Ababa in implementing adequate treatments of their wastewater discharges

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Impacts of Surface Water Quality in the Awash River Basin, Ethiopia: A Systematic Review

Frontiers in Water, 2022

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A Synthesis of Surface Water Quality in Awash Basin, Ethiopia

Frontiers in Water, 2022

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Functional Links between Biomass Production and Decomposition of Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) Grass in Three Australian Soils

Plants, 2022

Plant roots are primary factors to contribute to surface and deep soil carbon sequestration (SCS)... more Plant roots are primary factors to contribute to surface and deep soil carbon sequestration (SCS). Perennial grasses like vetiver produce large and deep root system and are likely to contribute significantly to soil carbon. However, we have limited knowledge on how root and shoot decomposition differ and their contribution to SCS. This study examined biomass production and relative decomposition of vetiver which was grown under glasshouse conditions. Subsequently the biomass incubated for 206 days, and the gas analysed using ANCA-GSL. The results confirmed large shoot and root production potential of 161 and 107 Mg ha−1 (fresh) and 67.7 and 52.5 Mg ha−1 (dry) biomass, respectively with 1:1.43 (fresh) and 1:1.25 (dry) production ratio. Vetiver roots decomposed more rapidly in the clay soil (p < 0.001) compared with the shoots, which could be attributed to the lower C:N ratio of roots than the shoots. The large root biomass produced does indeed contribute more to the soil carbon ac...

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Towards the quantification of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration potential in the grasslands of East Africa

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Potential for soil organic carbon sequestration in grasslands in East African countries: A review

Grassland Science, 2020

Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae family). They are an i... more Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae family). They are an intrinsic part of both rangelands and pasturelands and constitute about half of the global land area. Grassland provides different functions, such as livestock feed, environmental regulation, sequestration of soil carbon, biological diversity and maintenance of soil health (Carlier, ROTAR, Vlahova,

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Towards the quantification of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration potential in the grasslands of East Africa

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Potential for soil organic carbon sequestration in grasslands in East African countries: A review

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A Synthesis of Surface Water Quality in Awash Basin, Ethiopia

Developing countries like Ethiopia are grabbling with rapid population growth, urbanization, agri... more Developing countries like Ethiopia are grabbling with rapid population growth, urbanization, agricultural intensification, and climate change which put intense pressure on the availability and quality of water resources. The surface water quality degradation is exacerbating due to increasing urbanization and agricultural activities. The average annual fertilizer use in Ethiopia increased from 132,522 metric tons (mt) in 1996 to 858,825 mt in 2015. Pesticide use also increases significantly from 3,327.7 mt/y in 2006 to 4,211.5 mt/y in 2010. The Awash river is one of the most affected rivers by intensified irrigation schemes, industrial, and urbanization pollution. The Awash river and its tributaries are used for domestic, irrigation, industrial, and recreational purposes. However, as per Canadian water quality indices for the drinking and irrigation water quality, the upper Awash basin scored 34.79, and 46.39, respectively, in the poor and marginal categories; whereas the middle/lower basin indicated 32.25 and 62.78 in poor and marginal ranges, respectively. Dissolved phosphorous in the headwater tributaries is about 0.51 mg/l which is beyond the threshold (0.15 mg/l). The surface water quality impairment is severe in the upper Awash basin where more than 90% of Addis Ababa's industries discharge their waste into nearby waterways without treatment; about 30% of the population lacks access to a liquid waste disposal and treatment facility; only 16% of the population is connected to sewage system, and 25% of the total waste generated enters freshwater systems without treatment. Many studies on surface water quality are reviewed and many of them are inconclusive for a number of reasons. For example, no comprehensive surface water quality research, lack of detailed combined spatial and temporal surface water quality data, and analysis to show the overall picture of the basin are a few of them. Despite the existence of the policy and legal tools, enforcement is lacking. Improving the ecological health of rivers necessitates policy revision as well as increased knowledge and engagement among implementers.

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Impacts of Surface Water Quality in the Awash River Basin, Ethiopia: A Systematic Review

Water quality impairment, due to anthropogenic activities and limited enforcement capacity, is a ... more Water quality impairment, due to anthropogenic activities and limited enforcement capacity, is a rapidly growing threat to water security as well as public health in developing countries. Cumulative effects of deteriorating water quality undoubtedly put pressure on public health and socioeconomic developments. For example, most industries in Ethiopia discharge their effluent directly into freshwater systems without any treatment process. The problem is severe for rivers such as the Awash that pass through major cities. Although there were a few studies that looked into the issue, there is a lack of comprehensive water quality impact assessment on agriculture, health, and socio-economics. This article systematically summarizes current research on water quality issues in the Awash River Basin to generate comprehensive information that captures the water quality status of the river and impacts of water contamination, and identify information and management gaps. Results showed that water quality degradation along the river course and in selected tributaries exceeds water quality standards by the WHO and national guidelines. For example, E-coli bacteria concentration in two tributaries, Tinishu and Tiliku Akaki, reach up to 6.68 and 6.61 billion CFU 100 ml/L. Virological profile of creeks receiving wastewater from hospitals in the City of Addis Ababa contains coliphages levels reaching as high as 5.2 × 10 3 pfu/100 ml for urban rivers and up to 4.92 × 10 3 pfu/100 ml. Heavy metals that far exceed the tolerable levels for humans were also detected in vegetables produced using impaired water. Heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, and Zn were detected in potato, Zn and Hg in Cabbage, and Cr in onion and red beet. Lettuce irrigated with Akaki river water found to contain 0.263 (Cd), 420 (Fe), 13.44 (Zn), 7.87 (Cr), 7.49 (Cu), and 6.55 (Pb) in mg/kg both in excess of WHO guideline. In addition, a high concentration of Cr has been also found in fish tissues. There has never been a systematic evaluation of the impact of contaminated water in the Awash Basin. Comprehensive impact of water quality investigation that takes into account the different pollutants dynamic needs to be made to protect the well being of downstream beneficiaries including the aquatic ecosystem. In conclusion the systematic review has shown that for a river that crossthrough emerging mega-city like Addis Ababa, the human and ecosystem health impact of aquatic ecosystems pollution should not afterthought action

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Functional Links between Biomass Production and Decomposition of Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) Grass in Three Australian Soils

Plants, 2022

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more

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Towards the quantification of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration potential in the grasslands of East Africa

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Farmers ’ Preference for Soil and Water Conservation Practices in Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Land degradation is a major socio-economic and environmental concern in the Ethiopian highlands w... more Land degradation is a major socio-economic and environmental concern in the Ethiopian highlands where the phenomenon has rendered vast areas of fertile land unproductive. To reverse this trend, the adoption of soil and water conservation (SWC) practices is crucial. However, failure by research and development organisations to take into consideration farmers preference for SWC practices have resulted into low adoption of these technologies. This paper presents the findings of a study that evaluated farmers ’ preferences of SWC practices, including the economic perspective; as a basis for enhancing adoption of the technologies in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Four soil and water conservation (SWC) practices; (i) soil bunds alone (SB), (ii) soil bunds with vetiver grass (SB+Vg), (iii) soil bunds with Susbania susban (SB+Ss) (iv) and soil bunds with elephant grass (SB+Eg), were evaluated in the Borodo Watershed in the central highlands of Ethiopia. These are the only SWC measures i...

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Soil Carbon Storage Potential of Tropical Grasses: A Review

Botany - Recent Advances and Applications, 2021

Environmental degradation and climate change are key current threats to world agriculture and foo... more Environmental degradation and climate change are key current threats to world agriculture and food security and human–induced changes have been significant driving forces of this global environmental change. An important component is land degradation which results in a diminished soil organic carbon (SOC) stock with concomitant loss of soil condition and function. Land management to improve soil organic matter content, condition and productivity is therefore a key strategy to safeguard agricultural production, food supply and environmental quality. Soil organic carbon sequestration through the use of plant species with high photosynthetic efficiency, deep roots and high biomass production is one important strategy to achieve this. Tropical pastures, which are adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions have particular potential in this regard and have been used extensively for land rehabilitation. Tropical pastures also have advantages over trees for biomass and carbon accum...

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Understanding and Managing Complexities in Integrated Natural Resources Management Using Watershed Approach: Lessons from the Central Highland of Ethiopia

Several natural resources management (NRM) efforts have been undertaken with the support of inter... more Several natural resources management (NRM) efforts have been undertaken with the support of international donors since 1980s. However, only a few of these efforts have been successful. The lack of integration from different disciplines, sectors and limitedparticipation of stakeholders are among the constraining factors contributed to low level of success. Farmers’ involvement in problem identification, priority setting, planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of the programs has been minimal. The conventional fragmented and linear research approach has also been weak to address the overall viability of the agricultural system due to the complexity of the NRM problems and the need for collective action in addition to individual solutions. This calls for a concerted effort of farmers, researchers, governmental and non-governmental institutions and a need for the interaction among biophysical, social, technological, economic and policy dimensions on NRM. Therefore, an in...

Beekeeping as Integrated Watershed Conservation and Climatic Change Adaptation: An Action Research in Boredo Watershed

Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change, 2014

The viability of productive conservation depends on efforts to manage economic and ecological fac... more The viability of productive conservation depends on efforts to manage economic and ecological factors to ensure that the relationship between communities and environment could be sustained. Beekeeping is linking conservation and local livelihoods based on the principle that watershed pay for itself by generating sustainable economic benefits for local communities. The study revealed that by increasing beekeeping skill, honey producers in the watershed realized the value and the need to conserve watershed as they obtained alternative income from honey production as high value commodity. Honey producers have traditional culture to maintain diverse floral resources around their homesteads and farm boundaries designed to increase honey production thus help to enhance watershed conservation and climate change adaption. Quality honey was harvested through adopting good watershed rehabilitation, standard colony management and harvesting methods. An average of 15.5 kg of honey was harvested per harvesting season from intermediate hive. Therefore, if watershed conservation and livelihood preservation are to occur, it is important to bring the voices of honey producers to the forefront of watershed conservation efforts. Given the opportunity and potentials for increased export for honey in Ethiopia, it was recommended that the government at all levels should provide technical services to align improved beekeeping to watershed conservation so that honey production is increased and sustained.

Soil Carbon Storage Under the Tropical Grass Vetiver in Australia

Bezaye Tessema

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