ABSTRACT
Situated within a socio-anthropological framework of land dynamics, this qualitative inquiry conducted in Semien examines the interweaving of customary, institutional, and memorial normative regulations in the identity construction processes related to land belonging. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with both autochthonous and allochthonous actors, it unveils competing legitimisation configurations, wherein access to land becomes the site of a symbolic struggle articulating autochthony capital, genealogical narratives, and communal recognition. The analysis reveals that land, far from being a mere asset, functions as a marker of identity and a vector of social distinction. The discussion emphasises tensions between inherited normativity and contemporary reconfigurations of land rights, within the Ivorian context of legal pluralism and deeply contested memory. The study concludes with a call to urgently rethink land recognition mechanisms through situated practices and territorial subjectivities.

ABSTRACT
Ecological disturbances are increasingly recognized as key drivers of biological invasions in tropical forests. Kakamega Forest, Kenya’s only remnant of the Guineo-Congolian rainforest, faces mounting human pressures that may facilitate invasive plant spread. This study examined the association between the area of forest disturbed by human activities and invasive plant species abundance, addressing the problem of rising invasions amidst limited spatial assessments of disturbance impacts. The study was conducted in Kakamega Forest, where sixty rectangular plots (10 m × 50 m) were systematically distributed along transects across different forest strata to ensure representative sampling of disturbance gradients and habitat heterogeneity. Primary data collection involved measuring areas (m²) disturbed by activities such as fruit gathering, footpaths, cultivation, fuel-wood collection, hunting, charcoal burning, medicinal herb extraction, and gold extraction, coupled with direct counts of invasive plant individuals. The research adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design, employed systematic sampling, utilized quadrat surveys, GPS mapping, and relied on direct visual enumeration as the primary data collection method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, simple linear regression, and multiple linear regression. Simple regression revealed a significant positive relationship between total disturbed area and invasive abundance (β=0.48, t=5.33, p<0.001), explaining 52.5% of the variation (Adjusted R²=0.525). Multiple regression incorporating specific disturbance types improved prediction (Adjusted R²=0.673, F=19.2, p<0.001), highlighting cultivation (β=0.48, p=0.001), hunting (β=0.45, p<0.001), footpaths, and fuel-wood collection as leading contributors. The regression equation y=8.11+0.33x indicated that each additional m² of disturbance corresponds to an average increase of 0.33 invasive individuals. The study concludes that the spatial extent of human-induce

ABSTRACT
East Africa is a region on the eastern coast of Africa; the region is facing challenges such as droughts, floods, and pests all of which have disastrous effects on crops and food security. The present review paper mainly focuses on the status and intervention of the crop sector, food situation, strategies to develop crops and constraints faced by crop farmers in East Africa. East Africa is experiencing a severe food crisis due to prolonged drought affecting millions of people especially in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. Millions of Somalis, Ethiopians and South Sudanese will face acute food insecurity. With below-average precipitation forecasts the situation is expected to worsen in 2023. Despite drop in maize prices, local food prices remain high and has resulted to limited access to food. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reported five strategic pillars (SPs) for crop sector development from 2021 to 2026. The review also pointed out some constraints faced by farmers such as diseases, pests, natural disasters such as drought, declining soil fertility, lack of market access, and lack of adequate infrastructure. In Somalia, major constraints have been reported, such as decreasing groundwater and river levels, and fear of conflict between rebels and the government. These issues need urgent attention by governments, development partners and other stakeholders to address and provide urgent and long-term solutions to food crisis in East Africa.

ABSTRACT
In response to the outbreak of Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD) in the 1990’s and 2000’s which killed nearly half of the Robusta coffee in Uganda, causing losses of about US$100 million, the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) released 10 CWD-r resistant varieties or Kituza Robusta (KR’s). These varieties are being mass produced by cloning though, KR1, KR3 and KR4 have been reported to have poor suckering ability. An on-station study was therefore conducted to determine the effect of NPK fertilizer and bending angle of mother plants on suckering ability of these varieties. A split plot design with three replications was used, with fertilizer levels (0, 50, 75 and 100 g) as main plot and bending angle (vertical, 0o, inclined, 45o and horizontal, 90o) as sub plot. Number of suckers, nodes, leaves and primary branches was established after 180 days. Number of suckers varied significantly (p≤0.05) across variety, bending angle and fertilizer levels, with the highest being recorded on KR4 (52.1), horizontally-bent plants (68.8) and mother bushes treated with 100 g of NPK (55.1). In addition, a significant (p≤0.05) interaction was also observed between the bending angle and fertilizer for all the three coffee varieties. Horizontally-bent coffee registered the highest number of suckers when applied with 100 g of NPK for KR1 (74.3) and KR3 (94.0) whereas, 75 g of NPK for KR4 (111.0). Our findings provide a guide to coffee nursery operators on best-bet good agronomic practices (GAP’s) for enhancing suckering of these CWD-r Robusta coffee varieties.

ABSTRACT
In coffee-based agroforestry systems under diverse shade tree patterns in Kodagu, Central Western Ghats, India, tree diversity and carbon stock were investigated in both Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora plantations spanning 4106 km2 during 2023-24 and 2024-25. Six distinct shade patterns—native, mixed and exotic species—were assessed under varying management regimes (low, medium and high). Field enumeration recorded tree density, basal area, species richness and structural attributes using nested sampling approaches. Biodiversity indices such as the Shannon-Wiener Index (SWI) and Simpson’s Index (SI) evaluated species diversity and dominance, revealing maximum biodiversity in native and mixed shade systems than in exotic species-dominated systems. The carbon stock distribution was studied across Above-Ground Biomass (AGB), Below-Ground Biomass (BGB) and Soil Organic Carbon (SOC). Arabica plantations recorded higher total biomass (362.43 Mg ha⁻¹) than Robusta (215.50 Mg ha⁻¹), with native and mixed shade systems outperforming exotic systems. SOC contributed over 50 per cent to the total carbon stock, with significant variations across shade patterns and management regimes. Arabica systems showed higher carbon stock (353.06 Mg ha⁻¹) and CO₂ sequestration potential (1294.57 Mg C ha⁻¹) than Robusta systems (272.97 Mg ha⁻¹ and 1000.88 Mg C ha⁻¹, respectively). Native and mixed shade systems exhibited superior SOC accumulation and carbon sequestration potential (1212.02 Mg C ha⁻¹ and 1194.81 Mg C ha⁻¹) compared to exotic systems (1036.34 Mg C ha⁻¹). These findings highlight the ecological importance of native and mixed shade systems in enhancing biodiversity, carbon storage and soil health. The study advocates integrating native tree species for long-term sustainability and resilience in coffee agroforestry systems.

ABSTRACT
This study investigates the effects of nipa bioethanol vinasse, a distillery by-product of nipa sap on the chemical and microbiological properties of Bantay Clay Loam soil in the City of Batac, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. A pot experiment was conducted using Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five treatments: 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% vinasse concentrations. Each treatment was replicated three times to evaluate its influence on key soil parameters, including pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, and bacterial density. Preliminary analyses revealed that the vinasse contained low levels of nitrogen and phosphorus but moderate amounts of potassium, with a strongly acidic pH. Results showed no significant changes in soil pH, organic matter, nitrogen, or phosphorus levels following vinasse application. However, a significant increase in exchangeable potassium was observed at higher vinasse concentrations. Additionally, no inhibitory effects on bacterial colony growth were detected, suggesting that vinasse is microbiologically safe and may even support microbial activity in the soil. The study concludes that while nipa bioethanol vinasse may not significantly enhance all macronutrients, it serves as a promising organic source of potassium and poses no adverse effects on soil microbial populations. These findings contribute to the growing interest in sustainable waste-to-resource practices and support the integration of agro-industrial by-products into organic soil fertility management strategies. Further studies are recommended to assess its long-term effects, optimal application methods, and potential synergies with other organic or inorganic inputs.

ABSTRACT
Soil erosion is a major environmental challenge that necessitates meticulous investigation and the implementation of sustainable management practices. The objective of this study is to provide a thorough assessment of soil erosion in the Bay region from 2020 to 2023, utilizing the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and advanced geospatial technologies, particularly Google Earth Engine, to guide sustainable land management strategies. The study integrates multiple datasets, including CHIRPS for rainfall measurement, MODIS for land use analysis, and a digital elevation model for slope calculation, to offer a comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to soil erosion. The rainfall erosivity (R) factor is calculated using CHIRPS data, while the soil erodibility (K-factor) is derived from the soil dataset. The topographic (LS-factor) is computed using the digital elevation model, and the cover-management (C) and support practice (P) factors are determined from the NDVI and land use data, respectively. The findings reveal considerable spatial variation in soil erosion across the Hirshabelle regions. The results are categorized into five levels based on the severity of soil loss: Slight (<10), Moderate (10-20), High (20-30), very high (30-40), and Severe (>40). While areas classified under “Slight” soil loss are dominant, indicating relatively stable soils, regions under “Severe” soil loss signal potential land degradation and the need for immediate intervention. Furthermore, the study revealed the intricate interplay of slope, vegetation, and land use in influencing soil erosion. Areas with steeper slopes and less vegetation were more susceptible to soil loss, emphasizing the need for targeted soil conservation measures in these regions. The land use factor played a crucial role, with certain land uses contributing more to soil erosion than others.