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Dynamics of leaf litter decomposition and macronutrient mineralisation of dominant tree species in urban subtropical reserve forests
(Elsevier B.V, 2024-09-25) Malunguja, Gisandu K.; Devi, Ashalata
Over the past decade, the northeastern regions of India have seen a significant increase in forested areas near urban
centres, known as urban reserve forests (RFs). The increase in area is attributed to the implementation of green
urban planning and initiatives aimed at adapting to climate change. Dominant tree species in these forests have a sig-
nificant impact on nutrient dynamics and mineralisation through litter decomposition, but the specific extent of their
contributions is not well understood. Thus, to address this gap, a year-long experiment was conducted using litter bags
and trap techniques on 48 trees representing eight dominant species: Shorea robusta, Tectona grandis, Dalbergia sissoo,
Lagerstroemia speciosa, Syzygium cumini, Altingia excelsa, Artocarpus heterophyllus, and Ficus hirta. The study found that
annual litter production ranged from 0.62 to 3.3 Mg ha−1 year−1
, with Tectona grandis producing the highest litter pro-
duction while Lagerstroemia speciosa had the least. The decomposition rates exhibited variation, with Ficus hirta
decomposing at the highest rate of 99.2 % and Shorea robusta at the slowest rate of 62.4 %. However, Shorea robusta
had the highest decay constant (k = 0.38) and Ficus hirta had the lowest (k = 0.01). Ficus hirta took the least time
(1.04 years) to decay 95 % of their litter, while Shorea robusta took the most (5.11 years). The decomposition of litter
resulted in significant variations in the return of macronutrients (N, P, and K), with N being the highest (85.26 %),
followed by K (83.3 %) and P (33.58 %). Macronutrients in the litter showed a positive correlation with the levels
of N, P, and K in the soil, increasing linearly throughout the experiment. This indicates a continuous release of nutrients
from decomposing litter. The study found that planting a mix of Ficus hirta, Tectona grandis, Dalbergia sissoo, and
Lagerstroemia speciosa is the most effective way to restore nutrients and make the soil more fertile rapidly. Introducing
these species in new reserve forests has the potential to improve soil fertility, promote forest sustainability, and provide
long-term resilience in mineralisatio
Women's Satisfaction on Maternal Healthcare Services in Public Health Facilities: A Case of Meta Maternity Hospital
(Tanzania Medical Journal, 2025-05-01) Kyambille, Godphrey; Mvuma, Aloys; Machuve, Dina; Rugumisa, Bernadether; Mang'ara, JL. Revocatus
Satisfaction with healthcare services serves as a key measure of quality in healthcare
systems. Although the Ministry of Health in Tanzania has introduced attentive and respectful
health service, the satisfaction levels among pregnant women with delivery services at public
hospitals remain inadequately addressed.
Women's Barriers to Access Maternal Healthcare Services in Southern Highlands of Tanzania: A Case of Meta Maternity Hospital
(EAST AFRICAN NATURE & SCIENCE ORGANIZATION, 2023-09-14) Kyambille, Godphrey G; Mvuma, Aloys,; Machuve,Dina; Rugumisa, Bernadether; Mang’ara, Revocatus
The improvement of maternal healthcare (MHC) is a global priority. However, barriers to accessing maternal healthcare services (MHCS) impede progress toward achieving sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5. The demand for maternal healthcare services (MHCS) is especially obvious in underdeveloped countries, where several obstacles restrict access to healthcare. This study aimed to identify obstacles to accessing maternal healthcare services. The primary objective of data collection questionnaires was to identify the variables influencing women's access to reproductive and maternal healthcare services. Between September 2022 and January 2023, 374 respondents' information was gathered and then thematically examined, the observed obstacles to using and obtaining maternal healthcare services were physical barriers, social obstacles, cultural obstacles, organization obstacles, and financial obstacles. The results of this study show that there must be a way to get around the problems listed above in order to improve access to maternal and reproductive health services.
Water-pH phytoremediation: An entrance to exploiting the potential of plant biomass ash in water defluoridation
(Published by University of El Oued, 2024-05-04) Mwakabonaa, Hezron Timothy; Njau, Karoli .N; Bruggen Bart Van der
Field application of low-cost biomass ash in water defluoridation is hindered by media-induced contamination in the treated
water including pH elevation. This study explored the method for adjusting pH of water using Cyperus plants. Findings reveal
that used ash material is calcium rich with concentration of 537.9 gKg-1. The ash water extract was found to be rich in K with
concentration of 642.6 gKg-1. The ash material used was found to have faster and sustained fluoride removal, attaining 76%
removal efficiency in 30 minutes with slow increase throughout the experimental time of 24 hours. The pH of the ash-
defluoridated water was found to increase from 8.3 to an average of 12.2. Live Cyperus plants showed ability to lower the pH
of the treated water from 12.2 to 7.3 and elevate the pH of acid treated water from 3.5 to 6.8. This implies that these plants
exude some form of buffer compounds with a constant pH of around 7. This was confirmed by concentration of
hydrogencarbonates was found to increase while that of the carbonates decreased in the Cyperus-treated water. This could
further imply that the Cyperus-assisted pH adjustment is effected by a buffer compound released by these plants.
Zero-valent Iron-aluminium Co-corrosion: A potential Comprehensive Low-cost Method for Water Defluoridation
(Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2023) Lema, E.S.; Mwakabona, H.T.
Climate change coupled with population increase has forced communities in fluoride rich
areas to turn to fluoride contaminated groundwater to fill in the water deficit created by drying of
water sources and increasing water demand. Application of low-cost materials such as iron and
aluminium hydroxides in the field is limited by expensive preparation steps involved. This study
investigated the applicability of Fe and Al, in their metallic states, in water defluoridation by
allowing simultaneous corrosion of zero-valent aluminium (ZVA) and iron (ZVI) to form in situ
hydroxides. The effect of time, dose, concentration and pH was studied by varying one parameter
at a time while controlling others. Findings reveal that, mixing the two materials in their metallic
state have the same synergistic effect on their fluoride removal properties as their corresponding
(hydr)oxides. Whereas in their pure metallic states, iron and aluminium lowered the concentration
of fluoride from 15 - 13.09 mg/L and 15 - 14.9 mg/L respectively, their mixture lowered fluoride
levels from 15 - 7.74 mg/L in the period of seven (7) days. Spiking the fluoride solution with Fe3+
ions was found to enhance fluoride removal by lowering Fluoride levels from 15 - 0.8 mg/L in
the same period. This could imply that a fluoride removal mechanism in this process involves
precipitation of fluoro-complexes of iron rather than those of aluminium. These findings, therefore,
suggest that a step involving conversion of ZVA and ZVI into their (hydr)oxides can be skipped in
water defluoridation without significantly affecting their fluoride removal capacities.