TOHOKU UNIVERSITY Researchers - Adhena Tesfau Bekele

Education 4

Okayama University　Environmental Science (Ph.D.)

2022/04 - 2025/03
Okayama University　Research Student

2021/10 - 2022/03
Addis Ababa University　Aquatic Ecosystems and Environmental Management (M.Sc.)

2013/10 - 2016/07
Mekelle University　Biology (B.Sc.)

2010/10 - 2013/07

Professional Memberships 5

Ethiopian fisheries and aquatic science association

2014/02 - 2017/02
World Congress of Soil Science

2026/06 -
Japan society of soil science and plant nutrition

2026/05 -
Japan Geoscience Union

2024/01 -
Japan Society on Water Environment

2022/11 -

Research Interests 2

Soil contaminants remediation
Soil GHGs emissions, Soil biogeochemistry, Sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFC), Carbon sequestration

Research Areas 1

Environmental science/Agricultural science / Environmental materials/recycling technology /

Awards 3

Best poster presenter award

2026/06　World Congress of Soil Science 2026　Performance of sediment microbial fuel cells to inhibit arsenic availability in soil porewater: A laboratory study of different quality Japanese paddy soils
MEXT scholarship

2021/10　Japanese Government Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) Fellowship Award

2013/10　Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC)

Papers 6

Coupling effects of biochar and sediment microbial fuel cells on CH4 and CO2 emissions from straw-amended paddy soil

Adhena Tesfau Bekele, Morihiro Maeda, Nozomi Nakahara, Ayumi Hashiguchi, Hiroaki Somura, Satoshi Akao, Chiyu Nakano, Yuta Nishina

Journal of Soils and Sediments　2025/10/20

DOI： 10.1007/s11368-025-04133-4 　

ISSN： 1439-0108 1614-7480

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<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Purpose</jats:title> <jats:p>The independent incorporation of biochar and sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) into paddy soil has been shown to reduce methane (CH<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>) emissions. However, the application of rice straw into paddy soil enhances the availability of labile carbon that stimulates methanogen growth, counteracting the mitigation effects of both methods. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the effect of coupling biochar and SMFC on CH<jats:sub>4</jats:sub> and CO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> emissions from straw-amended paddy soil.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Materials and methods</jats:title> <jats:p>Single chamber SMFC setups constructed using acrylic columns (height, 25 cm; inner diameter, 9 cm) with six treatments were established using soil amended with 0% (0BC), 1% (1BC), and 2% (2BC) biochar: with and without SMFC conditions. Stainless steel mesh (15 × 3 cm) and graphite felt (6 × 5 cm) were used as anode and cathode materials, respectively.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>Cumulative emission of CH<jats:sub>4</jats:sub> in the 0BC treatment with SMFC was 39% less than in that without SMFC. Biochar addition and SMFC operation together further reduced CH<jats:sub>4</jats:sub> emission by 57% and 60% in 1BC and 2BC treatments, respectively, compared to that in the 0BC treatment without SMFC operation. The relative abundance of microbial communities indicated methane-oxidizing bacteria were enriched in the presence of biochar and hydrogenotrophic <jats:italic>Methanoregula</jats:italic> were suppressed by SMFC operation. This suggested that SMFC mainly inhibited CH<jats:sub>4</jats:sub> production by outcompeting hydrogenotrophic archaea.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title> <jats:p>The use of biochar made from leftover rice straw has an interactive effect on SMFC operation and both methods can be used to reduce CH<jats:sub>4</jats:sub> emission from straw-amended paddy soil.</jats:p> </jats:sec>
Carbon sequestration potentials of selected wetlands along the shorelines of Lake Zwai, Ethiopia

TESFAU BEKELE ADHENA

Comprehensive Study of Lake Zwai and Its Watershed for Sustainable Management　2025
Effects of Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells on CH4 and CO2 Emissions from Straw Amended Paddy Soil

Adhena Tesfau Bekele, Morihiro Maeda, Satoshi Akao, Hiroaki Somura, Chiyu Nakano, Yuta Nishina

Journal of Water and Environment Technology　2024

DOI： 10.2965/jwet.24-044 　

ISSN： 1348-2165
Intensification of climate change mitigation and adaptation actions through wetland conservation: the case of Ethiopian freshwater wetlands

TESFAU BEKELE ADHENA, Yoseph Haile

Geology, Ecology, and Landscapes　2023/01/02

DOI： 10.1080/24749508.2021.1923271 　

ISSN： 2474-9508
Biosphere Excursion: Ethiopia - United Arab Emirates; final excursion report, 2015-2016

UNESCO Liaison Office in Addis Ababa AND Hänsel, Vera Maria

2016
Publisher: UNESCO Addis Ababa Liaison Office
Carbon Sequestration Potentials of Selected Wetlands at Lake Ziway, Ethiopia

Bekele, Tesfau

2016
Publisher: {The International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE)}

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Books and Other Publications 2

Comprehensive Study of Lake Zwai and Its Watershed for Sustainable Management

Brook Lemma

Addis Ababa University Library　2025/07

ISBN: 9789999006255
BIOSPHERE EXCURSION ETHIOPIA – UNITED ARAB EMIRATES FINAL EXCURSION REPORT 2015-2016

Hänsel, Vera Maria

UNESCO Addis Ababa Liaison Office with the African Union Commission and UNECA　2016

Presentations 4

Performance of sediment microbial fuel cells to inhibit arsenic availability in soil porewater: A laboratory study of different quality Japanese paddy soils

Adhena Tesfau Bekele

World congress of sol science　2026/06/08
Coupling Effects of Biochar and Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells on CH4 and CO2 Emissions from Rice Straw-Treated Paddy Soil

TESFAU BEKELE ADHENA, Satoshi Akao, Nozomi Nakahara, Hiroaki Somura, Morihiro Maeda

Japan Geoscience Union　2024/05/30
Effects of sediment microbial fuel cells on CH4 and CO2 emissions from paddy soil with rice straw at different rates

Adhena Tesfau Bekele, Hiroaki Somura, Morihiro Maeda

Japan Society on Water Environment　2023/03/18
Carbon sequestration potentials of selected wetlands at Lake Ziway, Ethiopia. Invited

Tesfau Bekele, Brook Lemma, Seyoum Mengistou

International conference on comprehensive study of Lake Zwai and its watershed　2017/01/26

Teaching Experience 4

Reading of Scientific English 1　Tohoku University
Life and Nature (soil and Plants)　Tohoku University
Reading of Scientific English 1　Tohoku University
Fisheries, Aquaculture, Aquatic Science and Wetland Management　Dire Dawa University