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Enhancing farming system water productivity through alternative land use and water management in vertisol areas of Ethiopian Blue Nile Basin (Abay)

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  • Erkossa, T.
  • Haileslassie, A.
  • MacAlister, C.

Abstract

Until recently, the Ethiopian government's investment did not systematically target high potential areas for agricultural intensification, limiting the potential productivity gains. Waterlogged vertisols, which cover about 2.7 million hectares in the Ethiopian part of the Blue Nile Basin, are among the high potential soils where management interventions could result in positive impacts. This study utilized soil, climate, crop and livestock productivity data and models to demonstrate intensification strategies which can increase crop-livestock system productivity. To understand the effects of alternative land use and water management interventions on water productivity, the areas have been classified into three drainage status depending on slope classes. Accordingly, non-drainable (0–2%), drainable (2–5%) and naturally drained (>5%) respectively, represented areas where artificial drainage is not feasible, where drainage using broad bed and furrows (BBF) is recommended, and areas where waterlogging is not a problem and no intervention is needed. Early planting of wheat (Triticum spp.) on BBF instead of the traditional late planting on flat beds in drainable areas and rice (Oryza sativa) cultivation instead of the traditional extensive grazing or growing grass-pea (Lathyrus sativus) on the flat areas provide viable alternative cropping options. Yield data of the crops and biomass of the native grass were obtained from research stations in the area while the effective rainfall and crop water requirement were estimated using CROPWAT Model. The value of the native grass and crop straw as livestock feed was estimated based on previous works. With respect to effective rainfall, the water productivity increase due to BBF over the control ranged from 5% to 200%, with an average increase of 57%. Despite higher water consumption of rice, feeding its residues to livestock enhanced the overall economic water productivity of the system as compared to the natural grazing or grass-pea cultivation. This can be accounted for by higher rice biomass productivity and the greater demand for its grain. The study demonstrated that draining the excess water when the slope allows, growing suitable high value crops on non-drainable areas, and integration of livestock into improved land and water management enhance overall agricultural system water productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Erkossa, T. & Haileslassie, A. & MacAlister, C., 2014. "Enhancing farming system water productivity through alternative land use and water management in vertisol areas of Ethiopian Blue Nile Basin (Abay)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 120-128.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:132:y:2014:i:c:p:120-128
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2013.10.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Astatke, A. & Mohamed Saleem, M. A. & El Wakeel, A., 1995. "Soil water dynamics under cereal and forage legume mixtures on drained vertisols in the Ethiopian highlands," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 17-24, April.
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    3. Haileslassie, Amare & Peden, Don & Gebreselassie, Solomon & Amede, Tilahun & Descheemaeker, Katrien, 2009. "Livestock water productivity in mixed crop-livestock farming systems of the Blue Nile basin: Assessing variability and prospects for improvement," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 102(1-3), pages 33-40, October.
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    5. Molden, David, 2007. "Water for food, water for life: a comprehensive assessment of water management in agriculture: summary," IWMI Books, Reports H039769, International Water Management Institute.
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    1. Eyasu Elias & Gizachew Kebede Biratu & Eric M. A. Smaling, 2022. "Vertisols in the Ethiopian Highlands: Interaction between Land Use Systems, Soil Properties, and Different Types of Fertilizer Applied to Teff and Wheat," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-13, June.
    2. Teklewold, Hailemariam & Mekonnen, Alemu & Gebrehiwot, Tagel & Bezabih, Mintewab, 2020. "Open access post-harvest grazing and farmers’ preferences for forage production incentives in Ethiopia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    3. Teklewold, Hailemariam & Gebrehiwot, Tagel & Bezabih, Mintewab, 2019. "Climate smart agricultural practices and gender differentiated nutrition outcome: An empirical evidence from Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 38-53.
    4. Hailemariam Teklewold & Alemu Mekonnen & Gunnar Kohlin & Salvatore Di Falco, 2017. "Does Adoption Of Multiple Climate-Smart Practices Improve Farmers’ Climate Resilience? Empirical Evidence From The Nile Basin Of Ethiopia," Climate Change Economics (CCE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 8(01), pages 1-30, February.
    5. Frieder Graef & Götz Uckert & Jana Schindler & Hannes Jochen König & Hadijah A. Mbwana & Anja Fasse & Lutengano Mwinuka & Henry Mahoo & Laurent N. Kaburire & Paul Saidia & Yusto Mugisha Yustas & Valer, 2017. "Expert-based ex-ante assessments of potential social, ecological, and economic impacts of upgrading strategies for improving food security in rural Tanzania using the ScalA-FS approach," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(6), pages 1255-1270, December.
    6. Teklewold, Hailemariam & Mekonnen, Alemu, 2020. "Weather at Different Growth Stages, Multiple Climate Smart Practices and Farm Level Risks: Panel Data Evidence from the Nile Basin of Ethiopia," EfD Discussion Paper 20-4, Environment for Development, University of Gothenburg.
    7. Lutengano Mwinuka & Khamaldin Daud Mutabazi & Frieder Graef & Stefan Sieber & Jeremia Makindara & Anthony Kimaro & Götz Uckert, 2017. "Simulated willingness of farmers to adopt fertilizer micro-dosing and rainwater harvesting technologies in semi-arid and sub-humid farming systems in Tanzania," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(6), pages 1237-1253, December.

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