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Impact of Soil Depth and Topography on the Effectiveness of Conservation Practices on Discharge and Soil Loss in the Ethiopian Highlands

Author

Listed:
  • Adugnaw T. Akale

    (Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 26, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia)

  • Dessalegn C. Dagnew

    (Institute of Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Studies, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 5501 Bahir Dar, Ethiopia)

  • Mulugeta A. Belete

    (Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 26, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia)

  • Seifu A. Tilahun

    (Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 26, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia)

  • Wolde Mekuria

    (International Water Management Institute (IWMI), East Africa and the Nile Basin Sub-Regional Office, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

  • Tammo S. Steenhuis

    (Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 26, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
    Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA)

Abstract

Restoration of degraded landscapes through the implementation of soil and water conservation practices is considered a viable option to increase agricultural production by enhancing ecosystems. However, in the humid Ethiopian highlands, little information is available on the impact of conservation practices despite wide scale implementation. The objective of this research was to document the effect of conservation practices on discharge and sediment concentration and load in watersheds that have different soil depths and topography. Precipitation, discharge, and sediment concentration were measured from 2010 to 2012 in two watersheds in close proximity and located in the Lake Tana basin, Ethiopia: Tikur-Wuha and Guale watersheds. The Tikur-Wuha watershed has deep soils and a gentle slope stream channel. The Guale watershed has shallow soils and a steep slope stream channel. In early 2011, the local community installed upland conservation measures consisting of stone and soil bunds, waterways, cutoff drains, infiltration furrows, gully rehabilitation, and enclosures. The results show that conservation practices marginally decreased direct runoff in both watersheds and increased base flow in the Tikur-Wuha watershed. Average sediment concentration decreased by 81% in Tikur-Wuha and 45% in Guale. The practices intended to increase infiltration were most effective in the Tikur-Wuha watershed because the deep soil could store the infiltrated water and release it over a longer period of time after the rainy season than the steeper Guale watershed with shallow soils.

Suggested Citation

  • Adugnaw T. Akale & Dessalegn C. Dagnew & Mulugeta A. Belete & Seifu A. Tilahun & Wolde Mekuria & Tammo S. Steenhuis, 2017. "Impact of Soil Depth and Topography on the Effectiveness of Conservation Practices on Discharge and Soil Loss in the Ethiopian Highlands," Land, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:6:y:2017:i:4:p:78-:d:117580
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Pimentel & Michael Burgess, 2013. "Soil Erosion Threatens Food Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-21, August.
    2. Menale Kassie & John Pender & Mahmud Yesuf & Gunnar Kohlin & Randy Bluffstone & Elias Mulugeta, 2008. "Estimating returns to soil conservation adoption in the northern Ethiopian highlands," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 38(2), pages 213-232, March.
    3. Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele, 2008. "A review of hydrology, sediment and water resource use in the Blue Nile Basin," IWMI Working Papers H041833, International Water Management Institute.
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    2. Roslan Zainal Abidin & Mohd Amirul Mahamud & Mohd Fazly Yusof & Nor Azazi Zakaria & Mohd Aminur Rashid Mohd Amiruddin Arumugam, 2021. "Determination of Cover Management and Soil Loss Risk Mapping by Sub-Districts and River Catchments of Cameron Highlands Malaysia," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-15, November.
    3. Gezahegn Weldu Woldemariam & Arus Edo Harka, 2020. "Effect of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion in Erer Sub-Basin, Northeast Wabi Shebelle Basin, Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-25, April.
    4. Gezahegn Weldu Woldemariam & Anteneh Derribew Iguala & Solomon Tekalign & Ramireddy Uttama Reddy, 2018. "Spatial Modeling of Soil Erosion Risk and Its Implication for Conservation Planning: the Case of the Gobele Watershed, East Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-25, February.
    5. Anik Juli Dwi Astuti & Sofie Annys & Mekete Dessie & Jan Nyssen & Stefaan Dondeyne, 2022. "To What Extent Is Hydrologic Connectivity Taken into Account in Catchment Studies in the Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia? A Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-18, November.
    6. Mohd Amirul Mahamud & Noor Aida Saad & Roslan Zainal Abidin & Mohd Fazly Yusof & Nor Azazi Zakaria & Mohd Aminur Rashid Mohd Amiruddin Arumugam & Safari Mat Desa & Md. Nasir Md. Noh, 2021. "Determination of Cover and Land Management Factors for Soil Loss Prediction in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Solomon Hishe & James Lyimo & Woldeamlak Bewket, 2019. "Impacts of soil and water conservation intervention on rural livelihoods in the Middle Suluh Valley, Tigray Region, northern Ethiopia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 21(6), pages 2641-2665, December.

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