Effect of Land Use/Land Cover Change on Soil Loss in the Tropical River Catchment of Northeast India

2021 ◽  
pp. 75-96
Author(s):  
Jatan Debnath ◽  
Nibedita Das
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abreham Berta Aneseyee

Abstract Background: Information on soil loss and sediment export is essential to identify hotspots of soil erosion for conservation interventions in a given watershed. This study aims at investigating the dynamic of soil loss and sediment export associated with land use/land cover change and identifies soil loss hotspot areas in Winike watershed of Omo-gibe basin of Ethiopia. Spatial data collected from satellite images, topographic maps, meteorological and soil data were analyzed. Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) of sediment delivery ratio (SDR) model was used based on analysis of land use/land cover maps and RUSLE factors. Result: The results showed that total soil loss increased from 774.86 thousand tons in 1988 to 951.21 thousand tons in 2018 while the corresponding sediment export increased by 3.85 thousand tons in the same period. These were subsequently investigated in each land-use type. Cultivated fields generated the highest soil erosion rate, which increased by 10.02 t/ha/year in 1988 to 43.48 t/ha/year in 2018. This corresponds with the expansion of the cultivated area that increased from 44.95 thousand ha in 1988 to 59.79 thousand ha in 2018. This is logical as the correlation between soil loss and sediment delivery and expansion of cultivated area is highly significant (p<0.01). Sub-watershed six (SW-6) generated the highest soil loss (62.77 t/ha/year) and sediment export 16.69 t/ha/year, followed by Sub-watershed ten (SW-10) that are situated in the upland plateau. Conversely, the lower reaches of the watershed are under dense vegetation cover and experiencing less erosion. Conclusion: Overall, the changes in land use/land cover affect significantly the soil erosion and sediment export dynamism. This research is used to identify an area to prioritize the watershed for immediate management practices. Thus, land use policy measures need to be enforced to protect the hydropower generation dams at downstream and the ecosystem at the watershed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alemu Beyene Woldesenbet ◽  
Sebsebe Demisew Wudmatas ◽  
Mekuria Argaw Denboba ◽  
Azage Gebreyohannes Gebremariam

Abstract Background Water erosion, upland degradation and deforestation are the key environmental problems in Meki river watershed where this study was conducted. This study assessed the land use land cover change (LULCC) over the last 30 years, examined the contribution of Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS) to manage soil erosion problem for sustainability of Lake Ziway and suggested appropriate management interventions for the watershed ERDAS imagine 2014, Geo-statistical interpolation and RUSLE model was devised for LULCC detection and analysis, for different spatial inputs and soil loss modeling respectively. Result Meki river watershed covers 2110.39056 km² of area which is dominantly covered by cultivated land use system (41.5%), Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS)(10.65%), Bush and Chat land use system (25.6%), Forest and plantations land use system (14.14%), built up (7.4%) and water bodies (0.75%). Severity class of High to severe range (18-125tha-1yr-1) recorded in the sub-watersheds irrespective of the land use systems and facing sever degradation problem that increase in soil loss in all land use systems from 1987 to 2017. The average soil loss of 30.5tha-1yr-1 and 31.905tha-1yr-1 recorded from Enset growing zones and non-Enset growing zones of the watershed respectively.Conclusion Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS) saves significant amount of soil despite the steepness of the slopes of the Enset growing zones of the watershed. Hence, expansion of EBLUS can contribute in sustaining Lake Ziway by reducing soil loss rate and sedimentation problem for ecological sustainability of the watershed. Therefore, separate land use policy and awareness creation are mandatory for such EBLUS expansion, integrated watershed management and conservation of the natural environment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alemu Beyene Woldesenbet ◽  
Sebsebe Demisew Wudmatas ◽  
Mekuria Argaw Denboba ◽  
Azage Gebreyohannes Gebremariam

Abstract Background Water erosion, upland degradation and deforestation are key environmental problems in the Meki river watershed. The study assessed the land use land cover change (LULCC) for 30 years and it examined the contribution of indigenous Enset-based land use system (EBLUS) to reduce soil erosion and prevent water bodies including Lake Ziway from sedimentation which was not considered in the former studies. GPS based data collected and satellite based LULC analysis using ERDAS Imagine 2014 performed to investigate existing farm management practices and land cover respectively. HEC-GEOHMS, Geo-statistical interpolation and RUSLE were applied to model watershed characteristics, spatial climate parameters and soil loss respectively. Result Meki river watershed (2110.4 km2 of area) is dominantly covered by cultivated LUS (41.5%), EBLUS (10.65%), Bush and Chat LUS (25.6%), Forest and plantations LUS (14.14%), built-up (7.4%) and water bodies (0.75%). Soil loss is increasing from 1987 to 2017 and a larger part of the watershed suffers a moderately severe to very severe risk (18 t ha−1 year−1 to > 80 t ha−1 year−1) in all sub-watersheds irrespective of the land use systems which shows the watershed is facing sever degradation problem. The mean soil loss of 30.5 t ha−1 year−13 and 31.905 t ha−1 year−1 are verified from Enset growing zones and non-Enset growing zones of the watershed respectively. Conclusion EBLUS saves significant amount of soil despite the steepness of the slopes of the Enset growing zones of the watershed. Hence, expansion of EBLUS can contribute in sustaining water bodies, including Lake Ziway by reducing soil loss rate and sedimentation problem for the ecological sustainability of the watershed. Therefore, separate land use policy and awareness creation are mandatory for such EBLUS expansion, sustainable watershed management interventions and conservation of the natural environment in the watershed based on its suitability and severity of erosion risk mapping.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-56
Author(s):  
Abrham Tezera Gessesse ◽  
Tilashwork Chanie ◽  
Tesfaye Feyisa ◽  
Abdlesemed Jemal

Land use, which is use of land by human for different purposes, is influenced by two broad sets of forces human needs (socio-economic) and environmental features and processes (biophysical). The study was carried out at Andit Tid watershed one of SCRP research unit founded in 1982, located on 390 43’E 9048’N.  This research has aimed to assess the trend and main driving force of land use and land cover change (LULCC) within the catchment / watershed during the last two decades and its impact on soil erosion. Structural questioner was used to collect social data from 8% of the total household. Landsat 5 and Landsat 8 Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) and supervised image classification used to identify land use/ land cover change of the study area for 1994 and 2014 years, respectively. TESTMAIN and SPSS version 16 Statistical software’s were used for Soil loss calculation and social data analysis, respectively. The result indicates that, there is expansion of cultivated land by 11.33% (44.55ha) while reduction in natural shrub lands by 7.3 % (35.73ha). The main driving forces of land use land cover change are high number of family member, small land holding size and minimum asset own per household, lower educational level of the household, the household mainly occupied on agriculture and there is lack of animal feed.  This change forced farmers to collect cereal crops based on suitability area, sale livestock, use organic and inorganic fertilizer and use improved variety due to low crop productivity. The LULC change has an impact on decline soil fertility, cause serious soil erosion problem with in farmland/watershed. The result also indicated that soil loss reached 3655 ton per annum from the watershed. Therefore, proper handling and land use system need to be implemented, rainwater harvesting structures and soil and water conservation practice need to be encouraged in order reduce soil loss.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alemu Beyene Woldesenbet ◽  
Sebsebe Demisew Wudmatas ◽  
Mekuria Argaw Denboba ◽  
Azage Gebreyohannes Gebremariam

Abstract Background Water erosion, upland degradation and deforestation are key environmental problems in the Meki river watershed. The study assessed the land use land cover change (LULCC) for 30 years and it examined the contribution of indigenous Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS) to reduce soil erosion and prevent water bodies including Lake Ziway from sedimentation which was not considered in the former studies. GPS based data collected and satellite based LULC analysis using ERDAS Imagine 2014 performed to investigate existing farm management practices and land cover respectively. HEC-GEOHMS, Geo-statistical interpolation and RUSLE were applied to model watershed characteristics, spatial climate parameters and soil loss respectively. Result Meki river watershed (2110.4sq.km of area) is dominantly covered by cultivated LUS (41.5%), EBLUS (10.65%), Bush and Chat LUS (25.6%), Forest and plantations LUS (14.14%), built-up (7.4%) and water bodies (0.75%). Soil loss is increasing from 1987 to 2017 and a larger part of the watershed suffers a moderately severe to very severe risk (18 t ha-1yr-1 to >80 t ha-1yr-1) in all sub-watersheds irrespective of the land use systems which shows the watershed is facing sever degradation problem. The mean soil loss of 30.5 t ha-1yr-1 and 31.905 t ha-1yr-1 are verified from Enset growing zones and non-Enset growing zones of the watershed respectively. Conclusion EBLUS saves significant amount of soil despite the steepness of the slopes of the Enset growing zones of the watershed. Hence, expansion of EBLUS can contribute in sustaining water bodies, including Lake Ziway by reducing soil loss rate and sedimentation problem for the ecological sustainability of the watershed. Therefore, separate land use policy and awareness creation are mandatory for such EBLUS expansion, sustainable watershed management interventions and conservation of the natural environment in the watershed based on its suitability and severity of erosion risk mapping.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alemu Beyene Woldesenbet ◽  
Sebsebe Demisew Wudmatas ◽  
Mekuria Argaw Denboba ◽  
Azage Gebreyohannes Gebremariam

Abstract Background Water erosion, upland degradation and deforestation are key environmental problems in Meki river watershed. . The study assessed the land use land cover change (LULCC) over the last 30 years, examined the contribution of the indigenous Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS) which was not studied so far in reducing soil erosion and preventing Lake Ziway from sedimentation. Based on the outcomes, the research recommended appropriate management interventions based on priority mapped to sustainably manage the watershed. GPS based Ground truth data sampling and collection, Geo-statistical interpolation and RUSLE model were applied for soil erosion modeling. The LULCC detection and analysis was conducted to generate the spatial inputs using ERDAS Imagine 2014. Result Meki river watershed has 2110.4 km² of area which is dominantly covered by cultivated land use system (41.5%), Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS)(10.65%), Bush and Chat land use system (25.6%), Forest and plantations land use system (14.14%), built up (7.4%) and water bodies (0.75%). Severity class of High to severe range (18-125tha -1 yr -1 ) recorded in the sub-watersheds irrespective of the land use systems and facing sever degradation problem that increase in soil loss in all land use systems from 1987 to 2017. The average soil loss of 30.5tha -1 yr-1 and 31.905tha-1yr-1 verified from Enset growing zones and non-Enset growing zones of the watershed respectively. Conclusion Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS) saves significant amount of soil despite the steepness of the slopes of the Enset growing zones of the watershed. Hence, expansion of EBLUS can contribute in sustaining Lake Ziway by reducing soil loss rate and sedimentation problem for ecological sustainability of the watershed. Therefore, separate land use policy and awareness creation are mandatory for such EBLUS expansion, integrated watershed management and conservation of the natural environment in the watershed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 389-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.H. Abdulkareem ◽  
B. Pradhan ◽  
W.N.A. Sulaiman ◽  
N.R. Jamil

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alemu Beyene Woldesenbet ◽  
Sebsebe Demisew Wudmatas ◽  
Mekuria Argaw Denboba ◽  
Azage Gebreyohannes Gebremariam

Abstract Background Water erosion, upland degradation and deforestation are key environmental problems in Meki river watershed. . The study assessed the land use land cover change (LULCC) over the last 30 years, examined the contribution of the indigenous Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS) which was not studied so far in reducing soil erosion and preventing Lake Ziway from sedimentation. Based on the outcomes, the research recommended appropriate management interventions based on priority mapped to sustainably manage the watershed. GPS based Ground truth data sampling and collection, Geo-statistical interpolation and RUSLE model were applied for soil erosion modeling. The LULCC detection and analysis was conducted to generate the spatial inputs using ERDAS Imagine 2014. Result Meki river watershed has 2110.4 km² of area which is dominantly covered by cultivated land use system (41.5%), Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS)(10.65%), Bush and Chat land use system (25.6%), Forest and plantations land use system (14.14%), built up (7.4%) and water bodies (0.75%). Severity class of High to severe range (18-125tha-1yr-1) recorded in the sub-watersheds irrespective of the land use systems and facing sever degradation problem that increase in soil loss in all land use systems from 1987 to 2017. The average soil loss of 30.5tha-1yr-1 and 31.905tha-1yr-1 verified from Enset growing zones and non-Enset growing zones of the watershed respectively.Conclusion Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS) saves significant amount of soil despite the steepness of the slopes of the Enset growing zones of the watershed. Hence, expansion of EBLUS can contribute in sustaining Lake Ziway by reducing soil loss rate and sedimentation problem for ecological sustainability of the watershed. Therefore, separate land use policy and awareness creation are mandatory for such EBLUS expansion, integrated watershed management and conservation of the natural environment in the watershed.


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