Integrated impact assessment of soil and water conservation structures on runoff and sediment yield through measurements and modeling in the Northern Ethiopian highlands

The areas with high and coarse sediment yield of the middle Yellow River is well known for its severe erosion, high sediment yields. Since 1982 when the 8 key soil and water conservation harnessing regions has been built, the ecological environment has been gradually improved and the amount of sediment and runoff entering the Yellow River has been reduced continuously. Some researchers considered that it was owing to the water and soil conservation works (WSCW), while others believed that it was caused by the rainfall variation, but this has not been quantified for the effect respectively. This paper deals with the effects of WSCW on runoff and sediment variation. The study has been carried out in the Sanchuanhe River watershed, where was listed as one of the 8 key soil and water conservation harnessing regions. The results show that the contribution rate of human activities was 80.2% after 1st harnessing stage (1970-1979), 43.0% after 2nd harnessing stage (1980-1989), in 3rd harnessing stage (1990-1996) it reached 98.4%, and was 44.8% after 4th harnessing stage (1997-2006). With regard to the influence on runoff reduction in the watershed, the contribution rate of human activities was 62.5% compared with the natural factors after 1st harnessing stage (1970-1979), 28.4% after 2nd harnessing stage (1980-1989), in 3rd harnessing stage (1990-1996) it reached 69.6%, and was 37.0% after 4th harnessing stage (1997-2006). The results revealed that human activities exerted the largest effects on the sediment reduction and explained 66.6% of the variation in the specific sediment yield. This study suggests that a combination of human activities and rainfall variation effectively reduces runoff and sediment delivery of the Loess Plateau. Generally The runoff reduction and contribution of rainfall variation to runoff reduction in this area were as large as human activities. After many years' harnessing the great benefit have been obtained in water and soil loss control in this watershed.

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Factors influencing the adoption of physical soil and water conservation practices in the Ethiopian highlands

International Soil and Water Conservation Research ◽

10.1016/j.iswcr.2017.12.006 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 23-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Asnake Mekuriaw ◽

Andreas Heinimann ◽

Gete Zeleke ◽

Hans Hurni

Keyword(s):

Water Conservation ◽

Soil And Water Conservation ◽

Conservation Practices ◽

Ethiopian Highlands ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Soil And Water

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Participatory Impact Assessment of Soil and Water Conservation Scenarios in Oum Zessar Watershed, Tunisia

Environmental Management ◽

10.1007/s00267-012-9865-y ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 153-165 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Hannes Jochen König ◽

Mongi Sghaier ◽

Johannes Schuler ◽

Mohamed Abdeladhim ◽

Katharina Helming ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Impact Assessment ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Soil And Water Conservation ◽

Soil And Water

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Causes of Variations in Sediment Yield in the Jinghe River Basin, China

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-74980-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jinliang Zhang ◽

Yizi Shang ◽

Jinyong Liu ◽

Jian Fu ◽

Shitao Wei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

River Basin ◽

Sediment Yield ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Yellow River ◽

Soil And Water Conservation ◽

Water Diversion ◽

Sediment Discharge ◽

Jinghe River Basin ◽

Jinghe River ◽

Soil And Water

Abstract The Jinghe River remains the major sediment source of the Yellow River in China; however, sediment discharge in the Jinghe River has reduced significantly since the 1950s. The objective of this study is to identify the causes of sediment yield variations in the Jinghe River Basin based on soil and water conservation methods and rainfall analyses. The results revealed that soil and water conservation projects were responsible for half of the total sediment reduction; sediment retention due to reservoirs and water diversion projects was responsible for 1.3% of the total reduction. Moreover, the Jinghe River Basin has negligible opportunity to improve its vegetation cover (currently 55% of the basin is covered with lawns and trees), and silt-arrester dams play a smaller role in reducing sediment significantly before they are entirely full. Therefore, new large-scale sediment trapping projects must be implemented across the Jinghe River Basin, where heavy rainfall events are likely to substantially increase in the future, leading to higher sediment discharge.

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Determinants of smallholder farmers’ decisions on fertilizer use for cereal crops in the Ethiopian highlands

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s001447972000023x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 (5) ◽

pp. 677-687

Author(s):

Tewodros Tefera ◽

Eyasu Elias ◽

Christy van Beek

Keyword(s):

Family Size ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Soil And Water Conservation ◽

Ethiopian Highlands ◽

Fertilizer Use ◽

Access To Credit ◽

Education Status ◽

Fertilizer Adoption ◽

Soil And Water

AbstractThis study identified decision variables influencing fertilizer adoption and optimal fertilizer rates among smallholder farmers in the Ethiopian highlands. The fertilizer adoption and fertilizer use were examined in four regional states using a questionnaire survey, which was administered to 2880 farm households. A double hurdle model was used to analyze factors influencing the two independent decisions of adoption of fertilizers and use of fertilizers. The model estimates of the first hurdle revealed that the probability of fertilizer adoption increased by 1.2% as household education status improved, by 1.4% for an increased number of active family members, by 5.6% with improved access to credit, by 3.4% with cooperative membership, by 3.3% with an increase in farm size, by 4.6% when soil and water conservation practices are employed, and by 3.4% when agroecology of the farm is located in the medium to highland zone. Conversely, the probability of fertilizer adoption reduced by 0.9% for an increase in family size, 0.6% with 1 km distance from all-weather road, 1.6% for a kilometer further to farm plots, and 0.9% for an increase in number of parcels. The intensity of use of fertilizers was influenced by education status of the household head, family size, access to credit, membership to cooperatives, use of crop rotation, annual income, number of farm plots owned, use of soil and water conservation, and agroecology. Therefore, a concerted effort is needed to encourage fertilizer adoption and optimum fertilizer use intensity by improving households’ resource endowment, institutional capacity to deliver services, and infrastructure development.

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