scholarly journals Soil erosion and conservation in Ethiopia

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 750-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigussie Haregeweyn ◽  
Atsushi Tsunekawa ◽  
Jan Nyssen ◽  
Jean Poesen ◽  
Mitsuru Tsubo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Research Field ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Carbon Markets ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Soil Erosion And Conservation ◽  
Global Carbon

This paper reviews Ethiopia’s experience and research progress in past soil and water conservation (SWC) efforts and suggests possible solutions for improvement. Although indigenous SWC techniques date back to 400 BC, institutionalized SWC activity in Ethiopia became significant only after the 1970s. At least six national SWC-related programs have been initiated since the 1970s and their focus over time has shifted from food relief to land conservation and then to livelihoods. The overall current soil erosion rates are highly variable and large by international standards, and sheet, rill, and gully erosion are the dominant processes. The influence of human activities on the landscape has traditionally been deleterious, but this trend seems to have recently reversed in some parts of the country following the engagement of the communities in land management. The efficiency of SWC measures show mixed results that are influenced by the type of measures and the agro-ecology under which they were implemented; in general, the relative performance of the interventions is better in the drylands as compared with humid areas. Methodological limitations also occur when addressing the economic aspects related to benefits of ecosystem services and other externalities. Although farmers have shown an increased understanding of the soil erosion problem, SWC efforts face a host of barriers related to limited access to capital, limited benefits, land tenure insecurity, limited technology choices and technical support, and poor community participation. In general SWC research in Ethiopia is fragmented and not comprehensive, mainly because of a lack of participatory research, field observations, and adoptable methods to evaluate impacts. A potentially feasible approach to expand and sustain SWC programs is to attract benefits from global carbon markets. Moreover, a dedicated institution responsible for overseeing the research–extension linkage of SWC interventions of the country should be established.

scholarly journals Review on Dynamics of Soil Erosion and Conservation Efforts in Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
pp. 27-32
Author(s):  
Yibeltal Yihunie
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Participatory Approach ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Soil Erosion And Conservation ◽  
Soil And Water

This paper was aimed to review the spatial and temporal dynamics of soil erosion and conservation efforts being practiced in Ethiopia. In the country, there is highly fluctuating dynamics of soil erosion and its loss rate is large as per the stated international standards. Even if the efforts to conserve soil and water in the country are affected by different factors like agro ecology and the choice of conservation measures, it was practiced since 1970s. Apart from the government’s effort as well as the contribution of different non-governmental organizations in increasing the awareness and understanding towards the impacts of soil erosion, the land tenure system, the existence of poor technology, lack of finance, limited technical support and limited participation of the local community are some of the challenges in Ethiopia restricting the effectiveness of conservation efforts. In addition, the research activities done regarding soil and water conservation in the country are not following integrated and participatory approach. Thus, this makes the efforts regarding research and finding out the best approach for sustainable soil and water conservation practices inefficient. Therefore, promoting integrated and participatory approach as well as linking with income generating business like carbon trading through climate change mitigation is the best options for the expansion and sustainability of soil and water conservation measures in Ethiopia.

scholarly journals Sediment Yield in Dam-Controlled Watersheds in the Pisha Sandstone Region on the Northern Loess Plateau, China

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1264
Author(s):  
Fabing Xie ◽  
Guangju Zhao ◽  
Xingmin Mu ◽  
Peng Tian ◽  
Peng Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
The Loess Plateau ◽  
Sediment Yields ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Soil Erosion Rate ◽  
Check Dams ◽  
Loss Control

Soil erosion has become the dominant environmental issue endangering sustainable development in agriculture and the ecosystem on the Loess Plateau. Determination of watershed soil erosion rates and sediment yields is essential for reasonable utilization of water resources and soil loss control. In this study, we employed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry to determine the sediment yields in 24 dam-controlled watersheds in the Pisha sandstone region of the northern Loess Plateau. High differences in total sediment were trapped before the check dams due to their running periods and sediment yields. The estimated specific sediment yield ranged from 34.32 t/(ha∙a) to 123.80 t/(ha∙a) with an average of 63.55 t/(ha∙a), which indicated that the Pisha sandstone region had an intense soil erosion rate. Furthermore, the modified Sediment Distributed Delivery (SEDD) model was applied to identify the erosion-prone areas in the watersheds, and the sediment retained in the check dams were used for model calibration. The performance of the model was acceptable, and the modeling results indicated that the steep Pisha sandstone was the major sediment source for the watersheds, accounting for approximately 87.37% of the sediment yield. Catchment area, erosive precipitation, and badland proportion were the key factors for sediment yield in the dam-controlled watersheds of the Pisha sandstone region, according to multiple regression analyses. These findings indicated that the modified SEDD model is very efficient in identifying spatial heterogeneities of sediment yield in the watershed but requires comprehensive calibration and validation with long-term observations. The Pisha sandstone region is still the key area of soil erosion control in the Loess Plateau, which needs more attention for soil and water conservation due to high sediment yield.

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal Analysis of Potential Impact of Soil Erosion on Maize and Groundnuts Yield in Northern Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 486-493
Author(s):  
Wilson Agyei Agyare ◽  
Eliasu Salifu
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Current Trend ◽  
Spatiotemporal Analysis ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
North East

Abstract Soil erosion is a threat to the viability of arable land, which has a relationship with crop productivity. This study was carried out in the Northern, North-East and Savannah Regions of Ghana, which have a high agricultural potential. The study examined erosion-yield relationship by comparing estimated erosion rates with maize and groundnut yields in a GIS environment. The study also projected soil erosion and determined its potential effect on the yield of maize and groundnuts. The soil erosion rates were found to be 4.2 t ha-1y-1, 5.1 t ha-1y-1 and 7.1 t ha-1y-1 for the Northern, North-East and Savannah Regions respectively. Projections for the next 10 years showed that, soil erosion will averagely increase by about 12 %, which could reduce the yield of maize and groundnut by 21 % and 16 % respectively by the year 2031, should the current trend continue. The study also found out that crop (maize and groundnut) yield per land area is relatively lower in areas severely affected by soil erosion. Farmers in the study area and areas of similar ecology must be encouraged to adopt Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) strategies to enhance and sustain productivity.

scholarly journals Estimating soil erosion risk and evaluating erosion control measures for soil conservation planning at Koga watershed in the highlands of Ethiopia

Solid Earth ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tegegne Molla ◽  
Biniam Sisheber
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Erosion Control ◽  
Conservation Practices ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Existing Structures ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Soil And Water

Abstract. Soil erosion is one of the major factors affecting sustainability of agricultural production in Ethiopia. The objective of this paper is to estimate soil erosion using the universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model and to evaluate soil conservation practices in a data-scarce watershed region. For this purpose, soil data, rainfall, erosion control practices, satellite images and topographic maps were collected to determine the RUSLE factors. In addition, measurements of randomly selected soil and water conservation structures were done at three sub-watersheds (Asanat, Debreyakob and Rim). This study was conducted in Koga watershed at upper part of the Blue Nile basin which is affected by high soil erosion rates. The area is characterized by undulating topography caused by intensive agricultural practices with poor soil conservation practices. The soil loss rates were determined and conservation strategies have been evaluated under different slope classes and land uses. The results showed that the watershed is affected by high soil erosion rates (on average 42 t ha−1 yr−1), greater than the maximum tolerable soil loss (18 t ha−1 yr−1). The highest soil loss (456 t ha−1 yr−1) estimated from the upper watershed occurred on cultivated lands of steep slopes. As a result, soil erosion is mainly aggravated by land-use conflicts and topographic factors and the rugged topographic land forms of the area. The study also demonstrated that the contribution of existing soil conservation structures to erosion control is very small due to incorrect design and poor management. About 35 % out of the existing structures can reduce soil loss significantly since they were constructed correctly. Most of the existing structures were demolished due to the sediment overload, vulnerability to livestock damage and intense rainfall. Therefore, appropriate and standardized soil and water conservation measures for different erosion-prone land uses and land forms need to be implemented in Koga watershed.

scholarly journals Research Progress on Soil Erosion and Socioeconomic Correlation

2020 ◽  
Vol 145 ◽  
pp. 02031
Author(s):  
Yan Sun ◽  
Junbo Xiao ◽  
Yiyuan Zhang ◽  
Wenhao Lai ◽  
Min Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Social Development ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Water Environment ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Soil And Water Loss ◽  
The One ◽  
Soil And Water

Soil erosion and socio-economic interacts with each other. Soil and water loss destroys land resources, causes non-point source pollution, affects the recycling and utilization of water resources, worsens the water environment, and even causes natural disasters such as collapse, landslides, and debris flows. Soil erosion affects regional socio-economic development. On the one hand, economic and social development has caused a sharp increase in people’s demand for the development and utilization of natural resources, which has increased the occurrence of soil and water loss; on the other hand, economic and social development has promoted people’s understanding of soil erosion and soil and water conservation, enabling people to consciously change their production and lifestyle, and having sufficient funds to invest in soil and water conservation and reduce soil erosion.

scholarly journals Soil and Water Conservation in Burkina Faso, West Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clement Nyamekye ◽  
Michael Thiel ◽  
Sarah Schönbrodt-Stitt ◽  
Benewinde Zoungrana ◽  
Leonard Amekudzi
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Agricultural Productivity ◽  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Degradation Process ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Environmental Restoration ◽  
Soil And Water

Inadequate land management and agricultural activities have largely resulted in land degradation in Burkina Faso. The nationwide governmental and institutional driven implementation and adoption of soil and water conservation measures (SWCM) since the early 1960s, however, is expected to successively slow down the degradation process and to increase the agricultural output. Even though relevant measures have been taken, only a few studies have been conducted to quantify their effect, for instance, on soil erosion and environmental restoration. In addition, a comprehensive summary of initiatives, implementation strategies, and eventually region-specific requirements for adopting different SWCM is missing. The present study therefore aims to review the different SWCM in Burkina Faso and implementation programs, as well as to provide information on their effects on environmental restoration and agricultural productivity. This was achieved by considering over 143 studies focusing on Burkina Faso’s experience and research progress in areas of SWCM and soil erosion. SWCM in Burkina Faso have largely resulted in an increase in agricultural productivity and improvement in food security. Finally, this study aims at supporting the country’s informed decision-making for extending already existing SWCM and for deriving further implementation strategies.

scholarly journals Soil erosion assessment and control in Northeast Wollega, Ethiopia

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 3511-3540 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Adugna ◽  
A. Abegaz ◽  
A. Cerdà
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Erosion Control ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Slope Length ◽  
Soil Erosion Control ◽  
Soil Losses

Abstract. Soil erosion is the main driver of land degradation in Ethiopia, and in the whole region of East Africa. This study was conducted at the Northeast Wollega in West Ethiopia to estimate the soil losses by means of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The purpose of this paper is to identify erosion spot areas and target locations for appropriate development of soil and water conservation measures. Fieldwork and household survey were conducted to identify major determinants of soil erosion control. Six principal factors were used to calculate soil loss per year, such as rainfallerosivity, soil erodiblity, slope length, slope steepness, crop management and erosion-control practices. The soil losses have shown spatio-temporal variations that range from 4.5 Mg ha-1 yr-1 in forest to 65.9 Mg ha-1 yr-1 in cropland. Results from the analysis of stepwise multiple linear regression show that sustainable soil erosion control are determined byknowledge of farmers about soil conservation, land tenure security and off-farm income at community level. Thus, policy aim at keeping land productivity will need to focus on terracing, inter-cropping and improved agro-forestry practices.

scholarly journals Research Progress on Soil and Water Loss and Soil and Water Conservation in Karst Areas

2020 ◽  
Vol 145 ◽  
pp. 02030
Author(s):  
Yan Sun ◽  
Yiyuan Zhang ◽  
Sigao Li ◽  
Nan Zhang ◽  
Junming Wang
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Karst Area ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Soil And Water Loss ◽  
Karst Areas ◽  
Soil And Water

Based on the research of soil erosion and soil and water conservation in karst areas in China in recent years, the status and progress of soil erosion and soil and water conservation in karst areas in China are discussed. The results show that the soil and water loss in the karst area mainly has two types of soil erosion: surface soil erosion and underground soil erosion. Soil and water loss management in karst areas mainly adopts measures to adjust land use structure, increase vegetation coverage, carry out slope-to-ladder construction, and promote clean energy applications. Different governance models should be adopted for different landform types, different landform parts, different slopes, and different levels of rocky desertification in karst areas.

Research Progress on Soil Erosion Process of Slope-Gully System on the Loess Plateau of China

2013 ◽  
Vol 726-731 ◽  
pp. 3747-3750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei Qing Xiao ◽  
Er Yang ◽  
Li Li
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
The Loess Plateau ◽  
Erosion Process ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
Water Transportation

The Loess Plateau has the highest erosion rates in the world. Studying soil erosion process on the Loess Plateau has received more attention in recent years. Vertical erosion distribution zone is an important feature on the loess plateau. Infiltration, sediment concentration, erosion pattern and characteristic of sediment and water transportation have a clear distribution too. Research on soil erosion process can provide basis for constructing physical process based soil erosion mode and can provide scientific basis for laying out soil and water conservation measures effectively. So, spatial variability of slope erosion pattern, sheet, rill, shallow gully and permanent gully erosion process dominated at different erosion zone as well as slope-gully coupling system were discussed in this paper. And then, further research issues have been presented in the future.

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