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 Soil Erosion and Crop Productivity Loss in Palghar and Thane Districts of Maharashtra

Agropedology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. V. Shejale ◽  
◽  
S. B. Nandgude ◽  
S. S. Salunkhe ◽  
M. A. Phadtare ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Productivity Loss ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Conservation Practice ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Soil And Water

Present research work was carried out on soil erosion and crop productivity loss in Palghar and Thane districts. The study also describes tolerable soil loss and relationship between top-soil loss and yield loss. The estimated average annual soil loss was 40.45 t ha-1yr-1 before adoption of the soil and water conservation measures (by USLE method) and estimated average tolerable soil loss was 9.36 t ha-1 yr-1, for Palghar district. Similarly, for Thane district the estimated average annual soil loss and tolerable soil loss were found to be 35.89 t ha-1 yr-1 and 9.61 t ha-1 yr-1, respectively for Thane district. The estimated average conservation practice factor (P) factors were obtained as 0.32 for Palghar district and 0.30 for Thane district to bring the soil loss below the tolerable limit. After adoption of soil and water conservation measures, the estimated soil loss were 9.02 t ha-1 yr-1 and 9.38 t ha-1 yr-1 for Palghar and Thane districts, respectively.

scholarly journals The effects of farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures on agricultural output

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 599-615
Author(s):  
Xiaohui Huang ◽  
Qian Lu ◽  
Fei Yang
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Agricultural Output ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Soil And Water

Purpose This paper aims to build a theoretical model of the impact of farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures on the agricultural output to analyze the impact of farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures on agricultural output. Design/methodology/approach Based on the field survey data of 808 farmers households in three provinces (regions) of the Loess Plateau, this paper using the endogenous switching regression model to analyze the effect of farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures on agricultural output. Findings Soil erosion has a significant negative impact on agricultural output, and soil erosion has a significant positive impact on farmers’ adoption of soil and water conservation measures. Farmers adopt soil and water conservation measures such as engineering measures, biological measures and tillage measures to cope with soil erosion, which can increase agricultural output. Based on the counterfactual hypothesis, if farmers who adopt soil and water conservation measures do not adopt the corresponding soil and water conservation measures, their average output per ha output will decrease by 2.01%. Then, if farmers who do not adopt soil and water conservation measures adopt the corresponding soil and water conservation measures, their average output per ha output will increase by 12.12%. Government support and cultivated land area have a significant positive impact on farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures. Research limitations/implications The research limitation is the lack of panel data. Practical implications Soil erosion has a significant negative impact on agricultural output, and soil erosion has a significant positive impact on farmers’ adoption of soil and water conservation measures. Farmers adopt soil and water conservation measures such as engineering measures, biological measures and tillage measures to cope with soil erosion, which can increase agricultural output. Social implications The conclusion provides a reliable empirical basis for the government to formulate and implement relevant policies. Originality/value The contributions of this paper are as follows: the adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures and agricultural output are included into the same analytical framework for empirical analysis, revealing the influencing factors of farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures and their output effects, enriching existing research. Using endogenous switching regression model and introducing instrumental variables to overcome the endogenous problem between the adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures and agricultural output, and to analyze the influencing factors of farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures and its impact on agricultural output. Using the counter-factual idea to ensure that the two matched individuals have the same or similar attributes, to evaluate the average treatment effect of the behavior of soil and water conservation measures, to estimate the real impact of adaptation measures on agricultural output as accurately as possible and to avoid misleading policy recommendations.

scholarly journals The effect of natural infrastructure on water erosion mitigation in the Andes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veerle Vanacker ◽  
Armando Molina ◽  
Miluska Rosas-Barturen ◽  
Vivien Bonnesoeur ◽  
Francisco Román-Dañobeytia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Erosion Mitigation ◽  
Soil And Water ◽  
Loss Rates

Abstract. Soil erosion by water is affecting natural and anthropogenic environments through its impacts on water quality and availability, loss of soil nutrients, flood risk, sedimentation in rivers and streams, and damage to civil infrastructure. Sustainable management aims to avoid, reduce and reverse soil erosion and can provide multiple benefits for the environment, population, and livelihoods. We conducted a systematic review of 121 case studies from the Andes to answer the following questions: (1) Which erosion indicators allow us to assess the effectiveness of natural infrastructure? (2) What is the overall impact of working with natural infrastructure on on-site and off-site erosion mitigation? and (3) Which locations and types of studies are needed to fill critical gaps in knowledge and research? Three major categories of natural infrastructure were considered: protective vegetation, soil and water conservation measures, and adaptation measures that regulate the flow and transport of water. From the suite of physical, chemical and biological indicators commonly used in soil erosion research, two indicators were particularly relevant: soil organic carbon (SOC) of topsoil, and soil loss rates at the plot scale. In areas with protective vegetation and/or soil and water conservation measures, the SOC of topsoil is –on average– 1.3 to 2.8 times higher than in areas under traditional agriculture. Soil loss rates in areas with natural infrastructure were reported to be 38 % to 54 % lower than rates measured in untreated croplands. Further research is needed to evaluate whether the reported effectiveness holds during extreme events related to, for example, El Niño–Southern Oscillation.

Natural infrastructure interventions and their effect on soil erosion mitigation in the Andes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armando Molina ◽  
Veerle Vanacker ◽  
Miluska Rosas-Barturen ◽  
Boris Ochoa-Tocachi ◽  
Vivien Bonnesoeur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Erosion Mitigation ◽  
Andes Region ◽  
Soil And Water

<p>The Andes region is prone to soil erosion because of its steep topographic relief, high spatio-temporal variability in precipitation and heterogeneity in lithological strength. Soil erosion by water is affecting natural and anthropogenic environments through its impacts on water quality and availability, loss of soil nutrients, flood risk, sedimentation in rivers and streams, and damage to civil infrastructure. Sustainable land and water management, referred here as natural infrastructure interventions, aims to avoid, reduce and reverse soil erosion and can provide multiple benefits for the environment, population and livelihoods. In this study, we present a systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature involving more than 120 local case-studies from the Andes. Three major categories of natural infrastructure interventions were considered: protective vegetation, soil and water conservation measures, and adaptation measures that regulate the flow and transport of water. The analysis was designed to answer the following research questions: (1) Which soil erosion indicators allow us to assess the effectiveness of natural infrastructure interventions across the Andean range? (2) What is the overall impact of implementing natural infrastructure interventions for on-site and off-site erosion mitigation?</p><p>The systematic review shows that the effectiveness of protective vegetation on soil erosion mitigation is the most commonly studied characteristic, accounting for more than half of the empirical studies. From the suite of physical, chemical and biological indicators that were commonly used in soil erosion research, our review identified two indicators to be particularly suitable for the analyses of the effectiveness of natural infrastructure interventions: soil organic carbon (SOC) of the topsoil, and soil loss rates at plot scale. The implementation of soil and water conservation measures in areas under traditional agriculture had positive effects on SOC (1.28 to 1.29 times higher SOC than in agricultural land). Soil loss rates were 54% lower when implementing SWC than on cropland. When implementing SWC in rangeland, the data indicated an increase in soil loss rate by 1.54 times. Untreated degraded land is reported to have significantly higher soil loss and specific sediment yield compared to cropland.</p><p>The results of this systematic review allows to assess the overall effectiveness of commonly used natural infrastructure interventions, which can guide policy and decision making in the Andes. Similarly, the review identified critical gaps in knowledge that must be attended by more comprehensive research to consider the high spatiotemporal variability of the Andes region.</p>

Comparison of Practice Factor Values of Soil and Water Conservation Measures Under the Condition of Snowmelt and Rainfall Erosion

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiu Quan Xu ◽  
Hao Ming Fan ◽  
Juan Tan ◽  
Yanfeng Jia ◽  
Min Wu
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Snowmelt Runoff ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Restoration Measure ◽  
Runoff Depth ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Soil And Water ◽  
Rainfall Erosion

<p>The benefits of soil and water conservation measures during snowmelt process is rarely studied in Northeast China. Based on the observation results of snowmelt erosion of Jixing runoff plots (Meihekou City, Jilin Province)in spring in 2015 and 2016, combined with the previous results of rainfall erosion, the practice factor values of soil and water conservation measures, the numbers of soil erosion events, the runoff depth and erosion modulus between snowmelt and rainfall conditions were compared to investigate the difference of effects of the soil and water conservation measures on snowmelt and rainfall erosion. The results show that the practice factor values range from 0.001 to 0.46, while the best measure for prevention of snowmelt erosion is the ecological restoration measure, with the characteristics of shorter period, less amount of snowmelt runoff. The effect of the cut-off drain measure, a typical engineering measures, on snowmelt erosion is mainly controlling the amount of snowmelt runoff. The erosion modulus and runoff depth of the shrub ridging are larger compared with the contour ridge and furrow planting, another kind of tillage measure, under snowmelt condition. Both two types of soil erosion, namely snowmelt and rainfall erosion, should be taken into account in planning and design of soil and water conservation measures in areas with snowmelt erosion, especially for the cultivated land.</p>

Soil Erosion and Typical Soil and Water Conservation Measures on Hillslopes in the Chinese Mollisol Region

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 1509-1519
Author(s):  
H. O. Shen ◽  
D. L. Wang ◽  
L. L. Wen ◽  
W. T. Zhao ◽  
Y. Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Soil And Water ◽  
Typical Soil

scholarly journals Assessment and Documentation of Indigenous and Introduced Soil and Water Conservation Measures in Some Parts of Southern Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawit Kanito ◽  
Tsegaye Bekele ◽  
Tesfaye Dawit ◽  
Seyfu T/yohannes
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Conservation Practices ◽  
Optimum Level ◽  
Land Productivity ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
The Government ◽  
Soil And Water

Abstract BackgroundIn Ethiopia, soil and water conservation activities were started after the famines of 1973 and 1985. Following this, different conservation measures were implemented by the government, non-government organizations, and the community to facilitate the optimum level of production from a given area of land while keeping soil loss below a critical value. This study was conducted at Wolaita, Hadiya, Kambata Tambaro, and Dawro Zones of Southern Ethiopia. It was designed to identify indigenous and introduced soil and water conservation practices, measure and describe identified practices, and document the identified practice for further reference. ResultsThe result revealed that three types of soil and water conservation practices namely biological, physical, and agronomical were implementing in the study areas. The result from the technical evaluation showed that soil bund and fanya juu has channel depth and embankment height lower than the recommended dimension. The result also indicated that less attention was given to indigenous soil and water conservation practices. Besides, the sustainability gap in constructed conservation practices was widely perceived.ConclusionsFarmers in the study area are well acquainted with soil erosion, its cause, and consequent reduction in land productivity. They confirm that implementing SWC measures are insurance to sustain and boost soil fertility and land productivity. In southern Ethiopia government and peoples were invested much more time, money, knowledge, and manpower to construct SWC measures. But, year by year structures get damage and yet seem not substantial to achieve the sector of sustainable agriculture. Besides, the study revealed that identified practices such as traditional cutoff drain, fanya juu, soil bund, stone-faced soil bund, fanya juu, brushwood, and gabion check-dams have technical, social, and institutional difficulties. The major gap observed with indigenous conservation practices is, it had been taken less attention by different stakeholders including GOs, NGOs, and research institutes. As a result, their respective dimension was not modified, effective measures were not up-scaled and circulated to other areas having similar agroecology and farming system. Thus, apparently, traditional conservation measures are aggravating soil erosion and their construction did not consider the downstream effect on dwelling community, water bodies, and aquatic lives.

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