Abstract
Soil erosion is a major global concern due to its adverse impact on agricultural productivity and dam reservoir storage capacity. Effective land management in large watersheds is difficult, particularly in developing countries, owing to the high cost of soil conservation expenditure. Identifying the most vulnerable areas for erosion and executing remedial measures for those areas is crucial to reduce costs and improve effectiveness. The Soil and Water Assessment Tools model was used to identify weak zones for erosion from hydrologic response units to larger watersheds. The study focused on the Tekeze watershed, divided into 34 subbasins and 158 hydrologic response units, with the model performing within acceptable limits for evaluating erosion and flow. The results showed that the model is within acceptable limits for evaluating erosion and flow in the Tekeze basin, with significant differences in sediment yield across each subbasin. Due to their high sediment yield, six subbasins (viz., 1, 3, 5, 14, 17, and 28) require urgent attention. The findings of this study can guide land managers in developing effective strategies to reduce soil erosion and enhance agricultural productivity.
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Hailu, M.B., Mishra, S.K. & Jain, S.K. Sediment yield modelling and prioritization of erosion-prone sub-basins in the Tekeze watershed, Ethiopia. Environ Dev Sustain (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03441-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03441-4