Skip to main content
View expanded cover

International Conference on Advances of Science and Technology

ICAST 2018: Advances of Science and Technology pp 170–182Cite as

Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Practices on Runoff, Soil and Nutrient Losses in Alekt Wenz Watershed, Ethiopian Highland

Part of the Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering book series (LNICST,volume 274)

Abstract

Land degradation caused by soil erosion is a serious problem in northwestern Ethiopian highlands. To reduce the adverse impact of land degradation, soil and water conservation (SWC) measures were implemented. The presented study investigated the hydrological responses of SWC measures implemented in two nested watersheds situated in the northwestern Ethiopian highland. Rainfall, streamflow, sediment concentration, and sediment-associated and dissolved nutrient of N and P for 2015 and 2016 rainy periods were collected and analyzed. The watersheds received 665 mm in 2015 and 795 mm rainfall in 2016 from May to September. The median infiltration rates for treated and untreated watershed were 22 mm hr−1, and 19 mm hr−1 respectively. The direct runoff from treated watershed was 8.5 mm yr−1 for 2015 and 9.6 mm yr−1 for 2016. This is lower than the untreated watershed, which responded 17.3 mm yr−1 for 2015 and 15.3 mm yr−1 for 2016. The base flow from treated watershed was 180.7 mm yr−1 for 2015 and 212 mm yr−1 for 2016. It was higher than the untreated watershed, which responded 69.8 mm yr−1 for 2015 and 195.4 mm yr−1 for 2016. This figure shows that implemented SWC measures reduced the runoff responses by two-fold. Similarly, the SWC measures reduced sediment yield. The sediment yield from treated watershed was 2.4 ton ha−1yr−1 and 2.1 ton ha−1yr−1 in the year 2015 and 2016, respectively. This is lower than the untreated watershed that lost 6 ton ha−1yr−1 and 8.5 ton ha−1yr−1 in the year 2015 and 2016, respectively. The effectiveness of the SWC measures between the two watersheds was statistically significant with a significance level of 5%. However, it is important to investigate the long-term effects of SWC in reducing soil and nutrient losses.

Keywords

  • Erosion
  • Nutrient depletion
  • Runoff
  • Sediment yield
  • Soil and Water Conservation
  • Treated
  • Untreated

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-15357-1_14
  • Chapter length: 13 pages
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
eBook
USD   89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • ISBN: 978-3-030-15357-1
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
Softcover Book
USD   119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Learn about institutional subscriptions
Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.

Notes

  1. 1.

    Debre-Tabor and Gassay meteorological station from 1951–2014.

  2. 2.

    Source of DEM (https://www.asf.alaska.edu/).

References

  1. Tan, Z., Lal, R., Wiebe, K.: Global soil nutrient depletion and yield reduction. J. Sustain. Agric. 26(1), 123–146 (2005)

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  2. Gashaw, T., Bantider, A., Silassie, H.: Land degradation in Ethiopia: causes, impacts and rehabilitation techniques. J. Environ. Earth Sci. 4(9), 98–104 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Eswaran, H., Lal, R., Reich, P.: Land degradation: an overview. Responses to Land degradation, pp. 20–35 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Lal, R.: Soil erosion impact on agronomic productivity and environment quality. Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 17(4), 319–464 (1998)

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  5. Amsalu, A., de Graaff, J.: Farmers’ views of soil erosion problems and their conservation knowledge at Beressa watershed, central highlands of Ethiopia. Agric. Hum. Values 23(1), 99–108 (2006)

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  6. Taddese, G.: Land degradation: a challenge to Ethiopia. Environ. Manag. 27(6), 815–824 (2001)

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  7. Bekele, W.: Economics of Soil and Water Conservation, vol. 411 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Brhane, G., Mekonen, K.: Estimating soil loss using universal soil loss equation (USLE) for soil conservation planning at medego watershed, Northern Ethiopia. J. Am. Sci. 5(1), 58–69 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Tamene, L., Vlek, P.L.G.: Soil erosion studies in Northern Ethiopia. In: Braimoh, A.K., Vlek, P.L.G. (eds.) Land Use and Soil Resources, pp. 73–100. Springer, Dordrecht (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6778-5_5

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  10. Nyssen, J., et al.: How soil conservation affects the catchment sediment budget – a comprehensive study in the north Ethiopian highlands (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hyndman, D., Hyndman, D.: Natural Hazards and Disasters. Cengage Learning (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Herweg, K., Ludi, E.: The performance of selected soil and water conservation measures—case studies from Ethiopia and Eritrea. CATENA 36(1–2), 99–114 (1999)

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  13. Adimassu, Z., Mekonnen, K., Yirga, C., Kessler, A.: Effect of soil bunds on runoff, soil and nutrient losses, and crop yield in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Land Degrad. Dev. 25(6), 554–564 (2014)

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  14. Birhanu, A., Meseret, D.: Structural soil and water conservation practices in Farta District, North Western Ethiopia: an investigation on factors influencing continued Use. Sci. Technol. Arts Res. J. 2(4), 114–121 (2014)

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  15. Demelash, M., Stahr, K.: Assessment of integrated soil and water conservation measures on key soil properties in South Gonder, North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia. J. Soil Sci. Environ. Manag. 1(7), 164–176 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Huang, M., Zhang, L.: Hydrological responses to conservation practices in a catchment of the Loess Plateau, China. Hydrol. Process. 18(10), 1885–1898 (2004)

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  17. Ngetich, K., et al.: Effects of selected soil and water conservation techniques on runoff, sediment yield and maize productivity under sub-humid and semi-arid conditions in Kenya. CATENA 121, 288–296 (2014)

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  18. Chakela, Q.K., Soil Erosion and Reservoir Sedimentation in Lesotho. Nordic Africa Institute (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Bewket, W.: Soil and water conservation intervention with conventional technologies in northwestern highlands of Ethiopia: acceptance and adoption by farmers. Land Use Policy 24(2), 404–416 (2007)

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  20. Wolka, K.: Effect of soil and water conservation measures and challenges for its adoption: Ethiopia in focus. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 7(4), 185 (2014)

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  21. Tilahun, S.A.: Observations and modeling of erosion from spatially and temporally distributed sources in the (semi) humid Ethiopian highlands, pp. 8–67. Cornell University (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Dagnew, D.C., et al.: Impact of conservation practices on runoff and soil loss in the sub-humid Ethiopian Highlands: the Debre Mawi watershed. J. Hydrol. Hydromech. 63(3), 214–223 (2015)

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  23. Mekuria, W.M., et al.: Sustaining the benefits of soil and water conservation in the highlands of Ethiopia (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Guzman, C.D.: Suspended sediment concentration and discharge relationships in the Ethiopian highlands. Cornell University (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Bertol, I., et al.: Nutrient losses by water erosion (2003)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This research was made possible through support provided by CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystem’s, East Africa focal regional program. Additional funding was also obtained from the Ethiopian Road Authority (ERA).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering, Institute of Technology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia

    Simir Birihan Atanaw

  2. School of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Simir Birihan Atanaw, Dessalew Worku Aynalem, Anwar Assefa Adem & Seifu Admassu Tilahun

  3. Department of Natural Resource Management, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Anwar Assefa Adem

  4. International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Wolde Mekuria

Authors
  1. Simir Birihan Atanaw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dessalew Worku Aynalem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anwar Assefa Adem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Wolde Mekuria
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Seifu Admassu Tilahun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Simir Birihan Atanaw .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Fasikaw Atanaw Zimale

  2. Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Temesgen Enku Nigussie

  3. Faculty of Chemical and Food Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Solomon Workneh Fanta

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering

About this paper

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Atanaw, S.B., Aynalem, D.W., Adem, A.A., Mekuria, W., Tilahun, S.A. (2019). Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Practices on Runoff, Soil and Nutrient Losses in Alekt Wenz Watershed, Ethiopian Highland. In: Zimale, F., Enku Nigussie, T., Fanta, S. (eds) Advances of Science and Technology. ICAST 2018. Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, vol 274. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15357-1_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15357-1_14

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-15356-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-15357-1

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)