The conventional furrow irrigation system is inherently inefficient in wolaita zone, while the suboptimal management and operation (inflow discharge and cutoff time) are considered as one of the main reasons for satisfactory hydraulic performance. Addressing these issues, the furrow irrigation system which is only practiced in the study area was evaluated on three fields under routine farmer management in wolaita zone. The study consisted of field experiments and simulation modeling. Irrigation performance including application efficiency, Potential Application Efficiency, Adequacy and distribution uniformity, runoff ratio and deep percolation ratio of two irrigation events were evaluated using surface irrigation evaluation and simulation Model WinSRFR 4.1.3. The study revealed satisfactory irrigation efficiencies, with higher distribution uniformity and water losses. Therefore, hydraulic performance of the study area had a value of application efficiency (55% to 73%), low quarter adequacy (0.96 to 1.28) and low quarter distribution uniformity (0.89 to 0.96), runoff ratio (7% to 38%) and deep percolation ratio (1% to 25%) on farms. In addition, irrigation over irrigation status practiced was found in study area with the average low quarter adequacy of 1.14. The existing irrigation application efficiencies of irrigated fields at ETANA SSIS are poor having a mean value of AE and LQDU are 62% and 0.93.

Water induced soil erosion has been continued to threaten the land resources in sub humid northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Human-induced land cover (LC) changes due to improper land management practices are contributing factors in deteriorating soil quality. Soil and water conservation measures have been implemented without site-specific scientifically quantified soil erosion data and priority bases in this regard; this study was conducted with a view to quantifying soil erosion in Anka-Shashara watershed. To do this, we have opted to use the RUSLE model based on geographic information systems. By collecting data on rainfall, soils, vegetation, slopes and conservation practices separately as a layer and determining the pixel values for each of these factors, a quantified assessment of erosion in the basin is obtained. The result reveals that the mean annual soil loss (15.22t/ha/yr) of the most parts of study area falls in tolerable levels and almost 66% (1594 ha), moderate level about 23% and 10% at high level of watershed. The soil loss of watershed is classified in to four main classes. None to Slight rates of soil erosion (0-10t/ha) is cover the almost 66% of watershed moderate about 23% and high about 10% of erosion rate as seen from the erosion rate distribution map. The upstream of catchment needs management and protection of those existing resources and the fundamental attention for SWC as recommended bases. Therefore, to reduce sedimentation problem and ensue sustainability of the watershed need to special attention for implementing recommended SWC intervention at the earlier.