Agroecology-based soil erosion assessment for better conservation planning in Ethiopian river basins

Fenta, Ayele Almaw; Tsunekawa, Atsushi; Haregeweyn, Nigussie; Tsubo, Mitsuru; Yasuda, Hiroshi; Kawai, Tadashi; Ebabu, Kindiye; Berihun, Mulatu Liyew; Belay, Ashebir Sewale; Sultan, Dagnenet

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2021.110786

Cited by 81 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…1.9 × 109 t, of which the net soil loss was estimated as ca. 410 × 106 t (22% of the gross soil loss) [ 12 ]. Such losses may lead to irreversible changes in soil productivity that have a direct effect on Ethiopia’s food security situation, with farmers unable to tolerate further deterioration in soil productivity [ 13 ] and as a result of this, agricultural production in the Northern highlands of Ethiopia is low [ 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farmers’ adoption of soil and water conservation practices: The case of Lege-Lafto Watershed, Dessie Zuria District, South Wollo, Ethiopia

Yifru

Miheretu

2022

PLoS ONE

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In Ethiopia, soil degradation is one of the major causes of low and declining agricultural productivity. As a result of this challenge, the country has been battling to adopt conservation practices. The main objective of this study was to assess farmers’ adoption decisions of soil and water conservation (SWC) practices. For the survey, 304 farmers were selected from farming communities in Lege-Lafto Watershed, South Wollo,Ethiopia. Information were gathered using a household survey, and through focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observation. A binary logistic regression model and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The results indicated that about 64% of the farmers adopted soil and water conservation practices in the study area. The findings depicted that soil bund, stone bund, stone-faced soil bund, loose stone and brush-wood check dams, hillside terrace, and bund stabilized with vegetation are practiced in the watershed. The analysis result revealed adoption of soil and water conservation practices is significantly and positively influenced by the perception of farmers on erosion problems and SWC practices, family labour, educational level, and membership in local institutions. However, distance from residence to the nearest market and farmland, off-farm activities, and the ratio of cultivable land to family size influenced the adoption of SWC practices negatively. Therefore, improving farmers’ educational status, and strengthening local institutions are vital for sustainable land management practices in the country.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farmers’ adoption of soil and water conservation practices: The case of Lege-Lafto Watershed, Dessie Zuria District, South Wollo, Ethiopia

Yifru

Miheretu

2022

PLoS ONE

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“…Land-use/land-cover (LULC) changes induced by human activity are a major challenge facing the global environment (Wilbanks and Kates 1999). These changes alter hydrological responses (Haregeweyn et al 2016;Fenta et al 2017;Berihun et al 2019a), biodiversity and ecosystem processes and services (Lambin et al 2003;Goldewijk and Ramankutty 2004;Maitima et al 2009), and challenge conservation management and rehabilitation activities (e.g., Fenta et al 2016;Berihun et al 2019b;Haregeweyn et al 2019;Fenta et al 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in ecosystem service values strongly influenced by human activities in contrasting agro-ecological environments

et al. 2021

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Background Evaluating the impacts of land-use/land-cover (LULC) changes on ecosystem service values (ESVs) is essential for sustainable use and management of ecosystems. In this study, we evaluated the impact of human activity driven LULC changes on ESVs over the period 1982–2016/17 in contrasting agro-ecological environments: Guder (highland), Aba Gerima (midland), and Debatie (lowland) watersheds of the Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. Results During the study period, the continuous expansion of cultivated land at the expense of natural vegetation (bushland, forest, and grazing land) severely reduced the total ESV by about US$ 58 thousand (35%) in Aba Gerima and US$ 31 thousand (29%) in Debatie watersheds. In contrast, the unprecedented expansion of plantations, mainly through the planting of Acacia decurrens, led, from 2006, to a ESV rebound by about US$ 71 thousand (54%) in Guder watershed, after it had decreased by about US$ 61 thousand (32%) between 1982 and 2006. The reduction in natural forest area was the major contributor to the loss of total ESV in the study watersheds, ranging from US$ 31 thousand (63%) in Debatie to US$ 96.9 thousand (70%) in Guder between 1982 and 2016/17. On an area-specific basis, LULC changes reduced the average ESV from US$ 560 ha−1 year−1 (1982) in Guder to US$ 306 ha−1 year−1 (2017) in Debatie watersheds. Specific ESVs such as provisioning (mainly as food production) and regulating services (mainly as erosion control and climate regulation) accounted for most of the total ESVs estimated for the study watersheds. Conclusions In most cases, the total and specific ESVs of the watersheds were negatively associated with the population growth, which in turn was positively associated with the expansion of cultivated land over the study period. In Guder, however, ESVs were positively associated with population growth, especially after 2012. This is mainly due to the expansion of Acacia decurrens plantations. Our results suggest, therefore, that future policy measures and directions should focus on improving vegetation cover through planting multipurpose trees such as Acacia decurrens to prevent future loss of ESV in the midland and lowland regions of the Upper Blue Nile basin and beyond. However, caution must be taken during plantation of invasive species as they may have undesirable consequences.

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“…Within this context, the replacement of wheat flour by alternative flours of cacti [ 35 , 36 ], specifically that of xiquexique, is of paramount importance both for their interesting composition and in a wider perspective of agroecology, in view of climate change and all the environmental challenges facing the planet [ 57 ]. When talking about unconventional plants (UCP), such as cacti, the lowest production cost is inseparable when compared to traditional monocultures, given that there is no use of agrochemicals as well as all cultivation management is simplified and we still have the lowest land cost, as it does not wear out as in traditional monoculture and so the need for soil is much less; furthermore, there is also no need for burning in soils which of the factors mentioned above still pollutes the air.…”

Section: Counterpoints That Justify the Importance Of Replacing Wheat Flour With Cactus Flour In The Processing Of Food Productsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional, physicochemical and sensorial acceptance of functional cookies enriched with xiquexique (Pilosocereus gounellei) flour

et al. 2021

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The objective of this study was the production of innovative functional cookies enriched with two different sizes (100 and 28 mesh) xiquexique flour by substitution ratio 50% of wheat flour and monitoring the impact of these enrichments on the nutritional, physicochemical, texture characteristics and consumer acceptance. The physicochemical characteristics and sensorial properties of the xiquexique cookies were evaluated in a pursuit to identify an innovative bakery ingredient with high nutritional value and potential function that could be exploited by the food industry. The water activity and moisture values were low, which can provide greater stability during storage of food matrices, such as cookies. The xiquexique cookies had greater ash (2.47–2.74%), protein (0.94–1.36%), fiber (4.41–8.10%), and resistant starch (3.65–2.10%) contents than their respective controls with 100% wheat flour. The functional cookies were rich in minerals: mainly calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and manganese and can be consumed by all individuals to help meet daily needs, especially those of people who have increased needs for these essential nutrients. In addition to the darker color of the xiquexique cookies, the hardness of these was higher than that of the control cookies, while the expansion index was smaller. The data from the Check All That Apply sensory method, which consists of a test used mainly for recipe adjustments and the development of ideal food products, confirmed that xiquexique flour have the potential for the development of bakery products such as cookies.

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Agroecology-based soil erosion assessment for better conservation planning in Ethiopian river basins

Cited by 81 publications

References 65 publications

Farmers’ adoption of soil and water conservation practices: The case of Lege-Lafto Watershed, Dessie Zuria District, South Wollo, Ethiopia

Farmers’ adoption of soil and water conservation practices: The case of Lege-Lafto Watershed, Dessie Zuria District, South Wollo, Ethiopia

Changes in ecosystem service values strongly influenced by human activities in contrasting agro-ecological environments

Nutritional, physicochemical and sensorial acceptance of functional cookies enriched with xiquexique (Pilosocereus gounellei) flour

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