Assessing the effect of water harvesting techniques on event-based hydrological responses and sediment yield at a catchment scale in northern Ethiopia using the Limburg Soil Erosion Model (LISEM)

Prediction of soil and water conservation structure impacts on runoff and erosion processes using SWAT model in the northern Ethiopian highlands

“…Since 2010, a massive effort has been undertaken by the government of Ethiopia in constructing soil and water conservation structures on privately owned and community lands through community mobilization (Kebede 2014;Dagnew et al 2015;Teshome et al 2016;Dagnew et al 2017;Grum et al 2017;Guzman et al 2017). Examples of soil and water conservation practices include stone bunds, soil bunds, and percolation ditches (Teshome et al 2016).…”

Effect of soil and water conservation measures on hydrological processes and sediment yield in the highlands of North-Western Ethiopia

“…This study illustrates that sediment deposition and yield were highly variable within study sub-watersheds. This is most likely due to the effect of SWC measures as well as biophysical characteristics such as topography, land use and soil types (Mekonnen et al, 2015;Grum et al, 2017). However, previous studies indicated that specific sediment yield decreases with increase in catchment area de Vente et al, 2007).…”

“…Accelerated soil erosion by water is the primary cause of land degradation in the region Berry, 2003;Hurni et al, 2010) and this is the consequence of a changed relationship between environmental biophysical factors which occur as a result of human interventions (Hurni, 1988;Dubale, 2001;Holden and Shiferaw, 2004;Gebrernichael et al, 2005;. Consequently, a diverse set of changes in physical, chemical or biological characteristics of the soil resulted in reduced fertility and severe erosion Grum et al, 2017;Tamene et al, 2017;Jemberu et al, 2018). These changes include for example loss of biological diversity and vegetation cover, nutrient imbalance, decline in soil organic matter, and decrease in infiltration and water retention capacity (Awulachew et al, 2010b;Betrie et al, 2011;Grum et al, 2017).…”

“…Consequently, a diverse set of changes in physical, chemical or biological characteristics of the soil resulted in reduced fertility and severe erosion Grum et al, 2017;Tamene et al, 2017;Jemberu et al, 2018). These changes include for example loss of biological diversity and vegetation cover, nutrient imbalance, decline in soil organic matter, and decrease in infiltration and water retention capacity (Awulachew et al, 2010b;Betrie et al, 2011;Grum et al, 2017). The direct (proximate) causes of land degradation are: farming on steep slopes, limited fallow and vegetation cover, deforestation, overgrazing, limited or poorly constructed soil and water conservation (SWC) measures, limited application of organic matter, and burning of dung and crop residues (Hurni, 1988;Grepperud, 1996;Desta, 2000;Taddese, 2001;Holden and Shiferaw, 2004).…”

“…Haregeweyn et al (2008); Bayabil et al (2010) and Guzman et al (2013) reported the variability in effectiveness of SWC measures in controlling runoff, erosion and sedimentation in the highlands of North-West Ethiopia. Understanding the basic relationships between rainfall, runoff, erosion and sediment yield is vital for effective management and use of soil and water resources Easton et al, 2010;Grum et al, 2017;.…”