|
AUTHOR(S): Jemal Tefera, Tamirat Wato
|
TITLE |
 PDF |
ABSTRACT One of the key elements influencing Ethiopia's ability to sustain agricultural productivity is soil erosion. This study's goals are to assess soil conservation techniques in a watershed region with a dearth of data and predict soil erosion using the universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model. To determine the RUSLE factors, soil information, rainfall, erosion control techniques, satellite pictures, and topographic maps were gathered. The terrain, vegetation, soil characteristics, and land use/cover are the factors that have the most impact on soil erosion. Five factors-R, the erosivity factor, K, the soil erodibility factor, LS, the topography component, C, the crop management factor, and P, the conservation support practice were multiplied to determine the average yearly soil losses. This study was carried out in the South Wollo highland, a region of the Blue Nile basin that experiences significant soil erosion. The region's undulating topography is a result of intense agricultural methods and poor soil conservation techniques. The annual soil loss predictions range between 0- and 240 tons ha-1/yr. The total soil loss in the study area was 2,198,974 metric tons per year from 1,867,206.206 ha of the study area. The largest size among soil loss categories was that of 87-240 metric tons ha-1/yr. The Southern and Center portions of the region have mild to extremely severe erosion risks, whereas the steep, intensively farmed northern parts have high to severe erosion risk zones. |
KEYWORDS Watershed; sustainable management; Soil erosion; Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation; GIS |
|
Cite this paper Jemal Tefera, Tamirat Wato. (2024) Estimating Soil Loss Rates for Soil Conservation Planning based on GIS in South Wollo Highlands of Ethiopia. International Journal of Environmental Science, 9, 46-62 |
|
