Changes in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern Ethiopia: a water balance modelling exercise

The establishment of exclosures (i.e. areas closed for grazing and agriculture) is a common practice to reverse land degradation through vegetation regeneration in the semiarid highland areas of northern Ethiopia. In order to assess the effect of exclosures on water flows, the water balance componen...

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Autores principales: Descheemaeker, Katrien K., Raes, Dirk, Nyssen, Jan, Poesen, J., Haile, M., Deckers, J.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 2009
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/2030
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author Descheemaeker, Katrien K.
Raes, Dirk
Nyssen, Jan
Poesen, J.
Haile, M.
Deckers, J.
author_browse Deckers, J.
Descheemaeker, Katrien K.
Haile, M.
Nyssen, Jan
Poesen, J.
Raes, Dirk
author_facet Descheemaeker, Katrien K.
Raes, Dirk
Nyssen, Jan
Poesen, J.
Haile, M.
Deckers, J.
author_sort Descheemaeker, Katrien K.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The establishment of exclosures (i.e. areas closed for grazing and agriculture) is a common practice to reverse land degradation through vegetation regeneration in the semiarid highland areas of northern Ethiopia. In order to assess the effect of exclosures on water flows, the water balance components for different vegetation regeneration stages were assessed through field measurements and modelling. Successful model calibration and validation was done based on soil water content measurements conducted during 2 years in 22 experimental plots. In the protected areas, vegetation regeneration leads to an increase in infiltration and transpiration and a more productive use of water for biomass production. In areas where additional lateral water (runon) infiltrates, source–sink systems are created. Here, up to 30% of the annual rainfall percolates through the root-zone towards the groundwater table. Increased biomass production in exclosures leads to possibilities for wood harvesting and cut and carry of grasses for livestock feeding. Together with water conservation and more productive use of water, the latter contributes to increased livestock water productivity. At the landscape scale, the creation of vegetation filters, capturing resources like water and nutrients, reinforces the rehabilitation process and healthy landscape functioning.
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spelling CGSpace20302025-12-08T10:29:22Z Changes in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern Ethiopia: a water balance modelling exercise Descheemaeker, Katrien K. Raes, Dirk Nyssen, Jan Poesen, J. Haile, M. Deckers, J. water resources vegetation land degradation water balance simulation models soil water measurement experiments highlands sloping land grazing lands pastures regeneration water productivity percolation evapotranspiration runoff The establishment of exclosures (i.e. areas closed for grazing and agriculture) is a common practice to reverse land degradation through vegetation regeneration in the semiarid highland areas of northern Ethiopia. In order to assess the effect of exclosures on water flows, the water balance components for different vegetation regeneration stages were assessed through field measurements and modelling. Successful model calibration and validation was done based on soil water content measurements conducted during 2 years in 22 experimental plots. In the protected areas, vegetation regeneration leads to an increase in infiltration and transpiration and a more productive use of water for biomass production. In areas where additional lateral water (runon) infiltrates, source–sink systems are created. Here, up to 30% of the annual rainfall percolates through the root-zone towards the groundwater table. Increased biomass production in exclosures leads to possibilities for wood harvesting and cut and carry of grasses for livestock feeding. Together with water conservation and more productive use of water, the latter contributes to increased livestock water productivity. At the landscape scale, the creation of vegetation filters, capturing resources like water and nutrients, reinforces the rehabilitation process and healthy landscape functioning. 2009 2010-07-08T18:42:02Z 2010-07-08T18:42:02Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/2030 en Limited Access Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Descheemaeker, K., Raes, D., Nyssen, J., Poesen, J., Haile, M., & Deckers, J. (2009). Changes in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern Ethiopia: a water balance modelling exercise. The Rangeland Journal, 31(2), 237. https://doi.org/10.1071/rj09010
spellingShingle water resources
vegetation
land degradation
water balance
simulation models
soil water
measurement
experiments
highlands
sloping land
grazing lands
pastures
regeneration
water productivity
percolation
evapotranspiration
runoff
Descheemaeker, Katrien K.
Raes, Dirk
Nyssen, Jan
Poesen, J.
Haile, M.
Deckers, J.
Changes in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern Ethiopia: a water balance modelling exercise
title Changes in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern Ethiopia: a water balance modelling exercise
title_full Changes in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern Ethiopia: a water balance modelling exercise
title_fullStr Changes in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern Ethiopia: a water balance modelling exercise
title_full_unstemmed Changes in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern Ethiopia: a water balance modelling exercise
title_short Changes in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern Ethiopia: a water balance modelling exercise
title_sort changes in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern ethiopia a water balance modelling exercise
topic water resources
vegetation
land degradation
water balance
simulation models
soil water
measurement
experiments
highlands
sloping land
grazing lands
pastures
regeneration
water productivity
percolation
evapotranspiration
runoff
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/2030
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