Impact of soil and water conservation measures on catchment hydrological response: a case in north Ethiopia

Impact studies of catchment management in the developing world rarely include detailed hydrological components. Here, changes in the hydrological response of a 200-ha catchment in north Ethiopia are investigated. The management included various soil and water conservation measures such as the constr...

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Main Authors: Nyssen, Jan, Clymans, W., Descheemaeker, Katrien K., Poesen, J., Vandecasteele, I., Vanmaercke, M., Zenebe, A., Camp, M. van, Haile, M., Haregeweyn, Nigussie, Moeyersons, J., Martens, K., Gebreyohannes, T., Deckers, J., Walraevens, K.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Wiley 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40531
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author Nyssen, Jan
Clymans, W.
Descheemaeker, Katrien K.
Poesen, J.
Vandecasteele, I.
Vanmaercke, M.
Zenebe, A.
Camp, M. van
Haile, M.
Haregeweyn, Nigussie
Moeyersons, J.
Martens, K.
Gebreyohannes, T.
Deckers, J.
Walraevens, K.
author_browse Camp, M. van
Clymans, W.
Deckers, J.
Descheemaeker, Katrien K.
Gebreyohannes, T.
Haile, M.
Haregeweyn, Nigussie
Martens, K.
Moeyersons, J.
Nyssen, Jan
Poesen, J.
Vandecasteele, I.
Vanmaercke, M.
Walraevens, K.
Zenebe, A.
author_facet Nyssen, Jan
Clymans, W.
Descheemaeker, Katrien K.
Poesen, J.
Vandecasteele, I.
Vanmaercke, M.
Zenebe, A.
Camp, M. van
Haile, M.
Haregeweyn, Nigussie
Moeyersons, J.
Martens, K.
Gebreyohannes, T.
Deckers, J.
Walraevens, K.
author_sort Nyssen, Jan
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Impact studies of catchment management in the developing world rarely include detailed hydrological components. Here, changes in the hydrological response of a 200-ha catchment in north Ethiopia are investigated. The management included various soil and water conservation measures such as the construction of dry masonry stone bunds and check dams, the abandonment of post-harvest grazing, and the establishment of woody vegetation. Measurements at the catchment outlet indicated a runoff depth of 5 mm or a runoff coefficient (RC) of 1?6% in the rainy season of 2006. Combined with runoff measurements at plot scale, this allowed calculating the runoff curve number (CN) for various land uses and land management techniques. The pre-implementation runoff depth was then predicted using the CN values and a ponding adjustment factor, representing the abstraction of runoff induced by the 242 check dams in gullies. Using the 2006 rainfall depths, the runoff depth for the 2000 land management situation was predicted to be 26?5 mm (RC D 8%), in line with current RCs of nearby catchments. Monitoring of the ground water level indicated a rise after catchment management. The yearly rise in water table after the onset of the rains ( T) relative to the water surplus (WS) over the same period increased between 2002-2003 ( T/WS D 3?4) and 2006 ( T/WS >11?1). Emerging wells and irrigation are other indicators for improved water supply in the managed catchment. Cropped fields in the gullies indicate that farmers are less frightened for the destructive effects of flash floods. Due to increased soil water content, the crop growing period is prolonged. It can be concluded that this catchment management has resulted in a higher infiltration rate and a reduction of direct runoff volume by 81% which has had a positive influence on the catchment water balance.
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spelling CGSpace405312025-06-17T08:24:21Z Impact of soil and water conservation measures on catchment hydrological response: a case in north Ethiopia Nyssen, Jan Clymans, W. Descheemaeker, Katrien K. Poesen, J. Vandecasteele, I. Vanmaercke, M. Zenebe, A. Camp, M. van Haile, M. Haregeweyn, Nigussie Moeyersons, J. Martens, K. Gebreyohannes, T. Deckers, J. Walraevens, K. catchment areas water conservation soil conservation hydrology runoff water table measurement water balance Impact studies of catchment management in the developing world rarely include detailed hydrological components. Here, changes in the hydrological response of a 200-ha catchment in north Ethiopia are investigated. The management included various soil and water conservation measures such as the construction of dry masonry stone bunds and check dams, the abandonment of post-harvest grazing, and the establishment of woody vegetation. Measurements at the catchment outlet indicated a runoff depth of 5 mm or a runoff coefficient (RC) of 1?6% in the rainy season of 2006. Combined with runoff measurements at plot scale, this allowed calculating the runoff curve number (CN) for various land uses and land management techniques. The pre-implementation runoff depth was then predicted using the CN values and a ponding adjustment factor, representing the abstraction of runoff induced by the 242 check dams in gullies. Using the 2006 rainfall depths, the runoff depth for the 2000 land management situation was predicted to be 26?5 mm (RC D 8%), in line with current RCs of nearby catchments. Monitoring of the ground water level indicated a rise after catchment management. The yearly rise in water table after the onset of the rains ( T) relative to the water surplus (WS) over the same period increased between 2002-2003 ( T/WS D 3?4) and 2006 ( T/WS >11?1). Emerging wells and irrigation are other indicators for improved water supply in the managed catchment. Cropped fields in the gullies indicate that farmers are less frightened for the destructive effects of flash floods. Due to increased soil water content, the crop growing period is prolonged. It can be concluded that this catchment management has resulted in a higher infiltration rate and a reduction of direct runoff volume by 81% which has had a positive influence on the catchment water balance. 2010 2014-06-13T14:47:51Z 2014-06-13T14:47:51Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40531 en Limited Access Wiley Nyssen, J.; Clymans, W.; Descheemaeker, Katrien; Poesen, J.; Vandecasteele, I.; Vanmaercke, M.; Zenebe, A.; Van Camp, M.; Haile, M.; Haregeweyn, N.; Moeyersons, J.; Martens, K.; Gebreyohannes, T.; Deckers, J.; Walraevens, K. 2010. Impact of soil and water conservation measures on catchment hydrological response: a case in north Ethiopia. Hydrological Processes, 24(13):1880-1895. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7628
spellingShingle catchment areas
water conservation
soil conservation
hydrology
runoff
water table
measurement
water balance
Nyssen, Jan
Clymans, W.
Descheemaeker, Katrien K.
Poesen, J.
Vandecasteele, I.
Vanmaercke, M.
Zenebe, A.
Camp, M. van
Haile, M.
Haregeweyn, Nigussie
Moeyersons, J.
Martens, K.
Gebreyohannes, T.
Deckers, J.
Walraevens, K.
Impact of soil and water conservation measures on catchment hydrological response: a case in north Ethiopia
title Impact of soil and water conservation measures on catchment hydrological response: a case in north Ethiopia
title_full Impact of soil and water conservation measures on catchment hydrological response: a case in north Ethiopia
title_fullStr Impact of soil and water conservation measures on catchment hydrological response: a case in north Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Impact of soil and water conservation measures on catchment hydrological response: a case in north Ethiopia
title_short Impact of soil and water conservation measures on catchment hydrological response: a case in north Ethiopia
title_sort impact of soil and water conservation measures on catchment hydrological response a case in north ethiopia
topic catchment areas
water conservation
soil conservation
hydrology
runoff
water table
measurement
water balance
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40531
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