Estimating landscape susceptibility to soil erosion using a GIS-based approach in Northern Ethiopia

Soil erosion is a very critical form of land degradation resulting in the loss of soil nutrients and downstream sedimentation of water storages in the highlands of Ethiopia. As it is technically and financially impossible to conserve all landscapes affected by erosion, identification of priority are...

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Autores principales: Tamene, Lulseged D., Adimassu, Zenebe, Aynekulu, Ermias, Yaekob, Tesfaye
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2017
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/81310
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author Tamene, Lulseged D.
Adimassu, Zenebe
Aynekulu, Ermias
Yaekob, Tesfaye
author_browse Adimassu, Zenebe
Aynekulu, Ermias
Tamene, Lulseged D.
Yaekob, Tesfaye
author_facet Tamene, Lulseged D.
Adimassu, Zenebe
Aynekulu, Ermias
Yaekob, Tesfaye
author_sort Tamene, Lulseged D.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Soil erosion is a very critical form of land degradation resulting in the loss of soil nutrients and downstream sedimentation of water storages in the highlands of Ethiopia. As it is technically and financially impossible to conserve all landscapes affected by erosion, identification of priority areas of intervention is necessary. Spatially distributed erosion models can help map landscape susceptibility to erosion and identify high erosion risk areas. Integration of erosion models with geographic information systems (GIS) enables assessing evaluate the spatial variability of soil erosion and plan implementing conservation measures at landscape levels. In this study, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation adjusted for sediment delivery ratio was used in a GIS system to assess landscape sensitivity to erosion and identify hotspots. The approach was applied in three catchments with size being 10–20 km2 and results were compared against quantitative and semi-quantitative data. The model estimated mean soil loss rates of about 45 t ha−1 y−1 with an average variability of 30% between catchments. The estimated soil loss rate is above the tolerable limit of 10 t ha−1 y−1. The model predicted high soil loss rates at steep slopes and shoulder positions as well as along gullies. The results of the study demonstrate that knowledge of spatial patterns of high soil loss risk areas can help deploy site-specific conservation measures.
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spelling CGSpace813102025-03-13T09:43:58Z Estimating landscape susceptibility to soil erosion using a GIS-based approach in Northern Ethiopia Tamene, Lulseged D. Adimassu, Zenebe Aynekulu, Ermias Yaekob, Tesfaye watersheds landscape erosion sedimentation degradation cuencas hidrográficas paisaje erosión sedimentación degradación Soil erosion is a very critical form of land degradation resulting in the loss of soil nutrients and downstream sedimentation of water storages in the highlands of Ethiopia. As it is technically and financially impossible to conserve all landscapes affected by erosion, identification of priority areas of intervention is necessary. Spatially distributed erosion models can help map landscape susceptibility to erosion and identify high erosion risk areas. Integration of erosion models with geographic information systems (GIS) enables assessing evaluate the spatial variability of soil erosion and plan implementing conservation measures at landscape levels. In this study, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation adjusted for sediment delivery ratio was used in a GIS system to assess landscape sensitivity to erosion and identify hotspots. The approach was applied in three catchments with size being 10–20 km2 and results were compared against quantitative and semi-quantitative data. The model estimated mean soil loss rates of about 45 t ha−1 y−1 with an average variability of 30% between catchments. The estimated soil loss rate is above the tolerable limit of 10 t ha−1 y−1. The model predicted high soil loss rates at steep slopes and shoulder positions as well as along gullies. The results of the study demonstrate that knowledge of spatial patterns of high soil loss risk areas can help deploy site-specific conservation measures. 2017-09 2017-06-05T19:58:04Z 2017-06-05T19:58:04Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/81310 en Open Access Elsevier Tamene, Lulseged; Adimassu, Zenebe; Aynekulu, Ermias; Yaekob, Tesfaye. 2017. Estimating landscape susceptibility to soil erosion using a GIS-based approach in Northern Ethiopia . International Soil and Water Conservation Research 5(3): 221-230 .
spellingShingle watersheds
landscape
erosion
sedimentation
degradation
cuencas hidrográficas
paisaje
erosión
sedimentación
degradación
Tamene, Lulseged D.
Adimassu, Zenebe
Aynekulu, Ermias
Yaekob, Tesfaye
Estimating landscape susceptibility to soil erosion using a GIS-based approach in Northern Ethiopia
title Estimating landscape susceptibility to soil erosion using a GIS-based approach in Northern Ethiopia
title_full Estimating landscape susceptibility to soil erosion using a GIS-based approach in Northern Ethiopia
title_fullStr Estimating landscape susceptibility to soil erosion using a GIS-based approach in Northern Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Estimating landscape susceptibility to soil erosion using a GIS-based approach in Northern Ethiopia
title_short Estimating landscape susceptibility to soil erosion using a GIS-based approach in Northern Ethiopia
title_sort estimating landscape susceptibility to soil erosion using a gis based approach in northern ethiopia
topic watersheds
landscape
erosion
sedimentation
degradation
cuencas hidrográficas
paisaje
erosión
sedimentación
degradación
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/81310
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