Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/sed-7-3511-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/sed-7-3511-2015
07 Dec 2015
 | 07 Dec 2015
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal SE. A revision for further review has not been submitted.

Soil erosion assessment and control in Northeast Wollega, Ethiopia

A. Adugna, A. Abegaz, and A. Cerdà

Abstract. Soil erosion is the main driver of land degradation in Ethiopia, and in the whole region of East Africa. This study was conducted at the Northeast Wollega in West Ethiopia to estimate the soil losses by means of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The purpose of this paper is to identify erosion spot areas and target locations for appropriate development of soil and water conservation measures. Fieldwork and household survey were conducted to identify major determinants of soil erosion control. Six principal factors were used to calculate soil loss per year, such as rainfallerosivity, soil erodiblity, slope length, slope steepness, crop management and erosion-control practices. The soil losses have shown spatio-temporal variations that range from 4.5 Mg ha-1 yr-1 in forest to 65.9 Mg ha-1 yr-1 in cropland. Results from the analysis of stepwise multiple linear regression show that sustainable soil erosion control are determined byknowledge of farmers about soil conservation, land tenure security and off-farm income at community level. Thus, policy aim at keeping land productivity will need to focus on terracing, inter-cropping and improved agro-forestry practices.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
A. Adugna, A. Abegaz, and A. Cerdà
 
Status: closed (peer review stopped)
Status: closed (peer review stopped)
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
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Status: closed (peer review stopped)
Status: closed (peer review stopped)
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
A. Adugna, A. Abegaz, and A. Cerdà
A. Adugna, A. Abegaz, and A. Cerdà

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Short summary
The research has been con conducted to estimate erosion risk over certain areas for land restoration. The result of the USLE showed that the annual rate of soil loss is in the range of 4.5Mgha-1y-1 in forestland and 65.9Mgha-1y-1 in cropland. The rate of soil loss in the cropland, which accounts for about 69% of the total soil loss in the study area, is very highly severe. This clearly shows that cropland should be prioritized to carry out land management practices such as minimum tillage.