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Soil improvement measures need to be ecologically credible, socially acceptable and economically affordable if they are to enter widespread use. However, in real world decision contexts not all measures can sufficiently meet these criteria. As such, developing, selecting and using appropriate tools to support more systematic appraisal of soil improvement measures in different decision-making contexts represents an important challenge. Tools differ in their aims, ranging from those focused on appraising issues of cost-effectiveness, wider ecosystem services impacts and adoption barriers/opportunities, to those seeking to foster participatory engagement and social learning. Despite the growing complexity of the decision-support tool landscape, comprehensive guidance for selecting tools that are best suited to appraise soil improvement measures, as well as those well-adapted to enable participatory deployment, has generally been lacking. We address this gap using the experience and survey data from an EU-funded project (RECARE: Preventing and REmediating degradation of soils in Europe through land CARE). RECARE applied different socio-cultural, biophysical and monetary appraisal tools to assess the costs, benefits and adoption of soil improvement measures across Europe. We focused on these appraisal tools and evaluated their performance against three broad attributes that gauge their differences and suitability for widespread deployment to aid stakeholder decision making in soil management. Data were collected using an online questionnaire administered to RECARE researchers. Although some tools worked better than others across case studies, the information collated was used to provide guiding strategies for choosing appropriate tools, considering resources and data availability, characterisation of uncertainty, and the purpose for which a specific soil improvement measure is being developed or promoted. This paper provides insights to others working in practical soil improvement contexts as to why getting the tools right matters. It demonstrates how use of the right tools can add value to decision-making in ameliorating soil threats, supporting the sustainable management of the services that our soil ecosystems provide.
Uche T. Okpara; Luuk Fleskens; Lindsay C. Stringer; Rudi Hessel; Felicitas Bachmann; Ioannis Daliakopoulos; Kerstin Berglund; Francisco Jose Blanco Velazquez; Nicola Dal Ferro; Jacob Keizer; Silvia Kohnova; Tatenda Lemann; Claire Quinn; Gudrun Schwilch; Grzegorz Siebielec; Kamilla Skaalsveen; Mark Tibbett; Christos Zoumides. Helping stakeholders select and apply appraisal tools to mitigate soil threats: Researchers’ experiences from across Europe. Journal of Environmental Management 2019, 257, 110005 .
AMA StyleUche T. Okpara, Luuk Fleskens, Lindsay C. Stringer, Rudi Hessel, Felicitas Bachmann, Ioannis Daliakopoulos, Kerstin Berglund, Francisco Jose Blanco Velazquez, Nicola Dal Ferro, Jacob Keizer, Silvia Kohnova, Tatenda Lemann, Claire Quinn, Gudrun Schwilch, Grzegorz Siebielec, Kamilla Skaalsveen, Mark Tibbett, Christos Zoumides. Helping stakeholders select and apply appraisal tools to mitigate soil threats: Researchers’ experiences from across Europe. Journal of Environmental Management. 2019; 257 ():110005.
Chicago/Turabian StyleUche T. Okpara; Luuk Fleskens; Lindsay C. Stringer; Rudi Hessel; Felicitas Bachmann; Ioannis Daliakopoulos; Kerstin Berglund; Francisco Jose Blanco Velazquez; Nicola Dal Ferro; Jacob Keizer; Silvia Kohnova; Tatenda Lemann; Claire Quinn; Gudrun Schwilch; Grzegorz Siebielec; Kamilla Skaalsveen; Mark Tibbett; Christos Zoumides. 2019. "Helping stakeholders select and apply appraisal tools to mitigate soil threats: Researchers’ experiences from across Europe." Journal of Environmental Management 257, no. : 110005.
To assess the spatial and temporal availability of blue and green water for up- and downstream stakeholders, the hydrological responses of the upper Blue Nile basin in the Ethiopian Highlands was modelled and analysed with newly generated input data, such as soil and land use maps. To consider variations in the seasonal climate, topography, soil, land use, and land management, the upper Blue Nile basin was modelled in seven major sub-basins. The modelling showed significant spatial and temporal differences in the hydrological responses of different sub-basins and years. The long-term mean annual drainage ratios of the watersheds range from 0.65, and the annual drainage ratio of one sub-basin can vary from 0.22 to 0.49. Steep slopes, shallow soils, and cultivated areas increase the drainage ratios due to high surface runoff, low soil moisture content, and a smaller share of evapotranspiration. Various climate change scenarios predict more precipitation, and land use change scenarios foresee a higher share of cultivated areas due to population growth. In view of these trends, results from our study suggest that drainage ratios will increase and more available blue water can be expected for downstream stakeholders.
Tatenda Lemann; Vincent Roth; Gete Zeleke; Alemtsehay Subhatu; Tibebu Kassawmar; Hans Hurni. Spatial and Temporal Variability in Hydrological Responses of the Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. Water 2018, 11, 21 .
AMA StyleTatenda Lemann, Vincent Roth, Gete Zeleke, Alemtsehay Subhatu, Tibebu Kassawmar, Hans Hurni. Spatial and Temporal Variability in Hydrological Responses of the Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. Water. 2018; 11 (1):21.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTatenda Lemann; Vincent Roth; Gete Zeleke; Alemtsehay Subhatu; Tibebu Kassawmar; Hans Hurni. 2018. "Spatial and Temporal Variability in Hydrological Responses of the Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia." Water 11, no. 1: 21.
Only a few studies have quantified and measured ecosystem services (ES) specifically related to soil. To address this gap, we have developed and applied a methodology to assess changes in ecosystem services, based on measured or estimated soil property changes that were stimulated by soil management measures (e.g., mulching, terracing, no-till). We applied the ES assessment methodology in 16 case study sites across Europe representing a high diversity of soil threats and land use systems. Various prevention and remediation measures were trialled, and the changes in manageable soil and other natural capital properties were measured and quantified. An Excel tool facilitated data collection, calculation of changes in ecosystem services, and visualization of measured short-term changes and estimated long-term changes at plot level and for the wider area. With this methodology, we were able to successfully collect and compare data on the impact of land management on 15 different ecosystem services from 26 different measures. Overall, the results are positive in terms of the impacts of the trialled measures on ecosystem services, with 18 out of 26 measures having no decrease in any service at the plot level. Although methodological challenges remain, the ES assessment was shown to be a comprehensive evaluation of the impacts of the trialled measures, and also served as an input to a stakeholder valuation of ecosystem services at local and sub-national levels.
Gudrun Schwilch; Tatenda Lemann; Örjan Berglund; Carlo Camarotto; Artemi Cerdà; Ioannis Daliakopoulos; Silvia Kohnová; Dominika Krzeminska; Teodoro Marañón; René Rietra; Grzegorz Siebielec; Johann Thorsson; Mark Tibbett; Sandra Valente; Hedwig Van Delden; Jan Van Den Akker; Simone Verzandvoort; Nicoleta Vrînceanu; Christos Zoumides; Rudi Hessel. Assessing Impacts of Soil Management Measures on Ecosystem Services. Sustainability 2018, 10, 4416 .
AMA StyleGudrun Schwilch, Tatenda Lemann, Örjan Berglund, Carlo Camarotto, Artemi Cerdà, Ioannis Daliakopoulos, Silvia Kohnová, Dominika Krzeminska, Teodoro Marañón, René Rietra, Grzegorz Siebielec, Johann Thorsson, Mark Tibbett, Sandra Valente, Hedwig Van Delden, Jan Van Den Akker, Simone Verzandvoort, Nicoleta Vrînceanu, Christos Zoumides, Rudi Hessel. Assessing Impacts of Soil Management Measures on Ecosystem Services. Sustainability. 2018; 10 (12):4416.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGudrun Schwilch; Tatenda Lemann; Örjan Berglund; Carlo Camarotto; Artemi Cerdà; Ioannis Daliakopoulos; Silvia Kohnová; Dominika Krzeminska; Teodoro Marañón; René Rietra; Grzegorz Siebielec; Johann Thorsson; Mark Tibbett; Sandra Valente; Hedwig Van Delden; Jan Van Den Akker; Simone Verzandvoort; Nicoleta Vrînceanu; Christos Zoumides; Rudi Hessel. 2018. "Assessing Impacts of Soil Management Measures on Ecosystem Services." Sustainability 10, no. 12: 4416.
Tubers and root crops are a typical element of the crop rotation system widely practiced in the Swiss Plateau and especially prone to soil erosion by water, resulting in recurrent soil loss and considerable off-site damage. Improved cultivation practices are therefore needed to counteract and mitigate the erosion risk. This research evaluates the effectiveness of a device called the “Dyker”, which was trialled during two cropping seasons. The Dyker consists of a set of parallel wheels with three inclined shovels each. It is attached to the rear end of a potato planting machine and digs holes into the bottom of the furrows between the potato ridges. The holes are intended to improve water infiltration, and minimize surface runoff and soil erosion. A dye tracer experiment showed that in treated furrows, water infiltrates the compacted subsoil below the plough horizon, while in untreated furrows, hardly any water infiltrates deeper than 20 cm below the surface. Drone photographs showed that the Dyker effectively reduces the amount of stagnant water in depressions: while in treated furrows, rainwater was evenly retained in small holes and infiltrated the soil locally, in untreated furrows it drained to the lowest point of the plot. Due to saturation, excess water remained in the untreated furrows for several days and created anaerobic conditions in the adjacent potato ridges and ultimately led to crop failure. In addition, measurements of temporal and spatial changes of the cross-sectional geometry of furrows showed more erosion and deposition processes in untreated furrows. The positive changes in surface structure diminish in time, as the small holes between the micro-dams gradually fill up, depending on rainfall amounts and intensities.
T. Lemann; Tobias Sprafke; F. Bachmann; V. Prasuhn; G. Schwilch. The effect of the Dyker on infiltration, soil erosion, and waterlogging on conventionally farmed potato fields in the Swiss Plateau. CATENA 2018, 174, 130 -141.
AMA StyleT. Lemann, Tobias Sprafke, F. Bachmann, V. Prasuhn, G. Schwilch. The effect of the Dyker on infiltration, soil erosion, and waterlogging on conventionally farmed potato fields in the Swiss Plateau. CATENA. 2018; 174 ():130-141.
Chicago/Turabian StyleT. Lemann; Tobias Sprafke; F. Bachmann; V. Prasuhn; G. Schwilch. 2018. "The effect of the Dyker on infiltration, soil erosion, and waterlogging on conventionally farmed potato fields in the Swiss Plateau." CATENA 174, no. : 130-141.
Drawing on hydrology, rainfall, and climatic data from the past 25 years, this article investigates the effects of climate change on water resources in the transnational Blue Nile Basin (BNB). The primary focus is on determining the long-term temporal and seasonal changes in the flows of the Blue Nile in Ethiopia at the border to Sudan. This is important because the Blue Nile is the main tributary to the Nile river, the lifeline of both Sudan and Egypt. Therefore, to begin with long-term trends in hydrological time series were detected by means of both parametric and nonparametric techniques. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was calibrated using several sub-basins and new high-resolution land use and soil maps. Future climate change impacts were projected using data from the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) of the National Centers for Environmental Predictions based on three different climate change scenarios from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3). Projected time series were analysed for changes in rainfall and streamflow trends. Climate change scenario modelling suggested that the precipitation will increase from 7% to 48% and that streamflow from the BNB could increase by 21% to 97%. The results provide a basis for evaluating future impacts of climate change on the upper Blue Nile River (Abay River). This is the main river basin contributing to the Nile and a source of water for millions of people in Sudan and Egypt, downstream from Ethiopia. Three models (CCCMA, CNRM, MRI) were applied in this research, within two future time periods (2046–2064 and 2081–2099) and one scenario (A1B). The Abay Basin was divided into seven sub-basins, six of which were used as inlets to the lowest basin at the border to Sudan. The above-mentioned results show that under current climate change scenarios there is a strong seasonal shift to be expected from the present main rainfall season (June to September) to an earlier onset from January to May with less pronounced peaks but longer duration of the rainfall season. This has direct consequences on the streamflow of the Blue Nile, which is connected to the rainfall season and therefore has direct effects on the people living in the sphere of influence of the Nile River.
Vincent Roth; Tatenda Lemann; Gete Zeleke; Alemtsehay Teklay Subhatu; Tibebu Kassawmar Nigussie; Hans Hurni. Effects of climate change on water resources in the upper Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia. Heliyon 2018, 4, e00771 .
AMA StyleVincent Roth, Tatenda Lemann, Gete Zeleke, Alemtsehay Teklay Subhatu, Tibebu Kassawmar Nigussie, Hans Hurni. Effects of climate change on water resources in the upper Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia. Heliyon. 2018; 4 (9):e00771.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVincent Roth; Tatenda Lemann; Gete Zeleke; Alemtsehay Teklay Subhatu; Tibebu Kassawmar Nigussie; Hans Hurni. 2018. "Effects of climate change on water resources in the upper Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia." Heliyon 4, no. 9: e00771.
This study assesses the interrelationships between terrace development and topographic factors, soil erosion, and soil dislocation by tillage in Minchet Catchment in the Ethiopian Highlands. Data were collected through a mix of modelling soil erosion using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) adapted to Ethiopia, and measuring slope and soil deposition above the terraces. The terraces, which developed over 29 years following construction of fanya juu bunds on cropland, reduced the cropland's current slope gradient to half of its original slope, leading to about 39% less soil erosion. Currently, of the total 50 t ha‐1 yr‐1 soil deposition measured above the terraces, about 22 t ha‐1 yr‐1 was soil eroded by water, while the other 28 t ha‐1 yr‐1 was soil that had been dislocated by tillage. This shows that SWC technologies in the study area are effective in reducing slope gradient and slope length, and thus also in trapping eroded soil, slowing soil movement by tillage, and ultimately, in reducing soil erosion. However, current soil loss from the fields still exceeds the soil formation rate of the study area. We thus highlight possible options to further reduce soil erosion in the crop fields, such as increasing the number of terraces in areas with wider spacing, and growing multipurpose and productive grasses and trees on terraces.
Alemtsehay Subhatu; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Gete Zeleke; Vincent Roth; Tatenda Lemann; Karl Herweg; Hans Hurni. Interrelationships between terrace development, topography, soil erosion, and soil dislocation by tillage in Minchet Catchment, Ethiopian Highlands. Land Degradation & Development 2018, 29, 3584 -3594.
AMA StyleAlemtsehay Subhatu, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza, Gete Zeleke, Vincent Roth, Tatenda Lemann, Karl Herweg, Hans Hurni. Interrelationships between terrace development, topography, soil erosion, and soil dislocation by tillage in Minchet Catchment, Ethiopian Highlands. Land Degradation & Development. 2018; 29 (10):3584-3594.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlemtsehay Subhatu; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Gete Zeleke; Vincent Roth; Tatenda Lemann; Karl Herweg; Hans Hurni. 2018. "Interrelationships between terrace development, topography, soil erosion, and soil dislocation by tillage in Minchet Catchment, Ethiopian Highlands." Land Degradation & Development 29, no. 10: 3584-3594.
In the Ethiopian Highlands, soil and water conservation practices are of utmost importance to conserve eroded soil and combat soil loss. This study provides detailed results on on-site sediment deposition and net soil loss in terraced croplands in a catchment in the sub-humid Ethiopian Highlands. Sediment deposition was measured on horse bean and maize fields during the crop growing seasons of 2014 and 2015. Measurements took place on observation plots on terraced cropland with varying spacing between terraces and varying slope gradients. Net soil loss, in this case the amount leaving the terraced cropland, was calculated by modelling the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) for the whole observation field and subtracting the measured sediment deposition. The study result showed about 8–11 t ha−1 sediment was deposited in the deposition zone of the terraced cropland, with greater sediment deposition on terraces with narrow spacing and steeper slope gradients. Sediment deposition was highest in July and August, and relatively low in September. Annual soil loss ranged from 32 to 37 t ha−1 in the terraced cropland of the study area. From the total soil loss in the crop growing season, about 54–74% sediment was deposited on the deposition zone of terraced crop fields. Implementation of soil and water conservation with narrow spacing, especially on the steep slopes of the sub-humid Ethiopian Highlands or other similar area, are thus highly recommended as they enable conservation of the eroded soil in the cropland
Alemtsehay Subhatu; Tatenda Lemann; Kaspar Hurni; Brigitte Portner; Tibebu Kassawmar; Gete Zeleke; Hans Hurni. Deposition of eroded soil on terraced croplands in Minchet catchment, Ethiopian Highlands. International Soil and Water Conservation Research 2017, 5, 212 -220.
AMA StyleAlemtsehay Subhatu, Tatenda Lemann, Kaspar Hurni, Brigitte Portner, Tibebu Kassawmar, Gete Zeleke, Hans Hurni. Deposition of eroded soil on terraced croplands in Minchet catchment, Ethiopian Highlands. International Soil and Water Conservation Research. 2017; 5 (3):212-220.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlemtsehay Subhatu; Tatenda Lemann; Kaspar Hurni; Brigitte Portner; Tibebu Kassawmar; Gete Zeleke; Hans Hurni. 2017. "Deposition of eroded soil on terraced croplands in Minchet catchment, Ethiopian Highlands." International Soil and Water Conservation Research 5, no. 3: 212-220.
Tatenda Lemann; Vincent Roth; Gete Zeleke. Impact of precipitation and temperature changes on hydrological responses of small-scale catchments in the Ethiopian Highlands. Hydrological Sciences Journal 2016, 62, 270 -282.
AMA StyleTatenda Lemann, Vincent Roth, Gete Zeleke. Impact of precipitation and temperature changes on hydrological responses of small-scale catchments in the Ethiopian Highlands. Hydrological Sciences Journal. 2016; 62 (2):270-282.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTatenda Lemann; Vincent Roth; Gete Zeleke. 2016. "Impact of precipitation and temperature changes on hydrological responses of small-scale catchments in the Ethiopian Highlands." Hydrological Sciences Journal 62, no. 2: 270-282.
Soil and water conservation (SWC) can in fluence the amount of sediment yield leaving a catchment and the availability of water for up- and downstream stakeholders. The extent of this in\ud fluence depends heavily on hydro-climatic conditions in the upstream catchments. This study investigated the changes in blue and green water distribution and sediment yield in a meso-scale catchment in the Wet Wenya Dega agro-climatic zone in the upper Blue Nile basin, where the implementation of SWC measures has been documented for the last 29 years. We implemented the temporal and spatial variability of SWC in the form of terracing into the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and modelled its in fluence on discharge and sediment load. Using the Sequential Uncertainty Fitting program (SUFI-2), we calibrated and validated discharge and sediment load with a 31-year data set from a sub-catchment (113 ha) and validated the model for the entire catchment (4818 ha) with a two-year data set. Modelling showed that discharge at the catchment level, and thus water availability for downstream stakeholders, did not change signi\ud ficantly with the implementation of new SWC measures, but SWC could substantially reduce\ud sediment yield. Two modelled SWC scenarios showed that with the implementation of SWC measures the average annual sediment yield of the study area could be reduced from 37 t/ha to 17 t/ha
Tatenda Lemann; Gete Zeleke; Caroline Amsler; Luciano Giovanoli; Hannes Suter; Vincent Roth. Modelling the effect of soil and water conservation on discharge and sediment yield in the upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. Applied Geography 2016, 73, 89 -101.
AMA StyleTatenda Lemann, Gete Zeleke, Caroline Amsler, Luciano Giovanoli, Hannes Suter, Vincent Roth. Modelling the effect of soil and water conservation on discharge and sediment yield in the upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. Applied Geography. 2016; 73 ():89-101.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTatenda Lemann; Gete Zeleke; Caroline Amsler; Luciano Giovanoli; Hannes Suter; Vincent Roth. 2016. "Modelling the effect of soil and water conservation on discharge and sediment yield in the upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia." Applied Geography 73, no. : 89-101.