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The Ethiopian highlands suffer from severe land degradation, including erosion. In response, the Ethiopian government has implemented soil and water conservation practices (SWCPs). At the same time, due to its economic value, the acreage of eucalyptus has expanded, with croplands and pastures converted to eucalyptus plantations. The impact of these changes on soil loss has not been investigated experimentally. The objective of this study, therefore, is to examine the impacts of these changes on stream discharge and sediment load in a sub-humid watershed. The study covers a nine-year period that included installation of SWCPs, a three-fold increase from 1.5 ha in 2010 to 5 ha in 2018 in eucalyptus, and the upgrading of an unpaved to the paved road. Precipitation, runoff, and sediment concentration were monitored by installing weirs at the outlets of the main and four nested watersheds. A total of 867 storm events were collected in the nine years. Runoff and sediment concentration decreased by more than half in nine years. In the main watershed W5, we estimated that evapotranspiration by eucalyptus during the dry phase (November to May) increased approximately from 30 mm a−1 in 2010 to 100 mm a−1 in 2018. In watershed W3 it increased from 2 mm a−1 to 400 mm a−1, requiring more rainfall before saturation excess runoff began in the rain phase. The reduction in runoff led to a decreased sediment load from 70 Mg ha−1 a−1 in 2010 to 2.8 Mg ha−1 a−1 in 2018, though the reduction in discharge may have negative impacts on ecology and downstream water resources. SWCPs became sediment-filled and minimally effective by 2018. This indicates that these techniques are either inappropriate for this sub-humid watershed or require improved design and maintenance.
Demesew A. Mhiret; Dessalegn C. Dagnew; Tilashwork C. Alemie; Christian D. Guzman; Seifu A. Tilahun; Benjamin F. Zaitchik; Tammo S. Steenhuis. Impact of Soil Conservation and Eucalyptus on Hydrology and Soil Loss in the Ethiopian Highlands. Water 2019, 11, 2299 .
AMA StyleDemesew A. Mhiret, Dessalegn C. Dagnew, Tilashwork C. Alemie, Christian D. Guzman, Seifu A. Tilahun, Benjamin F. Zaitchik, Tammo S. Steenhuis. Impact of Soil Conservation and Eucalyptus on Hydrology and Soil Loss in the Ethiopian Highlands. Water. 2019; 11 (11):2299.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDemesew A. Mhiret; Dessalegn C. Dagnew; Tilashwork C. Alemie; Christian D. Guzman; Seifu A. Tilahun; Benjamin F. Zaitchik; Tammo S. Steenhuis. 2019. "Impact of Soil Conservation and Eucalyptus on Hydrology and Soil Loss in the Ethiopian Highlands." Water 11, no. 11: 2299.
Anthropogenic landscape conversion from forest to agricultural land affects baseflow. Baseflow is a source of potable water and can be used for the irrigation of high value crops. Finding ways to increase base and inter flow (i.e., groundwater flow) is, therefore, essential for the improvement of the livelihood of rural inhabitants. Therefore, the objective is to investigate the effect of landscape interventions on stream discharge and, in particular, on groundwater flow. The Tikur-Wuha experimental watershed in the upper reaches of the Blue Nile was selected because discharge data were available before and after implementation of a suite of land management practices that, among others, enhanced the percolation of water to below the rootzone. The parameter efficient distributed (PED) model was used to separate overland flow from total flow. The groundwater flow index (GWFI), defined as the quotient of the annual groundwater flow to the total stream discharge at the outlet of the watershed, was calculated. Our analysis with the PED model showed that at similar annual rainfall amounts, more baseflow and less surface runoff was generated after the landscape intervention, which promoted deep infiltration of the rainwater. The decrease in surface runoff shortly after the implementation of the land management practices is similar to observations in other watersheds in the Ethiopian highlands.
Adugnaw T. Akale; Dessalegn C. Dagnew; Mamaru A. Moges; Seifu A. Tilahun; Tammo S. Steenhuis. The Effect of Landscape Interventions on Groundwater Flow and Surface Runoff in a Watershed in the Upper Reaches of the Blue Nile. Water 2019, 11, 2188 .
AMA StyleAdugnaw T. Akale, Dessalegn C. Dagnew, Mamaru A. Moges, Seifu A. Tilahun, Tammo S. Steenhuis. The Effect of Landscape Interventions on Groundwater Flow and Surface Runoff in a Watershed in the Upper Reaches of the Blue Nile. Water. 2019; 11 (10):2188.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdugnaw T. Akale; Dessalegn C. Dagnew; Mamaru A. Moges; Seifu A. Tilahun; Tammo S. Steenhuis. 2019. "The Effect of Landscape Interventions on Groundwater Flow and Surface Runoff in a Watershed in the Upper Reaches of the Blue Nile." Water 11, no. 10: 2188.
Water hyacinth is a well-known invasive weed in lakes across the world and harms the aquatic environment. Since 2011, the weed has invaded Lake Tana substantially posing a challenge to the ecosystem services of the lake. The major factors which affect the growth of the weed are phosphorus, nitrogen, temperature, pH, salinity, and lake depth. Understanding and investigating the hotspot areas is vital to predict the areas for proper planning of interventions. The main objective of this study is therefore to predict the hotspot areas of the water hyacinth over the surface of the lake using the geographical information system (GIS)-based multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) technique. The main parameters used in the multi-criteria analysis were total phosphorus (>0.08 mg L−1), total nitrogen (>1.1 mg L−1), temperature (
Minychl G. Dersseh; Aron A. Kibret; Seifu A. Tilahun; Abeyou W. Worqlul; Mamaru A. Moges; Dessalegn C. Dagnew; Wubneh B. Abebe; Assefa M. Melesse. Potential of Water Hyacinth Infestation on Lake Tana, Ethiopia: A Prediction Using a GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Technique. Water 2019, 11, 1921 .
AMA StyleMinychl G. Dersseh, Aron A. Kibret, Seifu A. Tilahun, Abeyou W. Worqlul, Mamaru A. Moges, Dessalegn C. Dagnew, Wubneh B. Abebe, Assefa M. Melesse. Potential of Water Hyacinth Infestation on Lake Tana, Ethiopia: A Prediction Using a GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Technique. Water. 2019; 11 (9):1921.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMinychl G. Dersseh; Aron A. Kibret; Seifu A. Tilahun; Abeyou W. Worqlul; Mamaru A. Moges; Dessalegn C. Dagnew; Wubneh B. Abebe; Assefa M. Melesse. 2019. "Potential of Water Hyacinth Infestation on Lake Tana, Ethiopia: A Prediction Using a GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Technique." Water 11, no. 9: 1921.
Under the auspices of the UN Millennium Development Goals, access to safe drinking water in the developing world, including the Ethiopian highlands, has improved greatly. However, in many cases, it is not known how safe the water is. With the intensification of agriculture and increasing applications of fertilizers, high levels of nitrate are a concern. The objective of this study is to assess the nitrate levels in drinking water supply systems. To assess nitrate levels, we sampled 213 water supply points in a 4880 km2 area in the northwest Ethiopian highlands. The results show that the average concentration was below the World Health Organization (WHO) health standard of 10 mg N-NO3/L. The average concentration in wells was 3.3 mg N-NO3/L and in springs was 1.8 mg N-NO3/L. Only in three wells, that were in agricultural cropped areas, was the WHO standard exceeded. Wells in the agricultural fields had an average nitrate concentration of 3.6 mg N-NO3/L, which was almost twice that on grazing land and four times that in upland wells. Spatially, the groundwater nitrate concentrations were greater in the moderately sloped parts of the study area where agriculture was intensive and denitrification limited. Thus, although current nitrate levels are safe, in the future, the nitrate concentration could exceed the WHO health standard when fertilizer use increases.
Adugnaw T. Akale; Mamaru A. Moges; Dessalegn C. Dagnew; Seifu A. Tilahun; Tammo S. Steenhuis. Assessment of Nitrate in Wells and Springs in the North Central Ethiopian Highlands. Water 2018, 10, 476 .
AMA StyleAdugnaw T. Akale, Mamaru A. Moges, Dessalegn C. Dagnew, Seifu A. Tilahun, Tammo S. Steenhuis. Assessment of Nitrate in Wells and Springs in the North Central Ethiopian Highlands. Water. 2018; 10 (4):476.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdugnaw T. Akale; Mamaru A. Moges; Dessalegn C. Dagnew; Seifu A. Tilahun; Tammo S. Steenhuis. 2018. "Assessment of Nitrate in Wells and Springs in the North Central Ethiopian Highlands." Water 10, no. 4: 476.
Restoration of degraded landscapes through the implementation of soil and water conservation practices is considered a viable option to increase agricultural production by enhancing ecosystems. However, in the humid Ethiopian highlands, little information is available on the impact of conservation practices despite wide scale implementation. The objective of this research was to document the effect of conservation practices on discharge and sediment concentration and load in watersheds that have different soil depths and topography. Precipitation, discharge, and sediment concentration were measured from 2010 to 2012 in two watersheds in close proximity and located in the Lake Tana basin, Ethiopia: Tikur-Wuha and Guale watersheds. The Tikur-Wuha watershed has deep soils and a gentle slope stream channel. The Guale watershed has shallow soils and a steep slope stream channel. In early 2011, the local community installed upland conservation measures consisting of stone and soil bunds, waterways, cutoff drains, infiltration furrows, gully rehabilitation, and enclosures. The results show that conservation practices marginally decreased direct runoff in both watersheds and increased base flow in the Tikur-Wuha watershed. Average sediment concentration decreased by 81% in Tikur-Wuha and 45% in Guale. The practices intended to increase infiltration were most effective in the Tikur-Wuha watershed because the deep soil could store the infiltrated water and release it over a longer period of time after the rainy season than the steeper Guale watershed with shallow soils.
Adugnaw T. Akale; Dessalegn C. Dagnew; Mulugeta A. Belete; Seifu A. Tilahun; Wolde Mekuria; Tammo S. Steenhuis. Impact of Soil Depth and Topography on the Effectiveness of Conservation Practices on Discharge and Soil Loss in the Ethiopian Highlands. Land 2017, 6, 78 .
AMA StyleAdugnaw T. Akale, Dessalegn C. Dagnew, Mulugeta A. Belete, Seifu A. Tilahun, Wolde Mekuria, Tammo S. Steenhuis. Impact of Soil Depth and Topography on the Effectiveness of Conservation Practices on Discharge and Soil Loss in the Ethiopian Highlands. Land. 2017; 6 (4):78.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdugnaw T. Akale; Dessalegn C. Dagnew; Mulugeta A. Belete; Seifu A. Tilahun; Wolde Mekuria; Tammo S. Steenhuis. 2017. "Impact of Soil Depth and Topography on the Effectiveness of Conservation Practices on Discharge and Soil Loss in the Ethiopian Highlands." Land 6, no. 4: 78.