Sediment yield modelling and prioritization of erosion-prone sub-basins in the Tekeze watershed, Ethiopia

Soil erosion is a major global concern due to its adverse impact on agricultural productivity and dam reservoir storage capacity. Effective land management in large watersheds is difficult, particularly in developing countries, owing to the high cost of soil conservation expenditure. Identifying the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environment, development and sustainability development and sustainability, 2024-08, Vol.26 (8), p.19855-19870
Main Authors: Hailu, Melese Baye, Mishra, S. K., Jain, Sanjay K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Dams
Developing countries
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Economic Geology
Economic Growth
Effectiveness
Environment
Environmental Economics
Environmental Management
Evaluation
Land conservation
Land management
LDCs
Productivity
Reservoir storage
Sediment yield
Sediments
Soil conservation
Soil erosion
Soil improvement
Soil water storage
Storage capacity
Sustainable Development
Water conservation
Water storage
Watersheds
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Summary:Soil erosion is a major global concern due to its adverse impact on agricultural productivity and dam reservoir storage capacity. Effective land management in large watersheds is difficult, particularly in developing countries, owing to the high cost of soil conservation expenditure. Identifying the most vulnerable areas for erosion and executing remedial measures for those areas is crucial to reduce costs and improve effectiveness. The Soil and Water Assessment Tools model was used to identify weak zones for erosion from hydrologic response units to larger watersheds. The study focused on the Tekeze watershed, divided into 34 subbasins and 158 hydrologic response units, with the model performing within acceptable limits for evaluating erosion and flow. The results showed that the model is within acceptable limits for evaluating erosion and flow in the Tekeze basin, with significant differences in sediment yield across each subbasin. Due to their high sediment yield, six subbasins (viz., 1, 3, 5, 14, 17, and 28) require urgent attention. The findings of this study can guide land managers in developing effective strategies to reduce soil erosion and enhance agricultural productivity.
ISSN:1573-2975
1387-585X
1573-2975
DOI:10.1007/s10668-023-03441-4