Research Article
GIS-Based Soil Erosion Assessment and Severity Mapping Using RUSLE Model for Planning of Conservation Measures at Selected Watershed in North Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia
Endale Bedada Begna*,
Woubalem Abera Ayansa
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 3, June 2025
Pages:
74-86
Received:
5 May 2025
Accepted:
23 May 2025
Published:
23 June 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijema.20251303.11
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Views:
Abstract: Soil erosion is a common phenomenon in many parts of Ethiopian and it remains difficult to quantify and measure the amount of soil erosion. GIS provides spatial information to identify erosion potential areas and useful tools to estimate the annual soil loss based on Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation. The aim of this research was to estimate the annual soil loss from the watershed and to map soil erosion factors for planning and implementation of sustainable soil conservation and management system in the watershed. RUSLE model was employed rainfall erosivity factor, soil erodibility factor, topography factor, vegetation cover factor, management factor. The mean annual soil loss estimated in watershed was 44.67 tones ha-1yr-1 from 569.35 ha. The results revealed that about 23.44% of the watershed area undergoes moderate (5-10 tones ha-1 yr-1) to very slight (>2 tones ha-1 yr-1) erosion classes, 22.54% high (10-50 tones ha-1 yr-1) erosion class, 38.8% from severe (50-100 tones ha-1 yr-1) to very severe (100-500 tones ha-1 yr-1) erosion classes, and 15.23% catastrophic (>500 tones ha-1 yr-1) erosion class. Based on the findings it is recommended that, high to catastrophic erosion risk area of the watershed requires various soil and water conservation measures that intercept runoff by decreasing the transport capacity of flow and improving soil infiltration in the steep slope and rehabilitating hillside slope areas with different indigenous and exotic tree species should be embarked upon by participating farmers from plan preparation to implementation. Soil erosion hot spot areas that were identified in the soil erosion map should be given a serious attention and priorities for implementing soil conservation activities before the areas reached to irreversible soil degradations.
Abstract: Soil erosion is a common phenomenon in many parts of Ethiopian and it remains difficult to quantify and measure the amount of soil erosion. GIS provides spatial information to identify erosion potential areas and useful tools to estimate the annual soil loss based on Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation. The aim of this research was to estimate the...
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Research Article
Phosphorus Requirement Mapping for Bread Wheat at Wachale District, North Shewa Zone, Oromia
Ajema Lemma
,
Abera Donis,
Meseret Muluna,
Woubalem Abera
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 3, June 2025
Pages:
87-93
Received:
5 May 2025
Accepted:
22 May 2025
Published:
23 June 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijema.20251303.12
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: Determination of soil phosphorus level is an important factor affecting crop production and P-use efficiency in the study area. Fertilizer requirement mapping is the way of determining fertilizer demanded by specific crop production type on the basis of soil sample testing results. In order to make efficient fertilizer application for wheat at Wachale district, the study was conducted to map phosphorus requirement for wheat crop. Starting from soil sample collection, laboratory analysis and interpretation and mapping standard methods and tools were used. The total soil samples collected for the wheat potential kebeles were 167 and phosphorus requirement mapping was done for analyzed soil samples. Based on the laboratory result, phosphorus requirement was calculated by subtracting initial soil phosphorus from phosphorus critical for wheat at the study area. Considering the minimum and maximum level of phosphorus requirement, the output of the result ranges from 18.04 to 45.98ppm for the areas under consideration with an average of 31.43ppm. Large areas (84393.29ha) of the district require 20 to 35ppm and the smallest area (348.64ha) require 15 to 20ppm of phosphorus fertilizer for wheat crop production. Consequently, phosphorus fertilizer application rate for wheat crop might be very efficient by using the map, otherwise using the mean rate (31.43ppm) appropriate than blanket application rate. The map of phosphorus requirement in ppm was predicted for unknown locations by using ordinary Kriging interpolation of ArcGIS10.3 software.
Abstract: Determination of soil phosphorus level is an important factor affecting crop production and P-use efficiency in the study area. Fertilizer requirement mapping is the way of determining fertilizer demanded by specific crop production type on the basis of soil sample testing results. In order to make efficient fertilizer application for wheat at Wach...
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