Background Water erosion, upland degradation and deforestation are key environmental problems in the Meki river watershed. The study assessed the land use land cover change (LULCC) for 30 years and it examined the contribution of indigenous Enset-based land use system (EBLUS) to reduce soil erosion and prevent water bodies including Lake Ziway from sedimentation which was not considered in the former studies. GPS based data collected and satellite based LULC analysis using ERDAS Imagine 2014 performed to investigate existing farm management practices and land cover respectively. HEC-GEOHMS, Geo-statistical interpolation and RUSLE were applied to model watershed characteristics, spatial climate parameters and soil loss respectively. Result Meki river watershed (2110.4 km2 of area) is dominantly covered by cultivated LUS (41.5%), EBLUS (10.65%), Bush and Chat LUS (25.6%), Forest and plantations LUS (14.14%), built-up (7.4%) and water bodies (0.75%). Soil loss is increasing from 1987 to 2017 and a larger part of the watershed suffers a moderately severe to very severe risk (18 t ha−1 year−1 to > 80 t ha−1 year−1) in all sub-watersheds irrespective of the land use systems which shows the watershed is facing sever degradation problem. The mean soil loss of 30.5 t ha−1 year−13 and 31.905 t ha−1 year−1 are verified from Enset growing zones and non-Enset growing zones of the watershed respectively. Conclusion EBLUS saves significant amount of soil despite the steepness of the slopes of the Enset growing zones of the watershed. Hence, expansion of EBLUS can contribute in sustaining water bodies, including Lake Ziway by reducing soil loss rate and sedimentation problem for the ecological sustainability of the watershed. Therefore, separate land use policy and awareness creation are mandatory for such EBLUS expansion, sustainable watershed management interventions and conservation of the natural environment in the watershed based on its suitability and severity of erosion risk mapping.
Background Water erosion, upland degradation and deforestation are key environmental problems in the Meki river watershed. The study assessed the land use land cover change (LULCC) for 30 years and it examined the contribution of indigenous Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS) to reduce soil erosion and prevent water bodies including Lake Ziway from sedimentation which was not considered in the former studies. GPS based data collected and satellite based LULC analysis using ERDAS Imagine 2014 performed to investigate existing farm management practices and land cover respectively. HEC-GEOHMS, Geo-statistical interpolation and RUSLE were applied to model watershed characteristics, spatial climate parameters and soil loss respectively. Result Meki river watershed (2110.4sq.km of area) is dominantly covered by cultivated LUS (41.5%), EBLUS (10.65%), Bush and Chat LUS (25.6%), Forest and plantations LUS (14.14%), built-up (7.4%) and water bodies (0.75%). Soil loss is increasing from 1987 to 2017 and a larger part of the watershed suffers a moderately severe to very severe risk (18 t ha-1yr-1 to >80 t ha-1yr-1) in all sub-watersheds irrespective of the land use systems which shows the watershed is facing sever degradation problem. The mean soil loss of 30.5 t ha-1yr-1 and 31.905 t ha-1yr-1 are verified from Enset growing zones and non-Enset growing zones of the watershed respectively. Conclusion EBLUS saves significant amount of soil despite the steepness of the slopes of the Enset growing zones of the watershed. Hence, expansion of EBLUS can contribute in sustaining water bodies, including Lake Ziway by reducing soil loss rate and sedimentation problem for the ecological sustainability of the watershed. Therefore, separate land use policy and awareness creation are mandatory for such EBLUS expansion, sustainable watershed management interventions and conservation of the natural environment in the watershed based on its suitability and severity of erosion risk mapping.
Background Water erosion, upland degradation and deforestation are the key environmental problems in Meki river watershed where this study was conducted. This study assessed the land use land cover change (LULCC) over the last 30 years, examined the contribution of Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS) to manage soil erosion problem for sustainability of Lake Ziway and suggested appropriate management interventions for the watershed ERDAS imagine 2014, Geo-statistical interpolation and RUSLE model was devised for LULCC detection and analysis, for different spatial inputs and soil loss modeling respectively. Result Meki river watershed covers 2110.39056 km² of area which is dominantly covered by cultivated land use system (41.5%), Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS)(10.65%), Bush and Chat land use system (25.6%), Forest and plantations land use system (14.14%), built up (7.4%) and water bodies (0.75%). Severity class of High to severe range (18-125tha-1yr-1) recorded in the sub-watersheds irrespective of the land use systems and facing sever degradation problem that increase in soil loss in all land use systems from 1987 to 2017. The average soil loss of 30.5tha-1yr-1 and 31.905tha-1yr-1 recorded from Enset growing zones and non-Enset growing zones of the watershed respectively.Conclusion Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS) saves significant amount of soil despite the steepness of the slopes of the Enset growing zones of the watershed. Hence, expansion of EBLUS can contribute in sustaining Lake Ziway by reducing soil loss rate and sedimentation problem for ecological sustainability of the watershed. Therefore, separate land use policy and awareness creation are mandatory for such EBLUS expansion, integrated watershed management and conservation of the natural environment.
Background Water erosion, upland degradation and deforestation are key environmental problems in Meki river watershed. . The study assessed the land use land cover change (LULCC) over the last 30 years, examined the contribution of the indigenous Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS) which was not studied so far in reducing soil erosion and preventing Lake Ziway from sedimentation. Based on the outcomes, the research recommended appropriate management interventions based on priority mapped to sustainably manage the watershed. GPS based Ground truth data sampling and collection, Geo-statistical interpolation and RUSLE model were applied for soil erosion modeling. The LULCC detection and analysis was conducted to generate the spatial inputs using ERDAS Imagine 2014. Result Meki river watershed has 2110.4 km² of area which is dominantly covered by cultivated land use system (41.5%), Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS)(10.65%), Bush and Chat land use system (25.6%), Forest and plantations land use system (14.14%), built up (7.4%) and water bodies (0.75%). Severity class of High to severe range (18-125tha -1 yr -1 ) recorded in the sub-watersheds irrespective of the land use systems and facing sever degradation problem that increase in soil loss in all land use systems from 1987 to 2017. The average soil loss of 30.5tha -1 yr-1 and 31.905tha-1yr-1 verified from Enset growing zones and non-Enset growing zones of the watershed respectively. Conclusion Enset-Based land use system (EBLUS) saves significant amount of soil despite the steepness of the slopes of the Enset growing zones of the watershed. Hence, expansion of EBLUS can contribute in sustaining Lake Ziway by reducing soil loss rate and sedimentation problem for ecological sustainability of the watershed. Therefore, separate land use policy and awareness creation are mandatory for such EBLUS expansion, integrated watershed management and conservation of the natural environment in the watershed.
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