Adapting to climate change for food security in the Rift Valley dry lands of Ethiopia: supplemental irrigation, plant density and sowing date

Muluneh, Alemayehu; Stroosnijder, L.; Keesstra, Saskia; Biazin, Birhanu

doi:10.1017/s0021859616000897

Cited by 55 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…Our analysis indicated that late planting in Bako and Melkassa, and mid-window planting in Hawassa, combination with recommend fertilization application provided highest yield in all stations. In line with our results, Muluneh et al (2017), Kassie et al (2015) and Biazin and Sterk (2013) in Ethiopia, reported an increase in maize yields with delayed planting dates and nitrogen application for climate change scenarios. The significant impact of late planting would concur with works from Biazin and Sterk (2013) suggesting to wait for sufficient moisture needed for an efficient seed germination.…”

Section: Melkassa a Semi-arid Areasupporting

confidence: 91%

Simulating the impact of climate change on maize production in Ethiopia, East Africa

et al. 2018

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Background: Climate change is expected to significantly impact agricultural production across Africa. While a number of studies assessed this impact in semi-arid southern Africa, or tropical West Africa, only a limited number took interest in the mountainous and climatically varying Ethiopia of eastern Africa. This study assesses the impact of climate change on maize production in three representative sites of maize growing areas in Ethiopia. The assessment relies on the DSSAT crop model simulation of maize under current climate and future projections (19 Global Climate Models and 2 Representative Concentration Pathways). The period 1980-2010 was used to represent the baseline climate, while future climate projections cover three periods; near term (2010-2039), mid-century (2040-2069) and end-of-century (2070-2099). Climate, soil and crop management data were collected for the study sites representing the maize growing areas in the country. Results:Results show that maize yields will decrease by up to 43 and 24% by the end of the century at Bako and Melkassa stations, respectively, while simulated maize yield in Hawassa show an increase of 51%. On the one hand, rainfall variability and rising temperatures are determining factors explaining yield decrease in Bako and Melkassa, while projected rainfall increase in Hawassa explain simulated yield increases. Conclusion:The terrain and climate high variability of Ethiopia is emphasizing the extremely different responses of current agricultural systems to climate change. Though adaptation approached can address some negative impacts, and in some case can take advantage of changes, this study reveals that dedicated local knowledge is necessary for national and regional decision makers to respond with local relevance to a global exposure, in order to face food security challenges.

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Section: Melkassa a Semi-arid Areasupporting

confidence: 91%

Simulating the impact of climate change on maize production in Ethiopia, East Africa

et al. 2018

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“…In Ethiopia, land degradation is the most severe problem that affects agricultural productivity and negatively affects food security [31,35,120,121]. According to the World Bank statistical estimate, land degradation cost to annual agricultural GDP ranges from 2% to 6.75% [122].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Modeling of Soil Erosion Risk and Its Implication for Conservation Planning: the Case of the Gobele Watershed, East Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia

Woldemariam

Iguala

Tekalign

et al. 2018

Land

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Abstract:Soil erosion by water has accelerated over recent decades due to non-sustainable land use practices resulting in substantial land degradation processes. Spatially explicit information on soil erosion is critical for the development and implementation of appropriate Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) measures.The objectives of this study were to estimate the magnitude of soil loss rate, assess the change of erosion risk, and elucidate their implication for SWC planning in the Gobele Watershed, East Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia. Applying remote sensing data, the study first derived the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model parameters in an ArcGIS environment and estimated the soil loss rates. The estimated total soil loss in the watershed was 1,390,130.48 tons in 2000 and 1,022,445.09 tons in 2016 with a mean erosion rate of 51.04 t ha −1 y −1 and 34.26 t ha −1 y −1 , respectively. The study area was divided into eight erosion risk classes ranging from very low to extremely high. We established a change detection matrix of the soil erosion risk classes between 2000 and 2016. The change analysis results have revealed that about 70.80% of the soil erosion risk areas remained unchanged, 19.67% increased in total area, and 9.53% decreased, showing an overall worsening of the situation. We identified and mapped areas with a higher and increasing erosion risk as SWC priority areas using a Multi-criteria Decision Rules (MCDR) method. The top three priority levels marked for the emergency SWC measures account for about 0.04%, 0.49%, and 0.83%, respectively. These priority levels are situated along the steep slope areas in the north, northwest, south, and southeast of the Gobele Watershed. It is, thus, very critical to undertake proper intervention measures in upslope areas based on the priority levels to establish sustainable watershed management in the study area.

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“…Agriculture sector, which accounts for about 50% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 85% of the total export revenue, and over 80% of the total employment, is the main source of the country's economy [21][22][23][24][25]. The great majority of the population is dependent on subsistence agriculture that is an overwhelming vulnerable to the recurrent droughts and land degradation [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. Rapid population increase and growing demand posed a greater pressure on land resources, leading to severe soil erosion and land degradation in various parts of the country.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was estimated that the land degradation cost to an annual agricultural GDP range from 2% to 6.75% [21]. The loss of topsoil by water erosion in Ethiopia was estimated at 1.5 billion tons per annum with a mean erosion rate of 42 t ha −1 y −1 [27,28]. However, the magnitude of soil erosion rates varies across the physiographical regions in the country.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Intense rainfall, low vegetation cover, rugged topography, and anthropogenic factors are thought to be the most important factors contributing to a higher rate of soil erosion. Deforestation, agriculture land and urban expansion, cultivation in upslope areas, uncontrolled and overgrazing were the major anthropogenic drivers of soil erosion in the highland areas of the country [27,38,40]. A report from the Soil Conservation Research Program (SCRP) indicates that almost 50% of the Ethiopian highlands were seriously eroded, while 4% of the highland areas have reached a level of irreversibility that they will no longer give economic productivity in the foreseen future [38,39].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion in Erer Sub-Basin, Northeast Wabi Shebelle Basin, Ethiopia

Woldemariam

Harka

2020

Land

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Land use and land cover change (LULCC) is a critical factor for enhancing the soil erosion risk and land degradation process in the Wabi Shebelle Basin. Up-to-date spatial and statistical data on basin-wide erosion rates can provide an important basis for planning and conservation of soil and water ecosystems. The objectives of this study were to examine the magnitude of LULCC and consequent changes in the spatial extent of soil erosion risk, and identify priority areas for Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) in the Erer Sub-Basin, Wabi Shebelle Basin, Ethiopia. The soil loss rates were estimated using an empirical prediction model of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) outlined in the ArcGIS environment. The estimated total annual actual soil loss at the sub-basin level was 1.01 million tons in 2000 and 1.52 million tons in 2018 with a mean erosion rate of 75.85 t ha−1 y−1 and 107.07 t ha−1 y−1, respectively. The most extensive soil loss rates were estimated in croplands and bare land cover, with a mean soil loss rate of 37.60 t ha−1 y−1 and 15.78 t ha−1 y−1, respectively. The soil erosion risk has increased by 18.28% of the total area, and decreased by 15.93%, showing that the overall soil erosion situation is worsening in the study area. We determined SWC priority areas using a Multi Criteria Decision Rule (MCDR) approach, indicating that the top three levels identified for intense SWC account for about 2.50%, 2.38%, and 2.14%, respectively. These priority levels are typically situated along the steep slopes in Babile, Fedis, Fik, Gursum, Gola Oda, Haramaya, Jarso, and Kombolcha districts that need emergency SWC measures.

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Adapting to climate change for food security in the Rift Valley dry lands of Ethiopia: supplemental irrigation, plant density and sowing date

Cited by 55 publications

References 76 publications

Simulating the impact of climate change on maize production in Ethiopia, East Africa

Simulating the impact of climate change on maize production in Ethiopia, East Africa

Spatial Modeling of Soil Erosion Risk and Its Implication for Conservation Planning: the Case of the Gobele Watershed, East Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia

Effect of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion in Erer Sub-Basin, Northeast Wabi Shebelle Basin, Ethiopia

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