Soil erosion estimation and erosion risk area prioritization using GIS-based RUSLE model and identification of conservation strategies in Jejebe watershed, Southwestern Ethiopia

Yonas Gebreslasie Hagos; Tesfa Gebrie Andualem; Mesenbet Yibeltal Sebhat; Zelalem K Bedaso; Fitsum Tilahun Teshome; Haimanote Kebede Bayabil; Endalkachew Abebe Kebede; Girum Getachew Demeke; Addisalem Bitew Mitiku; Workineh Tadesse Ayele; Dinkisa Nagash Alamayo; Ermias Alemu Demissie; Mequanent Abathun Mengie

doi:10.1007/s10661-023-12136-2

Soil erosion estimation and erosion risk area prioritization using GIS-based RUSLE model and identification of conservation strategies in Jejebe watershed, Southwestern Ethiopia

Environ Monit Assess. 2023 Nov 20;195(12):1501. doi: 10.1007/s10661-023-12136-2.

Authors

Yonas Gebreslasie Hagos^{1

2}, Tesfa Gebrie Andualem^{3

4}, Mesenbet Yibeltal Sebhat⁵, Zelalem K Bedaso⁶, Fitsum Tilahun Teshome⁷, Haimanote Kebede Bayabil⁷, Endalkachew Abebe Kebede^{8

9}, Girum Getachew Demeke^{10

11

12}, Addisalem Bitew Mitiku¹³, Workineh Tadesse Ayele³, Dinkisa Nagash Alamayo¹³, Ermias Alemu Demissie¹³, Mequanent Abathun Mengie¹³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, University of Dayton, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH, 45469-2364, USA. yonasg093@gmail.com.
² Ethiopian Construction Design and Supervision Works Corporation, 2561, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. yonasg093@gmail.com.
³ Department of Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering, Debre Tabor University, 272, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
⁴ UniSA STEM, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5095, Australia.
⁵ Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, 73, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
⁶ Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, University of Dayton, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH, 45469-2364, USA.
⁷ Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Tropical Research and Education Center, IFAS, University of Florida, Homestead, FL, 33031, USA.
⁸ Guna Tana Integrated Field Research and Development Center, Debre Tabor University, 272, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
⁹ College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
¹¹ Earth System Science, Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP), Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
¹² Department of Natural Resources Management, Debre Tabor University, 272, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
¹³ Ethiopian Construction Design and Supervision Works Corporation, 2561, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

PMID: 37985507
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12136-2

Abstract

Erosion of soil refers to the process of detaching and transporting topsoil from the land surface by natural forces such as water, wind, and other factors. As a result of this process, soil fertility is lost, water bodies' depth is reduced, water turbidity rises, and flood hazard problems, etc. Using a numerical model of erosion rates and erosion risks in the Jejebe watershed of the Baro Akobo basin in western Ethiopia, this study mapped erosion risks to prioritize conservation measures. In this study, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model was used, which was adapted to Ethiopian conditions. To estimate soil loss with RUSLE, the rainfall erosivity (R) factor was generated by interpolating rainfall data, the soil erodibility (K) factor was derived from the soil map, the topography (LS) factor was determined from the digital elevation model (DEM), cover and management (C) factor derived from the land use/cover data, and conservation practices (P) factor generated from digital elevation model (DEM) and land use/cover data were integrated with remote sensing data and the GIS 10.5 environment. The findings indicated that the watershed annual soil loss varies from nearly 0 on a gentle slope of forest lands to 265.8 t ha^-1 year^-1 in the very steep slope upper part of the watershed, with a mean annual soil loss of 36.2 t ha^-1 year^-1. The total annual soil loss in the watershed is estimated to be around 919,886.5 tons per year. To minimize the amount of soil erosion in the watershed that had been most severely affected, we identified eight conservation strategies that could be implemented. These strategies were based on the participatory watershed development (PWD) principles established by the Ethiopian government and the severity of the erosion in the watershed. The study's findings showed that a GIS-based RUSLE soil erosion assessment model can provide a realistic prediction of the amount of soil loss that will occur in the watershed. This tool can also help identify the priority areas for implementing effective erosion control measures.

Keywords: DEM; Erosion severity class; Gambela; Soil erosion; Soil loss; Sub-watershed.

MeSH terms

Conservation of Natural Resources
Environmental Monitoring
Ethiopia
Geographic Information Systems
Models, Theoretical
Soil Erosion*
Soil*
Water

Substances

Soil
Water