Monitoring and simulation of soil erosion in the Ethiopian Highlands on a plot scale
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Citation
Claire Brenner. (31/10/2013). Monitoring and simulation of soil erosion in the Ethiopian Highlands on a plot scale. Vienna, Austria: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Center for Development Research (BOKU - CDR).
Abstract
Soil erosion is the main driving force for global land degradation. Soil erosion measurements
are an important tool to assess soil loss under site-specific conditions and evaluate the impact
of changes in land use on its magnitude. Based on this, adjusted management strategies can
help to maintain or enhance the state of the soil. This work assessed soil loss rates on a plot
scale in a 54 km² large agricultural catchment near Gondar, Ethiopia. At the experimental site,
stone bunds were implemented in 2011 to prevent severe soil erosion. During the rainy season
2012 (July and August), three soil erosion plots with areas between 300 and 480 m² were
installed and soil loss measurements were carried out. Soil loss from the three plots was 0.3,
3.0 and 4.7 kg m-2, respectively. Additionally, canopy and rock fragment cover, hydraulic
conductivity as well as other soil properties were determined. Based on the data obtained from
the field, the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model was adjusted and calibrated.
Furthermore, the model will be calibrated with more field-measured data sets of runoff and soil
loss in the investigated watershed. In the future, it will then be used as demonstration tool to
evaluate the response of soil erosion to changes in management practices or the
implementation of soil and water conservation measures in the Ethiopian Highlands.