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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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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
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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
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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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Research Article
Physico-chemical and Bacteriological Characterization of Well Water Consumed in the Neighbourhoods of N'Zerekore, Guinea
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 3, June 2025
Pages:
94-102
Received:
27 May 2025
Accepted:
10 June 2025
Published:
25 June 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijema.20251303.13
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Abstract: The unsatisfactory distribution of water by the Guinea Water Company (SEG) has favoured the presence of boreholes and private wells in the urban commune of N'Zérékoré. The aim of this research is to examine the physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of water from wells in two of the town's neighbourhoods, Belle-vue and Mohomou. Nine wells in these neighbourhoods were sampled for the study. Analyses focused on 07 physical descriptors measured in situ; 04 chemical descriptors and 02 bacteriological descriptors, namely total coliforms and fecal coliforms determined in the laboratory. Two multivariate analyses were used to characterise the well water, including Principal Component Analysis and Hierarchical Ascending Classification. The data show a pronounced acidity in all the wells, with mean values ranging from 4.32±0.22 to 5.45±0.00. The water was poorly mineralised, but high levels of turbidity exceeding World Health Organization thresholds were recorded. All three well water points studied were contaminated with total coliform bacteria and faecal streptococci, which are good indicators of faecal contamination leading to bacteriological contamination making the water unsuitable for consumption. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Ascending Classification (HAC) were used to discriminate between the nine wells. According to the trends observed, the quality of the wells in the water analysed has deteriorated as a result of multiple factors associated with poor maintenance of the wells. These results call for action to be taken to disinfect wells, in order to guarantee a safe drinking water supply that poses no major health risk to the population.
Abstract: The unsatisfactory distribution of water by the Guinea Water Company (SEG) has favoured the presence of boreholes and private wells in the urban commune of N'Zérékoré. The aim of this research is to examine the physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of water from wells in two of the town's neighbourhoods, Belle-vue and Mohomou. Nine wells in ...
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Research Article
Socio-economic and Biophysical Resource Characterization in Gur Watershed, Girar Jarso District, North Shewa Zone, Oromia
Endale Bedada Begna*,
Woubalem Abera Ayansa
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 3, June 2025
Pages:
103-113
Received:
22 May 2025
Accepted:
11 June 2025
Published:
30 June 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijema.20251303.14
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Abstract: Socio-economic and biophysical resource characterization builds necessary foundation for the plan and obtains proper information for elective planning, implementation and monitoring of the research in the field of natural resources. The objective of the study was to identify and characterize existing socio-economic and biophysical resources and document baseline information on socio-economic and biophysical aspects used as benchmark for planning and impact monitoring in the watershed. The site was selected depending on agro-ecological representation, prevalence of resource management and land degradation problems. The data were collected through field observations, HH survey, FGD and KII’s and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results of study indicated that, decline of soil fertility, soil erosion, and shortage of agricultural inputs are the major crop production constraints in the watershed. According to the results, the farmers majorly implemented physical SWC measures such as stone bund, stone faced soil bund, water ways. About 97.7%, of the sample farmers in the Gur watershed were participating in construction of SWC measures by their own interest respectively. Analysis of the result shows that the major constraints in practicing of physical SWC structures were serves as breed and hiding places of rodents, it requires large number of labors and lack of training to construct. According to the field measurement data of implemented stone bund in most sample sites of the study watershed failed to meet the standards. Based on the above findings, enhancing the farmers’ awareness on the importance of SWC structures and based on their agro-ecologies promotion different introduced physical, biological and agronomic SWC measures were recommended.
Abstract: Socio-economic and biophysical resource characterization builds necessary foundation for the plan and obtains proper information for elective planning, implementation and monitoring of the research in the field of natural resources. The objective of the study was to identify and characterize existing socio-economic and biophysical resources and doc...
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