Soil Conservation Strategies Research Articles

Erosion risk assessment through prioritization of sub-watersheds in Nyabarongo river catchment, Rwanda

Soil erosion is a multi-dimension problem that attracted the attention of researchers and planners worldwide. Literature reports, soil conservation strategies should be integrated with the priority assessment to deal with such a problem and taking up a focus according to the priority order. However, in spite of various forms of land and water degradation in Rwanda, a holistic investigation or multi-criteria based watersheds prioritization that integrate various aspects and methods has yet to be assessed. Thus, Nyabarongo River Catchment which is the major river catchment in Rwanda that drains about 33% of the total Rwanda coverage has been selected and sub-watersheds were grouped into three order clusters (C1, C2, and C3) using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA). The priority assessment was estimated using the combination of Compound parameter index (Ci) and Erosion Hazard Rate Index (EHRI) derived from the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in Geographic Information System (GIS) using remote sensing, soil and geology data. Based on the literature, the Ci technique, in general, considered four parameters viz. morphometric analysis dimensionally reduced using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) together with land cover, soil, and geology. Whereas EHRI considered five Erosion Hazard Parameters (EHPs) viz. Soil Loss (SL), Sediment Production Rate (SPR), Sediment Transport Index (STI), Runoff Potential (RP), and Slope. The priority assessment was categorized into High, Moderate, and Low priority classes. The priority assessment based on Ci and EHRI provided the same outcome. They noticed high priority in sub-watersheds under cluster C2 account for (35.94%), those under cluster C3 comprise for (16.27%) were identified as a moderate priority, and sub-watersheds belonging to cluster C1 account for (47.8%) falling under low priority sub-watersheds for conservation measures. Therefore, effective soil conservation measures at a priority basis are needed for sustained productivity while minimizing undesirable effects on the environment.

Estimating Soil Loss for Sustainable Crop Production in the Semi-deciduous Forest Zone of Ghana

Quantitative information on soil loss is relevant for devising soil conservation and crop management strategies to ensure sustainable fertility management and crop production. Estimations from runoff/erosion plots are expensive and laborious and thus requiring the exploration of other less expensive but reliable methods such as modeling. This study aimed to estimate current and future rates of soil loss for conservation planning toward sustainable crop production in the semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana. The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), which took into consideration the rainfall characteristics of the study area, inherent soil physicochemical and hydraulic properties, variations in slopes and terrain differences, land cover types, and soil management practices, was employed to estimate the magnitude and rate of soil loss in the study area. Output from three regional climate models (RCMs) from Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment including CCCma-CanESM2, GFDL-ESM2M, and HadGEM2-ES were used to estimate the impact of climate change on soil erosion in the study area. The results showed that soil loss estimated for bare soils was high ranging from 12.7 to 163.8 t ha−1 year−1 largely due to variation in slopes coupled with soil physicochemical and hydraulic properties. The simulated annual soil losses under various land cover options showed variable degrees of soil loss for maize cultivation under conventional tillage (8.2–106.5 t ha−1 year−1), soya bean monocropping (4.4–57.3 t ha−1 year−1), and low soil loss for oil palm plantation with grass or leguminous cover (2.5–32.8 t ha−1 year−1). Evaluation of the RCMs showed excellent performance for CCCma-CanESM2 and GFDL-ESM2M. Predictions of climate change impact using outputs from CCCma-CanESM2 and GFDL-ESM2M indicated that 9–39% increase in soil loss is expected by 2070, and it will be more severe (16–42%) by 2100. The model predictions indicate that the adoption of site-specific land cover management strategies such as tree–cover crop intercropping and reduced tillage has a huge potential to reduce soil loss and sustain soil fertility. The model can be used as an advisory tool for mapping areas for appropriate cropping systems for a particular site.

Environmentally friendly farming and yield of wheat crop: A case of developing country

The adverse effect of climate change on wheat is observed worldwide, but thanks to the environmentally friendly behavior of rural farmers to mitigate the impact of adverse environmental factors on their crops. The efficacy of Environmentally Friendly Farming (EFF) strategies needs to be tested in a developing country like Pakistan. This study intends to quantify the impact of Changing Crop Variety (CCV), Changing Planting Dates (CPD), Tree Plantation (TP), and Soil Conservation (SC) strategies on the yield of wheat crop. We also test some farm-specific and farmer-specific determinants of the wheat yield. A multistage random sample technique is utilized to collect the data from 224 farmers in rural Punjab, and a two-stage least square approach is employed for impact analyses. We find that all EFF strategies are found helpful to improve the wheat yield. SC and TP strategies are found significantly more productive than CCV and CPD. Moreover, some farms' inputs and socioeconomic factors also have significant effects on the wheat yield. The government should provide financial and non-financial incentives to the farmers to use EFF strategies in wheat farming because EFF strategies may increase the wheat yield and carry positive environmental spillovers. Moreover, the government should explore/invent pro-environmentally techniques and disseminate their efficacy among the farmers through extension services and awareness programs.

Gender-specific determinants of Zai technology use intensity for improved soil water management in the drylands of Upper Eastern Kenya

Degraded landscapes and soil water stress are long-standing problems to smallholder agriculture in the drylands. Despite the important roles of zai technology in restoring degraded landscapes and improving agricultural productivity, the technology is yet to be adopted to its fullest extent. This can be attributed to gender-linked disparities in agricultural technology utilization. The study, therefore, sought to determine gender-specific determinants of zai technology choice and use-intensity. A multistage sampling technique was employed in randomly selecting 133 female-headed households and 267 male-headed households in Tharaka South sub-county. Quantitative data were collected in a cross-sectional survey using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Using sex-disaggregated data, Chi-square and t-test statistic were employed to test the statistical significance of dummy and mean value of continuous variables, respectively. Gender specific determinants of zai technology choice and use-intensity were determined using the Heckman-two-step econometric model. The results revealed that, more women farmers (44%) were using zai technology as compared to men (38%). Among women farmers, total cultivated land, access to animal-drawn farm implements, and group membership had an influence on zai technology choice. For men, total cultivated land, group membership and access to extension services positively influenced choice of zai technology. With regard to zai technology use-intensity, total land cultivated, livestock densities, group membership and frequency of trainings on soil and water management were important determinants among women farmers. For men, zai technology use-intensity was determined by total cultivated land and farmers’ perceptions on soil erosion. We recommend that, gender-sensitive farm-level policies oriented towards farmer socioeconomic profiles are important deliberations towards choice and intense application of soil and water conservation strategies such as the zai technology.

Soil erosion control in immature oil palm plantation

The objectives of developing oil palm plantations should feasible economically and without causing massive erosion. This research proposes soil and water conservation strategies that are ideal and optimal for oil palm cultivation depending on land capability class. The conservation test for plants was performed according to land capability classes on a plot measuring 22 m × 4 m. Runoff and erosion rates were measured using Multislot Divisor Method. Nutrient leaching was analysed based on the content of C-organic (Ctot) (Walkley–Black method), total nitrogen (Ntot) (Kjeldahl method), P-available (Bray-1 method) and K2O (extraction with 1N NH4OAc at pH 7.0). From the results, land capability class III, cover crops (soybean) + manure (P3) treatment effectively reduced runoff and soil erosion (22.63 m3∙ha–1∙y–1 and 13.04 Mg∙ha–1∙y–1), as well as nutrient leaching, compared to other treatments. Furthermore, sediment trap + cover crop + manure (P3) controlled runoff, erosion and nutrient leaching on land capability class IV, producing the lowest runoff (129.40 m3∙ha–1∙y–1), soil erosion (11.39 Mg∙ha–1∙y–1), C-organic (1.3%), and P (1.95 mg kg–1). Soil conservation treatment significantly reduced erosion and runoff (p < 0.05) on land capability class VI. The bench terrace + cover plants + manure treatment-controlled runoff, erosion, and soil nutrient leaching.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal community in soil from different Brazilian Cerrado physiognomies

The Brazilian Cerrado represents an important hotspot of biodiversity but how different Cerrado physiognomies shape the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) community remain poorly understood. We hypothesize that differences in plants and soil properties found across the Cerrado physiognomies would influence the AM community. Thus, soil samples were collected from different physiognomies of Cerrado as follows: Campo graminoide (CG), Cerrado stricto sensu (CSS), and Cerradão (CD). AM community was assessed by 18S rRNA gene sequencing. Glomus was the most abundant genera found in all physiognomies. AM richness and diversity did not change across Cerrado physiognomies. Redundancy analysis clustered physiognomies in different groups, in which CG was the most discriminated, mainly by soil pH and temperature. This study showed that a better understanding of the AM community in the Cerrado biome can help to outline strategies for soil and plant conservation more efficiently, ensuring the sustainability of this system and nutrient dynamics.

Long-term effects of living grass mulching on soil and water conservation and fruit yield of citrus orchard in south China

To assess and compare the long-term effects of living grass mulching on soil and water conservation and fruit yield, the surface runoff, eroded sediment, soil water content, and fruit yield associated with different mulching patterns, included clean tillage, strip mulching with Paspalum notatum Flugge, full mulching with Paspalum notatum Flugge, strip mulching with Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers, full mulching with Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers, were monitored from 2001 to 2015. The results showed that the topsoil physical properties and organic matter content of the orchard were gradually improved with grass mulching time increased, and the full mulching was better than the strip mulching. Full grass mulching and strip grass mulching in the citrus orchard could significantly reduce surface runoff and soil erosion from the first year, and there was no significant difference between different grass mulching patterns in each growth period of fruit trees. In the dry season from August to September, the soil water content of clean tillage treatment was the highest, followed by strip mulching, and the smallest was the full mulching in the soil depth of 0–40 cm. The average fruit yield decreased by 32.15% for strip mulching and 41.72% for full mulching. Combined with the effects of living mulching on soil and water conservation and fruit yield, the strip mulching pattern is the better suitable for citrus orchards in the hilly area of south China. Living mulching with Paspalum notatum Flugge and Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers had no significant difference in the effects on soil and water conservation and citrus yield. The results provide a valuable guideline for improving the grass interplanting strategies for soil conservation in the red soil hilly areas.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Landscape simulation of small towns along Huaihe River based on geographic information system and big data analysis

A-class scenic spot attracted a large number of tourists due to its natural scenery and cultural environment, which offers a place for people to participate in tourism and leisure activities. The competitiveness and growth plan of the A-level scenic spots are influenced by the characteristics of the distribution of tourist areas. As a result, many domestic scholars begin to study the spatial structure of tourist attractions and establish regional strategies based on the results of their studies. The planning plan for scenic spots is formulated by the government. In order to better support local economic and social growth and better serve the people, the government's development policy must better address the needs of the people. When formulating the plan, attention should be given to the local soil and water conservation situation. Monitoring the current situation of soil and water conservation will provide support for the potential growth of local soil and water conservation strategies. Landscape of the city is an essential feature of the city, and the landscape of the city is made up of land, water, and houses. The unique landscape of a city is often made up of the local natural environment, the social environment, and other facts.

High-resolution soil erodibility map of Brazil

Large-scale soil erosion modeling has a crucial role in the understanding and planning of soil and water conservation strategies. The lack of spatial data on soil characteristics required to compute the soil erodibility (K-factor) has been one of the greatest obstacles in Brazil. The K-factor is a complex property that expresses the susceptibility of soil to erode according to its inherent characteristics. This factor is a key input parameter for the most widely applied soil erosion models: the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and the Revised USLE (RUSLE). Here, we computed a high-resolution (250 m cell size) spatially explicit soil erodibility map across Brazil. To compute the K-factor, we applied the equations originally proposed in the USLE nomograph and EPIC, using the following soil properties, organic matter content, soil texture, soil structure, and permeability. To qualitatively evaluate our new K-factor map, its values were compared against standard K-factor values obtained from experimental plots across Brazil. We found that the USLE nomograph leads to a more precise estimation of the K-factor in Brazil than EPIC. The K-factor estimates by the USLE nomograph range from 0.0002 to 0.0636 t ha h ha−1 MJ−1 mm−1, with a mean value of 0.0181 t ha h ha−1 MJ−1 mm−1. Our findings pave the way for a better understanding of soil erosion across multiple scales and thereby contributing to better land-use planning and management in Brazil. The dataset is freely available at doi:https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4279869

Traditional knowledge on soil management and conservation in the inter-Andean region, northern Ecuador

Local farmers' knowledge of edaphic fertility indicators is a decisive factor for decision making and sustainable soil management. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine soil fertility indicators according to the criteria of small farmers and contrast it with scientific knowledge. A field study was developed in northern Ecuador, where 95 semi-structured surveys were applied to farm owners in the Andean and Subtropical zones. Each questionnaire grouped several questions with topics such as plant indicators of soil fertility, physical indicators of soil fertility, forms of soil degradation and conservation strategies, as well as the acquisition of knowledge over time according to farmers' perception. Farmers consider that crops are indicators of soil fertility, while the presence of “weeds” indicate poor soils. Additionally, characteristics like color, texture, stoniness, depth, the presence of macrofauna and crop yield indicated soil fertility. Also, farmers are aware of the soil's contamination and of conservation strategies available to avoid this; however, since their main objective is to improve crop yield and not precisely soil conservation, they do not always apply these strategies. Some of these practices are transmitted from one generation to the next and are at risk of being lost, hence the importance of integrating farmers’ perception and scientific knowledge to generate guidelines for sustainable soil management.

Interseeding of ruzigrass into soybean: Strategies to improve forage cultivation in no-till systems

No-till (NT) farming is a major soil conservation strategy. In the Brazilian Cerrado, soybean is the main grain crop, and strategies that improve the cultivation of cover crops in the off-season in succession to soybean could facilitate NT for large cultivated areas. In the municipality of Nova Xavantina, MT, Brazil, three experiments were carried out in a randomized block design with four replications. This work aimed to evaluate the establishment of Urochloa ruziziensis (ruzigrass) in succession to soybean as a function of ruzigrass seed treatment, sowing density and phenological stage, and soybean cultivar allelopathic potential. In the first experiment, treatment of ruzigrass seeds with six doses (0, 150, 300, 450, 600 and 750 mL of commercial product 100 kg−1 of seeds) of fipronil + thiophanate-methyl + pyraclostrobin was evaluated. In the second experiment, two ruzigrass interseeding periods (soybean phenological stages R5.5 and R7) and five ruzigrass seed densities (4.3, 6.4, 8.6, 10.7 and 12.9 kg ha−1 VPS) were tested. In the third experiment, the interference of soybean cultivars in the establishment of ruzigrass and the potential allelopathic effect of the cultivars on forage germination were evaluated, six soybean cultivars RR (Roundup Ready®) were used: P98Y70; TMG 115; TMG 132; M 8527; P98Y11; TMG 123. Our results showed that seed treatment facilitated forage establishment in the interseeding system, and the use of high sowing rates at phenological stage R5.5 of soybean promoted greater ruzigrass plant development. The effects of the soybean cultivars on ruzigrass germination varied, suggesting allelopathic effects of the deposition of petioles and soybean leaves on ruzigrass seeds. Thus, an appropriate interseeding strategy can improve forage production in the off-season and favor NT through correct management of forage establishment in succession to soybean.

Climate change adaptation strategies and their predictors amongst rural farmers in Ambassel district, Northern Ethiopia.

The present study was conducted in Ambassel district of Northern Ethiopia to understand adaptation strategies employed by rural farmers to the adverse effects of climate change and variability and factors that determine their adaptation decisions. The study was based on multistage sampling techniques to select the study villages and sampled households (HHs). Data were collected through HH survey, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The collected data were analysed by using descriptive statistics and multinomial logit (MNL) model. The results revealed that in response to the effects of climate variability and change, the adaptation strategies deployed by farmers included terracing as soil and water conservation strategy, changing planting date, fertiliser application, crop diversification with improved variety, income diversification and livestock diversification. The result from MNL analysis showed that age, family size, educational level, farm size, income, livestock holding, access to extension, distance to market, access to climate information and agroecological zones were amongst the factors that had a significant influence on farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies. The basic barriers to climate change adaptation were lack of finance, shortage of land, inadequate climate information, lack of skill and shortage of labour. Therefore, strengthening interventions that enhance income generating activities and access to climate information should be an integral part of climate change adaptation strategies. Moreover, providing early maturing and high-value crop varieties that are more suited to the local environment is also crucial.

Soil Erosion Estimation in Arid Area by USLE Model Applying GIS and RS: Case of Oued El Hamma Catchment, South-Eastern Tunisia

Soil erosion risk is one of the most severe environmental problems that can affect water availability, agricultural productivity and consequently countries’ sustainable development worldwide. The current study was performed in the Oued El Hamma Catchment, South-Eastern Tunisia to estimate the soil loss, applying the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) approaches. The main objective of this research was to identify the vulnerable zones to elaborate a soil erosion risk map in the study catchment. The adopted approach was built essentially on five factors including rainfall erosivity, topography, soil erodibility, field management practice and vegetation cover factors. In addition, the soil erodibility factor was simulated based on soil properties obtained via in-situ measurements of the soil sampling and analysis campaigns. The spatial erosion risk map of Oued El Hamma Catchment was established with four distinct erosion classes based on the intensity of soil loss. The mean soil loss rate is approximately 0.2 t/ha/yr. The maximum soil loss in the study area was 17 t/ha/yr in Matmata mountainous regions. The results obtained showed that erosion risk was minimal in most of the catchment (99%). The erosion risk was moderate to high in a limited coverage observed especially in South sector (< 1%) that is subjected to a greater soil loss risk than 5 t/ha/yr. Finally, it is important to note that the developed soil erosion risk map represents an efficient tool to help decision makers evolving strategies for water and soil conservation works in such arid areas where farmlands are vulnerable and extremely scarce.

The no-tillage, with crop rotation or succession, can increase the degree of clay dispersion in the superficial layer of highly weathered soils after 24 years

Clay dispersion is directly related to water erosion, especially during detaching and dragging of particles. No-till is one of the most important strategies for soil and water conservation in tropical and sub-tropical regions, and when associated with crop rotation, may reduce the degree of clay dispersion. The study aimed to evaluate, after 24 years, the effect of different soil management systems and crop systems on the degree of clay dispersion of a Rhodic Ferralsol. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 4x2 factorial scheme, with four soil managements (continuous no-tillage, no-tillage with chiseling every three years, disk plowing followed by light harrowing and heavy disking followed by light harrowing) and with two crop systems (crop succession and rotation). The degree of clay dispersion was evaluated and associated with soil chemical attributes from layer 0.00-0.10 m. The degree of clay dispersion is affected by the soil management systems with no effect of crop systems. The soil management system with the lowest soil disturbance (continuous no-tillage) has a higher degree of clay dispersion than the ones that disturb the soil, regardless of the agricultural implement used or soil disturbance intensity. The soil electrochemical imbalance, primarily caused by soil potential acidity, is positively correlated to the increase in the degree of clay dispersion of the superficial soil layer under continuum no-tillage.

Interplay of Climate Variability, Land Use Change, Crop Yield and Farm Households Food Security in Offin River Basin, Ghana

Climate variability and adapted land use systems have altered climate systems. Their impact on agro-ecosystems adversely affects crop yield, food security and livelihoods of farm households. This paper examines the coupled effects of climate variability and land use change on crop yield and food security among farm households in the Offin River Basin. The study used remote sensing, geographic information systems, time series climate and crop yield data and farm household survey in examining the impacts of climate variability and land use change on crop yield and farm household food security. Landsat Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS), Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) were used to assess land use and land cover change and agricultural drought conditions in the area. Spline interpolation techniques and Spearmans’ rank correlation were employed to assess the trend and spatial distribution of rainfall and temperatures in the basin. Multiple linear regression model (MLRM) and Pearson correlation were used to assess the effect of rainfall and temperature on major food crop yields. Household Food Balance Model (HFBM) was used to measure food security status at farm household level. The results revealed that climate variability coupled with adapted land use systems in Offin River basin have contributed to massive deforestation, accelerated soil degradation and recurrent agricultural droughts resulting in the loss of productive farmlands and low food crop yields. Household food balance model (HFBM) analysis revealed that 60.8% of the farm households in the basin could not meet the minimum recommended energy level of 2900 kilo calories intake per person per day while 39.2% of farm households were food secured subsisting on more than recommended kilo calories per person per day. Utilization of inland valleys, food crop management practices, soil and water conservation and management technologies, mixed cropping systems and crop diversification were found to have contributed positively and significantly to farm household food security. It is recommended that Government agencies such as MoFA, GASIP and existing Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) should increase investment in soil and water conservation strategies (SWCS) and inland valleys food production systems to enhance food production and food security systems among farm households.

Development of Rainfall-Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves for Ranikhola Watershed, Gangtok, India

Sikkim is a mountainous state of India, receives heavy rainfall and frequent landslides and floods. Rainfall is one of the most important climatic parameters having great influence in Himalayan regions. Information on rainfall intensity and duration are correlated to landslide and it is important to understand the rainfall characteristics and variability as it has a significant impact on crop yield and production in agriculture sector. Rainfall Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curve is a relationship between rainfall intensity, duration and return period commonly used in hydrology for flood forecasting and provide better soil conservation and soil management strategies. The present study is conducted to develop the Rainfall-Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves for various duration and recurrence periods for Ranikhola watershed, located in East Sikkim. It is one of the major tributaries of Teesta Basin. Analysis of change in rainfall pattern and intensity is a paramount important from engineering point of view for designing and planning of water resource structures. The daily rainfall data of 28 years from 1985 to 2012 were collected and disaggregated. Gumbel's Probability method found to be suitable for study area. It was observed that among 5 monsoon months viz. June, July, August, September and October, maximum rainfall intensity of 259.785 mm/h was in July month and minimum rainfall intensity of 168.265 mm/h was in August. It was also noticed that rainfall intensity increases with increased in recurrence period.

Characterization of Soils of Jello Chancho Watershed: The Case of Liban District, East Shewa Zone Ethiopia

Understanding of soil physicochemical properties is necessary for appropriate utilization of soil resources. Soil resources characterization and classification is major requirements. In view of this, a study was conducted on soils of Jello-Chancho watershed in Liban District, East Shewa Zone of Ethiopia to characterize physicochemical properties of the soil. To achieve these objectives, three profiles were opened from the watershed and examined for their selected morphological, physicals and chemicals properties. The morphological properties were examined in field while physiochemical properties were analyzed in laboratory and finally the soils were classified. The soils were generally pinkish white to black color and moderate to deep soil depth. The structure was granular in the surface horizons of all profiles while friable consistence in moist basis of surface horizons in all profiles. Textural classes were ranged from loam to clay whereas bulk density ranged from 0.90 to 1.18 gcm^-3, and total porosity ranged from 55.47 to 66.00%. The soils were rated as moderate acid (5.6-6) to neutral (6.6-7.3). The electrical conductivity was low in all studied profile. The organic matter contents in the study area ranged from 1.93 to 4.47% and total N contents ranged from 0.10 to 0.23%. The available phosphorus was ranged from 0.02 to 3.86 mgkg^-1. The exchangeable potassium, calcium and magnesium were high to very high in all studied profiles while sodium was very low to high. CEC of the study soils were ranged from 18.90 to 68.20 cmolckg^-1 whereas percent base saturation ranged from 53 to 98%. Depending on the results, the soils were classified as Abruptic Luvisols (profile 1), Haplic Luvisols (profile 2) and luvic Phaeazems (profile 3), respectively. The morphological and physiochemical properties of the soil for the study area change with topography and soil depth. Low level of OM, available P, and total N could be the major problems in the study area. Therefore the results of this study concluded that increasing extent of continuous and intensive cultivation with minimum conservation practices and erosion due to slope effect can further deteriorate soil properties. The control of such damaging effects would require proper soil conservation strategies.

Impact of Land Use Change Study on Reservoir’s Sediment Yield using SWAT Model Platform

The overall goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of land use on reservoir’s sediment yield by applying Arc SWAT model interface with GIS and identify the vulnerable sub basin in Neshi dam watershed. Different input data were collected from different sources including Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy, and Ethiopia National Meteorological Agency. The study was done using historical records of nineteen years for Neshi Watershed. The calibrated flow and sediment for the 1992-2001 years gave R2 0.77, 0.92 and NES 0.64, 0.96, respectively. The validated flow and sediment for the 2002-2008 years gave R2 0.72, 0.93 and NES 0.75, 0.95, respectively.In this study the SWAT model yields average annual sediment load of 634.49, 516.82 and 542.56 ton/ha/yr for land use change of 1990, 2010 and 2017, respectively at Neshi outlet dam site. Therefore, the issue of land use change impact on sediment yield on reservoir as part of the integrated adaptation mitigation measures program in order to achieve sustainable development is very relevant. The output of this study can help planners, decision makers and other stakeholders to plan and implement appropriate soil and water conservation strategies.

Farm-level land use responses to climate change among smallholder farmers in northern Benin, West Africa

ABSTRACT Adaptation to climate change often involves land use adjustments that can shape the sustainability of production systems. We conducted a survey to identify current farm-level land use strategies driven by climate change and their underlying socioeconomic determinants. Our study involved primary data collected on 336 maize producers randomly selected in 8 villages. We find that crop association/rotation, land reallocation/change of cropping patterns, water and soil conservation strategies, and field relocation are the main land use strategies driven by climate change at the farm-level. Farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics such as such as experience in agriculture, participation in off-farm activity, availability of farmland, organization membership, access to credit, contact with extension and household size have significant but differential effects on the choices of land use strategies. As a recommendation, extension services need to be revisited to better support smallholder farmers in adopting crops association/rotation and water and soil conservation methods. Policymakers can also tap into the opportunity of changes in cropping patterns to promote crops that are suitable for new climate conditions and have additional benefits for household food and nutritional security.

Impact of Land Use Change Study on Reservoir’s Sediment Yield using SWAT Model Platform

The overall goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of land use on reservoir’s sediment yield by applying Arc SWAT model interface with GIS and identify the vulnerable sub basin in Neshi dam watershed. Different input data were collected from different sources including Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy, and Ethiopia National Meteorological Agency. The study was done using historical records of nineteen years for Neshi Watershed. The calibrated flow and sediment for the 1992-2001 years gave R2 0.77, 0.92 and NES 0.64, 0.96, respectively. The validated flow and sediment for the 2002-2008 years gave R2 0.72, 0.93 and NES 0.75, 0.95, respectively.In this study the SWAT model yields average annual sediment load of 634.49, 516.82 and 542.56 ton/ha/yr for land use change of 1990, 2010 and 2017, respectively at Neshi outlet dam site. Therefore, the issue of land use change impact on sediment yield on reservoir as part of the integrated adaptation mitigation measures program in order to achieve sustainable development is very relevant. The output of this study can help planners, decision makers and other stakeholders to plan and implement appropriate soil and water conservation strategies.