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Item GIS BASED SOIL LOSS ESTIMATION USING USLE MODEL FOR SOIL CONSERVATION PLANNING: IN KARESA WATERSHED, LOMA WOREDA, SOUTH WEST ETHIO(Hawassa University, 2017-10-10) BAGEGNEHU BEKELE MENGISTUSoil erosion is the most challenging and continuous environmental problems resulting in both on-site and off-site effects in the world particularly in Ethiopia. Karesa watershed is one of the most erosion-prone watersheds which received little attention. Managing the on site erosion is to reduce the negative impacts of downstream water resources and requires an understanding of the rates of soil loss as well as identification of the major controlling factors that enhance or retard these processes. This study was conducted to estimate average annual soil loss rate using Geographic Information System and Universal Soil Loss Equation Model adapted to Ethiopian condition. The following datasets were obtained from different sources for estimating annual soil loss such as 15 years mean annual rainfall data for estimating Erosivity factor, digital soil map for estimating soil Erodibility factor, 30m x 30m resolution Digital Elevation Model for estimating slope length and slope steepness (LS) factor, Landsat6ETM+ images with 30mx30m resolution for detecting Vegetation cover and Conservation practice factor. Raster calculator was used to interactively multiply and produce annual soil loss. The result reveals that 42,413.72 ton per year soil loss from 9939 ha entire watershed and 4.27 tons per hectare per year average annual soil loss rate. The mean annual soil loss rate was classified in to four erosion severity classes as very less, less, moderate and High . The result also implies, two slope classes (0-15% and 15-30%) were categorized under very less to less soil loss (0-6.25 tons ha-1 yr-1 ) which accounts an area of 9383.07 ha (94.4%) of the watershed areas and representing 81.13% of the total soil loss. On the other hand, the watershed slope classes (>30%) fell under moderate to High soil loss (6.25-25 tons ha-1 yr-1 ) together covers 555.93ha (5.6%) of the watershed areas contributing 18.82% of the total soil loss mainly due to cultivation of marginal land,Intensive cultivation, poor vegetation cover during critical rainfall period. Moreover, about 2,184.93 ha of the watershed area was highly affected by erosion which contributes 18,182.25 tones yr-1 (42.87%) total soil loss and requires integrated soil and water conservation measuresItem SOIL LOSS RISK ASSESSMENT UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: A CASE OF NERI WATERSHED, OMO-GIBE BASIN, SOUTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA(Hawassa University, 2019-10-22) ABEBE HEGANO HEMACHOSoil erosion is one of the biggest global environmental problems resulting in both on-site and off site effects. Climate change is expected to affect soil erosion based on a variety of factors, including a direct impact on soil loss by increasing precipitation amounts and erosive power. Neri watershed was chosen for this study. The objective of study is to assess soil loss risk under climate change and anticipated management practices. Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model was applied by integrating bio physical and remote sensing data. Model parameters were computed from available data. Three Representative concentration Pathway scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) and management practices considered for estimation of annual soil loss rates. The resultant annual soil loss map under baseline condition shows the mean and total of 9.955t/ha/yr- 1 and 0.46m t/yr respectively. Estimates suggest that out of the total (46546 ha), about 32.7% % of the total area exceeded the tolerable limit and 67.3%% of the total area were below tolerable rate. The future soil loss rates are higher than the baseline period if no management actions are taken. Under no- management action scenario, the predicted the incremental rate of soil loss from (21.95%) for RCP8.5 (2051-2080) followed by 4.57% RCP4.5 (2021-2050) to insignificant decline (-0.75%) for RCP2.6 (2021-2050) compared to baseline period whereas, the other two predicted reduction. Moreover, inclusion of comprehensive management may result much higher reduction in soil loss over baseline and future condition of no action. The maximum reduction by 41.2% of its soil loss due to climate change is predicted RCP8.5 (2051-2080). The resultant soil loss map of baseline period was used in prioritization of intervention areas based on soil loss tolerance. Among eleven (11) sub-watersheds, eight and ten administrative kebeles out of nineteen are above the tolerable limit. However, watershed as planning unit, taking the proportion of soil loss to area, seven sub watersheds were identified as areas of intervention. To ensure sustainable resource use, management practice like contour cropping system complimented with terraces in agricultural fields and with giving special attention through strong policy measures to climate change, erosion minimization in non-agricultural land use classes were needed. Finaly, the study indicates a need for further study to understand the land suitability that consider the climate change