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| Titel |
Linking soil erosion to on-site financial cost: lessons from watersheds in the Blue Nile basin |
| VerfasserIn |
T. Erkossa, A. Wudneh, B. Desalegn, G. Taye |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1869-9510
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Solid Earth ; 6, no. 2 ; Nr. 6, no. 2 (2015-06-22), S.765-774 |
| Datensatznummer |
250115464
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/se-6-765-2015.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| The study was conducted in three watersheds (Dapo, Meja and Mizewa) in the
Ethiopian part of the Blue Nile Basin to estimate the on-site cost of soil
erosion using the productivity change approach, in which crop yield
reduction due to plant nutrients lost with the sediment and runoff has been
analysed. For this purpose, runoff measurement and sampling was conducted
during the main rainy season of 2011 at the outlet of two to three
sub-watersheds in each watershed. The sediment concentration of the runoff,
and N and P contents in runoff and sediment were determined. Crop response
functions were developed for the two plant nutrients based on data obtained
from the nearest Agricultural Research Centres. The response functions were
used to estimate crop yield reduction as a result of the lost N and P
assuming there is no compensation through fertilization. The results show a
significant yield reduction and resultant financial loss to the farmers.
Considering only grain yield of maize (Zea mays), farmers at Dapo annually lose
about USD 220 ha−1 and 150 ha−1 due to the loss of N and P,
respectively. In view of the importance of the crop residues, including as
feed, the loss can be even greater. The study demonstrated that in addition
to the long-term deterioration of land quality, the annual financial loss
suffered by farmers is substantial. Therefore, on farm soil and water
conservation measures that are suitable in biophysical and socio-economic
terms in the landscapes and beyond need to be encouraged. |
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