Changes in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern Ethiopia: a water balance modelling exercise

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrien Descheemaeker ◽  
Dirk Raes ◽  
Jan Nyssen ◽  
Jean Poesen ◽  
Mitiku Haile ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Biomass Production ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Northern Ethiopia ◽  
Water Balance Components ◽  
Water Flows ◽  
Vegetation Regeneration

The establishment of exclosures (i.e. areas closed for grazing and agriculture) is a common practice to reverse land degradation through vegetation regeneration in the semiarid highland areas of northern Ethiopia. In order to assess the effect of exclosures on water flows, the water balance components for different vegetation regeneration stages were assessed through field measurements and modelling. Successful model calibration and validation was done based on soil water content measurements conducted during 2 years in 22 experimental plots. In the protected areas, vegetation regeneration leads to an increase in infiltration and transpiration and a more productive use of water for biomass production. In areas where additional lateral water (runon) infiltrates, source–sink systems are created. Here, up to 30% of the annual rainfall percolates through the root-zone towards the groundwater table. Increased biomass production in exclosures leads to possibilities for wood harvesting and cut and carry of grasses for livestock feeding. Together with water conservation and more productive use of water, the latter contributes to increased livestock water productivity. At the landscape scale, the creation of vegetation filters, capturing resources like water and nutrients, reinforces the rehabilitation process and healthy landscape functioning.

Influence of Rice Husk - Mulch on Soil Water Balance Components under Sorghum and Millet Crops in Maiduguri, Semi Arid Northeast Nigeria

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
P. C. Eze ◽  
A. J. Odofin ◽  
I. N. Onyekwere ◽  
J. J. Musa ◽  
P. A. Tsado
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Rice Husk ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Soil Water Balance ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Crop Evapotranspiration ◽  
Water Balance Components ◽  
Moisture Storage

A 2 x 3 factorial experiment was conducted at two sites in Maiduguri, Borno State during the 2009 cropping season. The objective was to evaluate the influence of rice husk-mulch on soil water balance components under sorghum and millet crops. The treatments comprised of two test crops (sorghum and millet) and three rates of application (0, 10 and 15 t ha-1) of rice husk mulch, fitted in a split-plot design. The test crops were assigned to the main plot, while the mulch application rates were assigned to the sub-plot. The treatments were replicated three times.  The components of soil water balance determined were annual rainfall, moisture storage within sorghum and millet root zone, drainage below crop root zone and seasonal crop evapotranspiration. Profile moisture content was measured weekly with the aid of a neutron probe installed at a depth of 2.0 m using access tubes. Also, soil (0 – 30 cm depth) moisture content was determined gravimetrically on weekly basis. Rainfall was measured using a manual rain gauge installed at each of the two sites. Findings in this study indicated that, under the prevailing circumstances, annual rainfall was lower than the amount observed over a ten-year period in Maiduguri. Consequently, soil moisture storage, drainage and seasonal crop evapotranspiration generally declined. An average of over 90 % of this low annual rainfall was lost as seasonal crop evapotranspiration. Sorghum plots stored higher moisture within the root zone, had higher drainage and lower seasonal evapotranspiration than millet plots. Moisture storage and drainage increased with increasing mulch application rate, while, seasonal crop evapotranspiration decreased with it.

GIS based water balance components estimation in northern Ethiopia catchment

2020 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 104514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teklebirhan Arefaine Gebru ◽  
Gebreyesus Brhane Tesfahunegn
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Northern Ethiopia ◽  
Water Balance Components

UNRAVELLING CROP WATER PRODUCTIVITY OF TEF (ERAGROSTIS TEF (ZUCC.) TROTTER) THROUGH AQUACROP IN NORTHERN ETHIOPIA

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALEMTSEHAY TSEGAY ◽  
DIRK RAES ◽  
SAM GEERTS ◽  
ELINE VANUYTRECHT ◽  
BERHANU ABRAHA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Eragrostis Tef ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Northern Ethiopia ◽  
Statistical Parameters ◽  
Canopy Development

SUMMARYAt various locations in North Ethiopia (Tigray), field experiments were conducted from 2006 to 2009 to assess the crop response to water stress of tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) under rainfed, fully irrigated and deficit irrigation conditions. Observed soil water content (SWC), canopy cover (CC), biomass production (B) and final grain yield (Y) were used to calibrate and validate AquaCrop for tef. Data from an experiment in a controlled environment in 2008 were also considered in the calibration process. Simulations of SWC, CC, B and Y were evaluated by determining the index of agreement, the root mean square error, the coefficient of determination and the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency. The statistical parameters showed an adequate fit between observations and simulations. The model was able to simulate for tef growing under rainfed condition the observed fast drop in SWC and CC when the rains ceased. The overall goodness of fit between the observed and simulated CC and SWC indicated that the thresholds for root zone depletion at which water stress (i) affects canopy development, (ii) induces stomata closure and (iii) triggers early canopy senescence were well selected. The normalised biomass water productivity (WP*) for tef was 14 g m−2 for the local variety and 21 g m−2 for the improved variety, which is a lot smaller than the WP* expected for C4 plants (30–35 g m−2). The results revealed an increase of 27% in reference harvest index (HIo) of tef in response to mild water stress during the yield formation of up to 33%. However, severe water stress causing stomata closure had a negative effect on HIo. Once it is properly calibrated, AquaCrop can provide room to improve the water productivity of tef by developing guidelines for good agricultural management strategies.

Determination of growing season soil water deficits on a forested slope using water balance analysis

1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Giles ◽  
T. A. Black ◽  
D. L. Spittlehouse
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Conifer Forest ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Water Balance Components ◽  
Water Deficits ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Zone Depth

Coefficients for the calculation of soil water balance components at seven sites on a forested slope were determined using only measurements of daily solar irradiance, maximum and minimum air temperature and rainfall, and weekly root zone soil water content during a 2-year period. Site parameters required were root zone depth, soil water retention characteristics, and rainfall interception coefficients. Based on daytime net radiation, the Priestley–Taylor evapotranspiration coefficient (α) was found to be 0.73 ± 0.07, which is similar to values reported in other conifer forest studies. Growing season water deficit increased with decreasing root zone water storage capacity, which was mainly a function of root zone depth. A comparison between high and low elevations on the slope showed 100-year site indices ranging from 17 to 53 m corresponding to growing season soil water deficits during the driest year of the study, ranging from 79 to 4 mm. Basal area annual increments were found to be correlated with soil water deficits and growing season transpiration, both for the study period and when both variables were averaged over the last 18 years.

scholarly journals Water Balance Estimation Using Integrated GIS-Based WetSpass Model in the Birki Watershed, Eastern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Esayas Meresa ◽  
Abbadi Girmay ◽  
Amare Gebremedhin
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Groundwater Recharge ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Mean Annual Precipitation ◽  
Northern Ethiopia ◽  
Water Balance Components ◽  
Wetspass Model

This study aims to estimate long-term average annual and seasonal water balance components for Birki watershed using WetSpass model with the integrated geospatial modeling approach with ten years’ hydro-meteorological and biophysical data of the watershed. Both primary and secondary data were collected using both field survey and disk-based data collection methods. The WetSpass model was used for data analysis purposes. The finding showed that in the summer season the annual groundwater recharge is 24.1 mm year-1 (96.5%), winter season mean groundwater recharge is 0.8 mm year-1 (3.5%) and yearly mean groundwater recharge is 24.9 mm year-1, Surface runoff yearly mean value is 40.6 mm year-1, Soil evaporation yearly mean value is 10.8 mm year-1, Evapotranspiration yearly mean value is 60.8 mm year-1, Intersection loss yearly mean value is 17 mm year-1, and Transpiration loss yearly value is 6.8 mm year-1 in the entire watershed. The mean annual precipitation, which is 573 mm, is contributed to 7.4%, 7.1% and 85.5% recharge to the groundwater, to surface runoff, and evapotranspiration, respectively. Annually 1.1205 million m3 water recharges into the groundwater table as recharge from the precipitation on the entire watershed. The contribution of this study could be used as baseline information for regional water resource experts, policy makers and researchers for further investigation. It can also be concluded that integrated WetSpass and GIS-based models are good indicators for estimating and understanding of water balance components in a given watershed to implement an integrated watershed management plan for sustainable utilization and sustainable development.

scholarly journals STORM "GREEDY WATER" PALM OIL BASED ON ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVE

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Gusti Rusmayadi
Keyword(s):  
Palm Oil ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Crop Coefficient ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Plant Oil ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
The Impact

The tendentious issue of deforestation, biodiversity, "water greedy" attack ganoderma and carbon emissions continue to heat up in this decade has cornered palm plantations in Indonesia for allegedly either from outside or from inside the country becomes the base of why. To clarify these issues then this article aims to analyze the impact of oil palm plantations in terms of the water balance of plant oil palm. Water use in the oil palm plantations on average 92.05 mm/month or equivalent to 1104.5 mm/year over lamtoro stands is 3,000 mm/year, acacia 2,400 mm/year, sengon of 2,300 mm/year, amounting tea 900 mm/year, rubber amounted to 1,300 mm/year, bamboo amounted to 3,000 mm/year and teak amounted to 1,300 mm/year. The coefficient of oil palm crop of 0.93. The percentage amount of rainfall used palm oil amounted to only 39.60% of the annual rainfall. Percentage of evapotranspiration value is smaller than the value of evapotranspiration pine percentage of 64.5%, A. mangium 68.8%, amounting to 55.1% of ferns and eucalyptus (E.alba) amounted to 52.4%. Meanwhile, rubber plant has a value of 1 kc, other crops such as rice, during the period of growth has kc values between 1.05 to 1.2. Soil water content (KAT) which indicates the storage capacity of the root zone of oil lower than the root zone rubber (Rusmayadi, 2011). This is due to the oil more roots growing in the topsoil to a depth of ± 1 meter and as you go down the less. Rooting most densely contained at a depth of 25 cm. Therefore the ability of smaller savings in oil palm plantations compared to rubber, then the excess water will be removed or overflowed (Ro) is not taken ("greedy water") by palm trees. Palm oil as a commodity to be seen objectively with regard to the nature of biological (plant roots), physiological (crop coefficient), and environmental (water storage capacity). This is to straighten out the problems that it is not water but greedy oil plantation management who do not pay attention to aspects of water conservation.

scholarly journals Water balance components of the potential agricultural grabens along the Rift Valley in northern Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 100616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hailemariam Meaza ◽  
Amaury Frankl ◽  
Biadgilgn Demissie ◽  
Jean Poesen ◽  
Amanuel Zenebe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Rift Valley ◽  
Northern Ethiopia ◽  
Water Balance Components

scholarly journals Estimation of soil loss rate using the USLE model for Agewmariayam Watershed, northern Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gebrehana Girmay ◽  
Awdenegest Moges ◽  
Alemayehu Muluneh
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Rainfall Erosivity ◽  
Northern Ethiopia ◽  
Spatial Risk ◽  
Soil Loss Rate ◽  
Loss Rates

Abstract Background Soil erosion and nutrient depletion threaten food security and the sustainability of agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa. Estimating soil loss and identifying hotspot areas support combating soil degradation. The aim of this paper is to estimate the soil loss rate and identify hotspot areas using USLE model in the Agewmariam watershed, northern Ethiopia. Methods Rainfall erosivity factor was determined from annual rainfall, soil erodibility factor from soil data, slope length and gradient factor were generated from DEM, cover factor and conservation practice factor obtained from land use cover map. Finally, the parameters were integrated with ArcGIS tools to estimate soil loss rates of the study watershed. Results Mean annual soil loss rates were estimated to be between 0 and 897 t ha−1 year−1 on flatter and steeper slopes, respectively. The total annual soil loss was 51,403.13 tons from the watershed and the annual soil loss rate of the study area was 25 t ha−1 year−1. More than 33% of the study areas were above tolerable soil loss rate (11 t ha−1 year−1). The spatial risk categorization rate was 67.2% severe (> 51 t ha−1 year−1), 5.4% very high (31–50 t ha−1 year−1), 5.8% high (19–30 t ha−1 year−1), 3.2% moderate (12–18 t ha−1 year−1) and 18.3% slight (0–11 t ha−1 year−1). Conclusion The results showed that the severity of erosion occurred on the steep slope cultivation, absence of conservation measures, and sparse nature of the vegetation cover. This area required immediate action of soil and water conservation which accounts for about 33.5% of the total watershed.

scholarly journals Water Balance in Oil Palm Plantation with Ridge Terrace and Nephrolepis biserrata as Cover Crop

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mira Ariyanti ◽  
Sudirman Yahya ◽  
Kukuh Murtilaksono ◽  
Suwarto Suwarto ◽  
Hasril H. Siregar
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Surrounding Areas

The existence of oil palm plantations as a possible cause of drought in the surrounding areas in Indonesia is a critical issue. Therefore, information related to the effects of oil palm plantations on the surrounding environment in terms of soil water content (SWC) availability is needed. Soil and water conservation techniques in the form  of ridge terracing and cover crops,  such as Nephrolepis biserrata,  can be  expected to potentially improve soil water  reserves, especially in the dry-season, by accumulating water  in the rainy season.  This study aimed to study the effects of N. biserrata as cover crop, together with the potential effects of ridge terraces, on the water balance in mature oil palm plantations.  The research was conducted in mature oil palm plantations, Afdeling III block 375 (planted in 1996) and block 415 (planted in 2005), Rejosari Unit, PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) VII in Natar District, South Lampung Regency, Indonesia, from August 2014 to January 2015. The research was based on of setting up 15 m x 20 m experimental plots with the following treatments:  (i) without ridge terraces and without N. biserrata (G0T0); (ii) without ridge terraces but with N. biserrata (G0T1); (iii) with ridge terraces but without N. biserrata (G1T0); (iv) with ridge terraces and with N. biserrata (G1T1).   Hydrology parameter data were collected for each treatment plot; water balance was calculated using a water balance equation. The results showed that the use of the cover crop N. biserrata in combination with ridge terraces helped improving SWC reserves by approximately 71% and 12%, respectively.  The use of N. biserrata as a cover crop reduced the rate of water loss by percolation and run-off, by approximately 36% and 80%, respectively, in an area where the annual rainfall is above 2,400 mm per year.  The presence of N. biserrata shortened the period of SWC deficit by extending the period of a water surplus by 70 days when compared with ridge terracing alone (which reduced the period of SWC by 50 days).

Estimation of Spatial and Temporal Groundwater Balance Components in Khadir Canal Sub-Division, Chaj Doab, Pakistan

Hydrology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 178
Author(s):  
Muhammad Aslam ◽  
Ali Salem ◽  
Vijay P. Singh ◽  
Muhammad Arshad
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Groundwater Recharge ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Water Balance Components ◽  
Aquifer Management ◽  
Groundwater Balance ◽  
Semi Arid

Evaluation of the spatial and temporal distribution of water balance components is required for efficient and sustainable management of groundwater resources, especially in semi-arid and data-poor areas. The Khadir canal sub-division, Chaj Doab, Pakistan, is a semi-arid area which has shallow aquifers which are being pumped by a plethora of wells with no effective monitoring. This study employed a monthly water balance model (water and energy transfer among soil, plants, and atmosphere)—WetSpass-M—to determine the groundwater balance components on annual, seasonal, and monthly time scales for a period of the last 20 years (2000–2019) in the Khadir canal sub-division. The spatial distribution of water balance components depends on soil texture, land use, groundwater level, slope, and meteorological conditions. Inputs for the model included data on topography, slope, soil, groundwater depth, slope, land use, and meteorological data (e.g., precipitation, air temperature, potential evapotranspiration, and wind speed) which were prepared using ArcGIS. The long-term average annual rainfall (455.7 mm) is distributed as 231 mm (51%) evapotranspiration, 109.1 mm (24%) surface runoff, and 115.6 mm (25%) groundwater recharge. About 51% of groundwater recharge occurs in summer, 18% in autumn, 14% in winter, and 17% in spring. Results showed that the WetSpass-M model properly simulated the water balance components of the Khadir canal sub-division. The WetSpass-M model’s findings can be used to develop a regional groundwater model for simulation of different aquifer management scenarios in the Khadir area, Pakistan.

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