Evaluating Management Practices to Reduce Sediment Yield in the Fincha Watershed, Ethiopia

Ethiopia is experiencing severe environmental issues such as land degradation, which significantly lowers the country’s productivity, with consequent poverty and food insecurity. Based on a predicted Land Use/Land Cover map for the future decade, the study used the well-known Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to evaluate the rate of soil erosion and identify hotspots characterized by a high risk of soil loss, to eventually apply different management practices. Four Best Management Practices (BMPs), namely Contour, Filter strip, Soil/Stone bund, and Terracing were modelled, and their effects were investigated by comparison with a baseline scenario. The mean annual sediment yield expected in 2030 across the Fincha watershed was 46.20 tons per hectare. After applying Contour, Filter Strip, Soil/Stone Bund, and Terracing, the annual sediment yield is expected to reach 11.78, 18.6, 12.90, and 11.17 tons per hectare, respectively, meaning that these BMPs have an efficacy of 74.50%, 59.75%, 72.09%, and 75.82%, respectively. With Terracing being the most and Filter strips the least effective BMP, the simulations proved that BMPs can help in reducing soil loss at the watershed scale.