Research Article
Recharge Estimation of Andassa River Catchment, North-Western Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 4, December 2024
Pages:
77-84
Received:
28 November 2024
Accepted:
10 December 2024
Published:
27 December 2024
DOI:
10.11648/j.hyd.20241204.11
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Abstract: Estimating the recharge amount of a given area is essential for sustainable management of groundwater resource. Andassa catchment which has area coverage of 609.68 square kilometer is located in north western Ethiopia. The area has flat, moderately slope and cliff topography. The rivers which have dendritic drainage pattern general flow south to north direction. Geological-geomorphological-structural feature suggest that the Andassa plain is a potential source of groundwater. The catchment has oligocene to miocene flood basalt with some deposit intercalation. There are tertiary and quaternary formations in the study area. The objective of this study was to estimate groundwater recharge of Andassa catchment using chloride mass balance, base flow separation, soil moisture balance, water balance methods were used to estimate the recharge value of the catchment. Meteorological, river discharge, pump tests, boreholes, springs and hand dug wells data together with well completion reports were used to estimate the recharge value. PET for the area was calculated using Penman gives annual potential evapo-transpiration value of 1335.26mm/year. Actual evapotranspiration (AET) for the area calculated using Turc and Thornthwaite Mather gives a value of 908.486mm/year and 1012.4 mm/year respectively. The recharge value is 370.68mm/y, 321.5 mm/y, 282.1mm/y and 255mm/year for base flow separation, soil moisture balance, water balance and chloride mass balance approaches respectively and the average recharge of the area is 307.3mm/year. The groundwater-bearing formation of the area is grouped as very low, low, moderate, high and very high aquifers based on transmissivity and yield of the borehole or springs. Very high productive aquifer in the low lands is recharged from regional groundwater flow and the middle elevated areas aquifer mainly shows local recharge.
Abstract: Estimating the recharge amount of a given area is essential for sustainable management of groundwater resource. Andassa catchment which has area coverage of 609.68 square kilometer is located in north western Ethiopia. The area has flat, moderately slope and cliff topography. The rivers which have dendritic drainage pattern general flow south to no...
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Research Article
The Status of Land Degradation Induced by Soil Erosion and Management Options in Duna District, Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia
Tesfahun Yohannis Dakeso*
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 4, December 2024
Pages:
85-91
Received:
3 December 2024
Accepted:
17 December 2024
Published:
31 December 2024
DOI:
10.11648/j.hyd.20241204.12
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Abstract: Land resource degradation is a significant environmental issue that adversely impacts economic development and the livelihoods of farming communities. Therefore, the study aimed to explore land degradation by soil erosion and its management options in study area. To evaluate the causes and status of land degradation and for explore management practices against land degradation in the research area. To meet the established objectives, relevant data was gathered from samples area which was chosen using a stratified sampling method based on their agro-ecological conditions. The study's findings show that the livelihoods of all sampled household heads rely on mixed farming activities, with 90.3% of respondents engaged in both crop production and livestock rearing. The study indicates that crop and livestock productivity among household heads has been declining over time due to land degradation. In addition to land degradation, land shortage and limited access to farm inputs are significant challenges for crop production, leading to the expansion of farmland into grazing areas to compensate for crop losses caused by land degradation. The extent of land degradation in the study area continues to increase over time, as indicated by findings from the four selected kebeles are highly degraded; High population pressure, the area's topography, and frequent changes in farming and land use are the primary factors exacerbating land degradation in the study area, leading to a decline in the quality of farmland productivity. In response to the impacts of land degradation on their livelihoods, the community has implemented various strategies. Common approaches in the study area include cultivating cereal crops, engaging in daily labor, practicing handcrafts, planting perennial crops like buckthorn for sale, participating in irrigation activities, and clearing vegetation and forests to expand farmland.
Abstract: Land resource degradation is a significant environmental issue that adversely impacts economic development and the livelihoods of farming communities. Therefore, the study aimed to explore land degradation by soil erosion and its management options in study area. To evaluate the causes and status of land degradation and for explore management pract...
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,
Teferi Minbiyew
