The effectiveness of radical bench terracing in reducing drought risk is dependent on its correct implementation. However, it is still not clear how proper or improper terracing implementation can impact the landscape capacity of holding soil moisture. In addition to this, the spatial patterns of Soil Water Content (SWC) within the same terraced hillslope are understudied. The present work analyses the variability of SWC in four newly implemented terraced hillslopes in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia. In all sites, terraced areas show SWC significantly higher than nonterraced ones, with the lowest part of the terraced hillslope more humid than the others. A Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) analysis highlighted significant dependency of SWC from the date of sampling, the position in the terraced slope, and its significant positive correlation with the percent of Water Stable Aggregates (WSA). Since high soil disturbance can induce low soil aggregates stability, this result shows how low soil disturbance can significantly increase SWC of radical terraces. Overall, the results of the present study testify the good performances of bench terraces in Northern Ethiopia in terms of soil water conservation and can represent a guideline for informing future terracing implementation in some arid and semi-arid agricultural areas of the world.

Soil Moisture Variability in Newly Implemented Agricultural Bench Terraces in Tigray Region, Ethiopia / Giulio Castelli, Shimbahri Mesfin, Lucas Allan Almeida Oliveira, Elena Bresci, Eyasu Yazew. - ELETTRONICO. - (2021), pp. 103-103. (Intervento presentato al convegno International Forum on Land Degradation, Soil Conservation and Sustainable Development, 2021 tenutosi a Dalian, China nel 21-23 August 2021).

Soil Moisture Variability in Newly Implemented Agricultural Bench Terraces in Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Giulio Castelli
;
Shimbahri Mesfin;Elena Bresci;Eyasu Yazew
2021

Abstract

The effectiveness of radical bench terracing in reducing drought risk is dependent on its correct implementation. However, it is still not clear how proper or improper terracing implementation can impact the landscape capacity of holding soil moisture. In addition to this, the spatial patterns of Soil Water Content (SWC) within the same terraced hillslope are understudied. The present work analyses the variability of SWC in four newly implemented terraced hillslopes in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia. In all sites, terraced areas show SWC significantly higher than nonterraced ones, with the lowest part of the terraced hillslope more humid than the others. A Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) analysis highlighted significant dependency of SWC from the date of sampling, the position in the terraced slope, and its significant positive correlation with the percent of Water Stable Aggregates (WSA). Since high soil disturbance can induce low soil aggregates stability, this result shows how low soil disturbance can significantly increase SWC of radical terraces. Overall, the results of the present study testify the good performances of bench terraces in Northern Ethiopia in terms of soil water conservation and can represent a guideline for informing future terracing implementation in some arid and semi-arid agricultural areas of the world.
2021
Land Degradation, Soil Conservation and Sustainable Development
International Forum on Land Degradation, Soil Conservation and Sustainable Development, 2021
Dalian, China
Goal 2: Zero hunger
Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation
Goal 13: Climate action
Giulio Castelli, Shimbahri Mesfin, Lucas Allan Almeida Oliveira, Elena Bresci, Eyasu Yazew
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Castelli_etal_2021_LASOSU Terraces Ethiopia.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Pdf editoriale (Version of record)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati
Dimensione 915.32 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
915.32 kB Adobe PDF

I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1246104
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact