SOIL EROSION AND ITS IMPACT ON RAINFED AGRICULTURE OF DABAT WOREDA, AMHARA REGION

Abstract

oil erosion is a long lasting problem in Ethiopia. It has political, environmental, economic and societal implications for the country as a whole and it is important that potential erosion areas are identified. The study was conducted in soil erosion and its impact on rain fed agriculture, Dabat District, Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were to identify factors affecting of soil erosion based on the inputs for Revise Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) such as erosivity, erodibility, topographic factors, land cover and management practices factor were generated based on data collected from GIS information and house hold survey. Topographic factor of slope length and gradient derived from Digital Elevation Model with measured value. The RUSLE integrated with Geographic Information System (ArcGIS10.1). GIS is a tool that is invaluable in the estimation of soil loss through modeling. Estimating annual soil loss rate using GIS and RS is the simplest way for priority of erosion risk potential areas, The RUSLE model shows that the annual soil loss was 49,700 tones/year; and the mean annual soil loss was 13.8 t/ha/yr, ranged from 0 to 103 t/ha/yr. 70.4% of the study area was categorized very low to low erosion class and the remaining 29.6% was classified under moderate to very severe class. The Chi-square test result indicates that Education, Fuel wood energy, soil loss affected vegetation cover and aggravating factors had significant relationship with soil erosion in farm land. To mitigate erosion rate and to preserve ecosystem services long and short-term measures should be included for governmental and nongovernmental organizations: Key words: Soil, soil erosion, impact, agriculture, rainfed and factor.