Abstract:
Soil erosion in the Shutaz Watershed, located in NorthWest Ethiopia, poses a serious
challenge due to unsustainable soil management practices. This has led to the depletion of soil
fertility and a decline in agricultural productivity. Therefore, this study was conducted to
estimate the amount of soil loss and assess the effects of different land use types on selected
soil physico-chemical properties within the watershed. Data were collected using a
combination of survey questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions
(FGDs), soil sampling, and satellite imagery. A total of 24 soil samples in both undisturbed
core and disturbed composite samples were collected from four land use types of forestland,
shrub land, grazing land, and agricultural land, using 6 replications and 4 treatments. Each
composite sample was prepared from 1 kg of thoroughly mixed soil collected from 16
subssample. A random sampling technique was employed, resulting in a total of 135
household respondents selected from the two Kebeles. Soil loss was estimated using the
Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, which incorporates six key factors
affecting erosion. Laboratory data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA through the General
Linear Model (GLM) procedure in SAS Version 9.4. The results showed that the average
annual soil loss in the study area was 29 metric tons per hectare. Analysis of soil physico
chemical properties revealed significant differences (p < 0.001) in bulk density, porosity, pH,
total nitrogen, organic carbon, available phosphorus, and cation exchange capacity across
the different land use types particularly between forestland and agricultural land. However,
soil texture did not show a significant difference (p > 0.05). Regarding farmers’ perceptions of
soil erosion, the major causes identified were absence of proper management practice
(14.49%,over cultivation (13.09%) and over grazing (12.65%). In conclusion, the results
indicate that the Shutaz Watershed is highly vulnerable to soil erosion and declining soil
fertility. Therefore, the study recommends the adoption of sustainable land use practices, with
an emphasis on managing the watershed as a single, integrated management unit.
Key words: Land Use System, RUSLE, Soil Properties, Watershed
