The Status of Land Degradation Induced by Soil Erosion and Management Options in Duna District, Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia
Year: 2024
Type: article
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.
Source: Hydrology
Author: Tesfahun Dakeso
Institution: Oda Bultum University
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4406106023