Implications of Watershed Management Practices on Water Availability Using Hydrus-1D Model in the Aba Gerima Watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia
The main objective of this study was to examine the implications of watershed management (WSM) on hydrological parameters in the Aba Gerima watershed in the Upper Blue Nile Basin. The Hydrus 1D model simulations were conducted in control sites and sites under WSM to estimate various components of th...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/19/3095 |
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| author | Tekuamework Fikadu Ermias Teferi Berihun Dubale Bukho Gusha Sukhmani K. Mantel Jane Tanner Carolyn G. (Tally) Palmer Zerihun Woldu Tena Alamirew Gete Zeleke |
| author_facet | Tekuamework Fikadu Ermias Teferi Berihun Dubale Bukho Gusha Sukhmani K. Mantel Jane Tanner Carolyn G. (Tally) Palmer Zerihun Woldu Tena Alamirew Gete Zeleke |
| author_sort | Tekuamework Fikadu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The main objective of this study was to examine the implications of watershed management (WSM) on hydrological parameters in the Aba Gerima watershed in the Upper Blue Nile Basin. The Hydrus 1D model simulations were conducted in control sites and sites under WSM to estimate various components of the hydrologic cycle, using different soil physical & hydrological data under each category of experimental sites. Results were calibrated with measured soil moisture data through inverse solutions. Thus, Hydrus 1D model was found to be effective in predicting results, with R<sup>2</sup> values of 0.73 to 0.853 and RMSE values ranging from 0.015 to 0.04. The cumulative evaporation estimated for 365 days for control sites was 37.6% higher than that of sites under WSM. Surface and bottom fluxes in the sites under WSM were 4.6% and 12.5%, respectively, higher than the control sites. This could be attributed to the increased soil water availability resulting from the implemented WSM practices in Aba Gerima, and the results of this study can be used as empirical evidence of the positive implications of WSM on water availability. Finally, WSM should be strengthened by concerned bodies and development partners in all watersheds, especially where water availability is affected by severe land degradation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:58:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1d1a9b47cc3c4180885ae3b91a16dff0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:58:05Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-1d1a9b47cc3c4180885ae3b91a16dff02023-11-23T22:15:40ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-10-011419309510.3390/w14193095Implications of Watershed Management Practices on Water Availability Using Hydrus-1D Model in the Aba Gerima Watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, EthiopiaTekuamework Fikadu0Ermias Teferi1Berihun Dubale2Bukho Gusha3Sukhmani K. Mantel4Jane Tanner5Carolyn G. (Tally) Palmer6Zerihun Woldu7Tena Alamirew8Gete Zeleke9Center for Environment and Development Studies, College of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, EthiopiaCenter for Environment and Development Studies, College of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, EthiopiaDebre Tabor University, Debre Tabor P.O. Box 272, EthiopiaARUA Water Center of Excellence, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South AfricaARUA Water Center of Excellence, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South AfricaARUA Water Center of Excellence, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South AfricaARUA Water Center of Excellence, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South AfricaARUA Water Center of Excellence, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South AfricaARUA Water Center of Excellence, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South AfricaARUA Water Center of Excellence, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South AfricaThe main objective of this study was to examine the implications of watershed management (WSM) on hydrological parameters in the Aba Gerima watershed in the Upper Blue Nile Basin. The Hydrus 1D model simulations were conducted in control sites and sites under WSM to estimate various components of the hydrologic cycle, using different soil physical & hydrological data under each category of experimental sites. Results were calibrated with measured soil moisture data through inverse solutions. Thus, Hydrus 1D model was found to be effective in predicting results, with R<sup>2</sup> values of 0.73 to 0.853 and RMSE values ranging from 0.015 to 0.04. The cumulative evaporation estimated for 365 days for control sites was 37.6% higher than that of sites under WSM. Surface and bottom fluxes in the sites under WSM were 4.6% and 12.5%, respectively, higher than the control sites. This could be attributed to the increased soil water availability resulting from the implemented WSM practices in Aba Gerima, and the results of this study can be used as empirical evidence of the positive implications of WSM on water availability. Finally, WSM should be strengthened by concerned bodies and development partners in all watersheds, especially where water availability is affected by severe land degradation.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/19/3095Hydrus 1Dwater availabilitybottom fluxsurface fluxwatershed managementupper Blue Nile |
| spellingShingle | Tekuamework Fikadu Ermias Teferi Berihun Dubale Bukho Gusha Sukhmani K. Mantel Jane Tanner Carolyn G. (Tally) Palmer Zerihun Woldu Tena Alamirew Gete Zeleke Implications of Watershed Management Practices on Water Availability Using Hydrus-1D Model in the Aba Gerima Watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia Water Hydrus 1D water availability bottom flux surface flux watershed management upper Blue Nile |
| title | Implications of Watershed Management Practices on Water Availability Using Hydrus-1D Model in the Aba Gerima Watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia |
| title_full | Implications of Watershed Management Practices on Water Availability Using Hydrus-1D Model in the Aba Gerima Watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Implications of Watershed Management Practices on Water Availability Using Hydrus-1D Model in the Aba Gerima Watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implications of Watershed Management Practices on Water Availability Using Hydrus-1D Model in the Aba Gerima Watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia |
| title_short | Implications of Watershed Management Practices on Water Availability Using Hydrus-1D Model in the Aba Gerima Watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia |
| title_sort | implications of watershed management practices on water availability using hydrus 1d model in the aba gerima watershed upper blue nile basin ethiopia |
| topic | Hydrus 1D water availability bottom flux surface flux watershed management upper Blue Nile |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/19/3095 |
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