Changes in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern Ethiopia: a water balance modelling exercise

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dc.creatorDescheemaeker, Katrien K.
dc.creatorRaes, Dirk
dc.creatorNyssen, Jan
dc.creatorPoesen, J.
dc.creatorHaile, M.
dc.creatorDeckers, J.
dc.date2009
dc.date2010-07-08T18:42:02Z
dc.date2010-07-08T18:42:02Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T18:41:01Z
dc.descriptionThe establishment of exclosures (i.e. areas closed for grazing and agriculture) is a common practice to reverse land degradation through vegetation regeneration in the semiarid highland areas of northern Ethiopia. In order to assess the effect of exclosures on water flows, the water balance components for different vegetation regeneration stages were assessed through field measurements and modelling. Successful model calibration and validation was done based on soil water content measurements conducted during 2 years in 22 experimental plots. In the protected areas, vegetation regeneration leads to an increase in infiltration and transpiration and a more productive use of water for biomass production. In areas where additional lateral water (runon) infiltrates, source–sink systems are created. Here, up to 30% of the annual rainfall percolates through the root-zone towards the groundwater table. Increased biomass production in exclosures leads to possibilities for wood harvesting and cut and carry of grasses for livestock feeding. Together with water conservation and more productive use of water, the latter contributes to increased livestock water productivity. At the landscape scale, the creation of vegetation filters, capturing resources like water and nutrients, reinforces the rehabilitation process and healthy landscape functioning.
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/2030
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/162636
dc.languageen
dc.publisherCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
dc.rightsLimited Access
dc.sourceDescheemaeker, K., Raes, D., Nyssen, J., Poesen, J., Haile, M., & Deckers, J. (2009). Changes in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern Ethiopia: a water balance modelling exercise. The Rangeland Journal, 31(2), 237. https://doi.org/10.1071/rj09010
dc.subjectwater resources
dc.subjectvegetation
dc.subjectland degradation
dc.subjectwater balance
dc.subjectsimulation models
dc.subjectsoil water
dc.subjectmeasurement
dc.subjectexperiments
dc.subjecthighlands
dc.subjectsloping land
dc.subjectgrazing lands
dc.subjectpastures
dc.subjectregeneration
dc.subjectwater productivity
dc.subjectpercolation
dc.subjectevapotranspiration
dc.subjectrunoff
dc.titleChanges in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern Ethiopia: a water balance modelling exercise
dc.typeJournal Article

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