Evaluation of Land Use Types and Physical Soil and Water Conservation Structures in Wyebla Watershed, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was carried out in the Wyebla watershed Goncha Siso Enesie Woreda, Northwestern Ethiopia. Similar to the other highland areas in the country Wyebla watershed is characterized, by severe soil erosion and acute water scarcity problems. Hence, the objective of the current investigation was to evaluate different land use types, and physical soil and water conservation (SWC) practices in Wyebla Watershed, Northwest Ethiopia. To check whether the current land use types match with treatment oriented capability classification (TOCC), a transect walk was conducted and measurements were taken during field survey. Rating fitness of recommended versus existing physical SWC structures were given based on TOC classification scheme. Data were analyzed using statistical methods like percentage, mean, frequency, and correlation. From results of TOCC scheme, it can be seen that current land use practices matches with recommended land use types with 83.33% on average. But with regard to rating fitness of existing SWC practices only 36.8% match with the recommended SWC measures.