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This study examined land use/land cover (LULC) changes in Chemoga watershed of the Upper Blue Nile Basin, comprising four distinct agroecological regions: Wet Wurch, Moist Dega, Moist Weyna Dega, and Moist Kolla. We used multi-temporal Landsat images from 1985 to 2020, a hybrid classification method and the Cellular Automata-Markov model to analyze historical and predict future (2020–2060) LULC changes under business-as-usual (BAU) and land conservation (LC) scenarios. Magnitudes and patterns of spaciotemporal LULC changes were analyzed using intensity analysis. Cropland expanded across all agroecologies from 1985 to 2020, with Moist Kolla experiencing the highest increase at the expense of woodland, due the introduction of commercial farming to this hotter, less populated and inaccessible area. Moist Dega exhibited the highest allocation changes within cropland and forest, attributable to farmers’ adoption of rotational land use to rehabilitate extensively degraded cultivated lands. Under the BAU scenario, projections suggest further cropland expansion at expense of woodland in Moist Kolla and built-up areas at the expense of cropland and grassland in Moist Dega. Under the LC scenario, forest cover is expected to increase at the expense of cropland across all agroecologies. The historical and projected BAU LULC change scenario substantially increased soil erosion and reduced ecosystem services. These effects can be minimized if LC scenario is properly implemented. The agroecology-based LULC intensity analysis reveals local drivers of change and associated impacts, providing vital insights for targeted land use planning in this study watershed and other watersheds facing similar challenges.

Soil erosion by water and inappropriate land management practices result in poor agricultural production in the highlands of Ethiopia. Cover crops (CCs) are a promising cropping system to ameliorate soil health and agricultural production. A field plot experiment was carried out during the rainy seasons of 2019 and 2020 to assess the effects of CCs on runoff, soil loss, soil water content, and yield performance of barley in the Kasiry sub-catchment of Guder. The plot experiment contained four treatments: control, vetch (Vicia sativa L.), sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.), and bitter lupin (Lupinus albus L.); arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Each 12 m2 plot had a runoff monitoring system. A total of 1080 soil samples were collected at depths of 0 to 0.5 m from each plot at intervals of 0.1 m for soil water analysis. Treatments with CCs showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and biomass compared to the control plot. Runoff and soil loss were also reduced (9.6% and 38.3%, respectively), with bitter lupin being the most effective. In contrast, soil water content did not differ significantly between CC and control treatments. The grain yield of barley increased from 38 to 64%, and a partial budget analysis showed that CCs increased overall net profit, with bitter lupin having the highest marginal rate of return (8608%). Generally, treatments with less runoff and soil loss rates and higher crop yield should be adopted and scaled up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A key element of food systems that look for significant inputs to ensure food security is food production. The production process is adversely affected by impermanent climates, particularly in places where droughts occur recurrently. In southern Ethiopia’s drought-prone Gamo lowlands, this study explores lowland-friendly strategies and challenges to food production choices. A cross-sectional survey design centered on households was utilized. Primary and secondary sources of data were used in the data collection process. The study’s primary data sources were the survey participants. The main methods used for gathering data were field observations, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and surveys. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed in the data analysis. Numerous obstacles stand in the way of food production preference, according to the results of the household-level study. The most often mentioned ones were low professional support, rising production input costs, inadequate professional support, and traditional agriculture methods. The methods that were found included improving access to basic production resources like farmland and oxen as well as managing production costs to a reasonable level in order to alleviate these constraints. Furthermore, it was discovered that reevaluating the trends in production that are transitioning from food crops to cash crops is a major problem in the Gamo lowland environment. With growers paying less attention to valuable food sources—root crops in particular—the move toward cash crops is one that should be closely monitored. As a result, it is advised that local food systems need to be sustainable in view of changing climate and a growing populace.

We analyzed hydrological responses to changing climate and land use/land cover (LULC) for the past (1985–2020) and future (2021–2080) in the Chemoga watershed of the Upper Blue Nile Basin. The watershed comprises four agroecological environments: Moist Kolla, Moist Weyna Dega, Moist Dega, and Wet Wurch. Past and projected LULC changes under business-as-usual (BAU) and land conservation (LC) scenarios were utilized. Climate projections from 2021 to 2080, under two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5), were downscaled from Global Climate Models. Utilizing the Soil and Water Analysis Tool, we assessed impacts on mean annual surface runoff (SR) and evapotranspiration (ET). Maximum and minimum temperatures increased significantly in the past and future climate scenarios, with a significant rainfall increase observed under SSP5-8.5. Historical trends revealed a 16.6% increase in SR and 7% in ET from 1983–2002 to 2003–2020. Under BAU LULC with the SSP2-4.5 (SSP5-8.5) climate scenario, SR increased by 24% (26.1%) and ET by 3.1% (4.4%) from 2003–2020 to 2021–2050, followed by a subsequent SR rise of 13.7% (14.0%) and ET increase of 6.0% (5.7%) from 2021–2050 to 2051–2080. Conversely, the LC LULC with SSP2-4.5 (SSP5-8.5) resulted in a 5.3% (4.2%) SR decrease and ET increase of 9.7% (11.3%) from 2003–2020 to 2021–2050 and a further SR decrease of 1% (0.7%) and 6.1% (6.9%) ET increase from 2021–2050 to 2051–2080. The Moist Kolla agroecology experienced the highest SR increase due to vegetation clearances for commercial farming. Meanwhile, the LC scenario indicated substantial decreases in SR and marginal increases in ET in the Moist Weyna Dega agroecology due to forest restoration on steep slopes. Overall, SR showed greater sensitivity to LULC changes, while ET was more responsive to climate changes. The results emphasize considering diverse agroecological contexts for effective water resource management under changing climate and LULC scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In arid Africa, it is unclear how the transition from grassland to cropland affects CO2 fluxes and whether these effects are climate-dependent. From November 2019 to March 2020 (dry season), we studied autotrophic (Ra) and heterotrophic (Rh) soil respiration. At highlands, grazing land (1.18 ± 0.13 µmol m−2 s−1) and teff croplands (1.36 ± 0.14 µmol m−2 s−1) had the lowest Rh, while acacia decurrens plantations (1.94 ± 0.19 µmol m−2 s−1) were the largest. When compared to teff (2.08 ± 0.20 µmol m−2 s−1) and khat (1.73 ± 0.24 µmol m−2 s−1), grazing land in the midland had a lower Rh (1.18 ± 0.13 µmol m−2 s−1). Ra on teff (1.51 ± 0.27 µmol m−2 s−1) was substantially (P < 0.05) greater than on grazing land (1.08 ± 0.32 µmol m−2 s−1) in the highlands. Grazing lands (1.54 ± 0.21 µmol m−2 s−1) have a considerably (P < 0.05) greater Ra than farmlands (teff, 0.20 ± 0.07 µmol m−2 s−1; groundnut, 0.09 ± 0.03 µmol m−2 s−1) in lowlands. Growing teff in the highlands and midlands will result in higher CO2 fluxes into the atmosphere. However, in-depth research is needed to implement effective land management that reduces CO2 emissions.

The Barind tract (northwest part of Bangladesh) is facing the prevailing disaster of drought due to extreme climatic conditions, including low rainfall. This research attempts to measure the character of the domestic water crisis and the adaptation capacity of the drought-affected Barind people. It also investigates the impact of climate-induced water scarcity on the socioeconomic livelihood of respondents in two villages of the Tanore sub-district in Rajshahi district, which is the most drought-prone area in the Barind tract. In the study area, face-to-face interviews (n = 246) through a structured questionnaire with the respondents of two villages were conducted in an affable environment to collect primary (quantitative) data. In-depth interviews were also conducted with two farmers to collect qualitative data for the study. So it is mixed-method research. All the gathered data were examined using Atlas TI, SPSS, and GIS software. The results of this research show an extended scenario of excessive use of groundwater for domestic purposes due to water table depletion. It presents a portfolio of the sufferings of domestic water users in the study area, not only during the load-shedding period but also during the lack of technical support. Few people are bound to use more contaminated pond water for applying artificial fish feed. Poor inhabitants who depend on others for domestic water are facing more critical conditions due to the inability to install deep-tube wells at a higher cost. As a result, people need to move further away to collect fresh groundwater for domestic use.

Climate change is one of the environmental threats around the globe. However, this change is not uniform throughout the world, both spatially and temporally. This study, therefore, examined the spatiotemporal (annual and seasonal) variability and trends of rainfall and temperature over Ethiopia from 1901 to 2020. Monthly rainfall and temperature (maximum, minimum, and mean) data were extracted from the latest version of the Climatic Research Unit (CRU 4.05) dataset. Using long-term seasonal rainfall patterns and pixel-based correlation techniques, five homogeneous rainfall zones were identified. The rainfall and temperature from CRU were validated using observed data from 235 and 145 meteorological stations, respectively. The results revealed that inter-seasonal rainfall and temperature variabilities are more pronounced than interannual variabilities in all rainfall zones. Only 19% (215,700 km2) and 3% (33, 900 km2) of the country's total area experienced statistically significant (α = 0.05) decreasing and increasing trends of rainfall, respectively from 1901 to 2020. A statistically significant decreasing trend in rainfall with time was observed during the summer in only one zone that received rainfall in all months. A precipitation concentration index analysis revealed that the country exhibited a moderate to strongly irregular annual and seasonal rainfall distribution, except during the summer when the rainfall distribution was uniform. There was hence a high degree of rainfall seasonality throughout the study period. In addition to the devastating 1984 nationwide drought, Ethiopia also experienced local droughts for a number of 10 to 20 years. Unlike rainfall, there was a significant (α = 0.05) spatiotemporal increasing trend of temperature over the country. The spatial and temporal increasing trend of mean temperature over 120 years ranged from 0.24oC to 1.92oC and 0.72oC to 1.08oC, respectively. This increasing trend was higher in two zones located in the western and northwest parts of Ethiopia and the inflection points occurred after the 1970s in all zones. It is noteworthy that the maximum temperature increased at a lower rate than the minimum temperature. The warming trends and changes in rainfall patterns are likely to increase the frequency of climate extreme events and impact ecosystem services. This study suggests that climate change-sensitive zones require more attention and further study to enhance awareness of climate change in Ethiopia and facilitate adaptation to climate change and inform actions to mitigate adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In arid Africa, it is unclear how the transition from grassland to cropland affects CO2 fluxes and whether these effects are climate-dependent. From November 2019 to March 2020 (dry season), we studied autotrophic (Ra) and heterotrophic (Rh) soil respiration. At highlands, grazing land (1.18 ± 0.13 µmol m−2 s−1) and teff croplands (1.36 ± 0.14 µmol m−2 s−1) had the lowest Rh, while acacia decurrens plantations (1.94 ± 0.19 µmol m−2 s−1) were the largest. When compared to teff (2.08 ± 0.20 µmol m−2 s−1) and khat (1.73 ± 0.24 µmol m−2 s−1), grazing land in the midland had a lower Rh (1.18 ± 0.13 µmol m−2 s−1). Ra on teff (1.51 ± 0.27 µmol m−2 s−1) was substantially (P < 0.05) greater than on grazing land (1.08 ± 0.32 µmol m−2 s−1) in the highlands. Grazing lands (1.54 ± 0.21 µmol m−2 s−1) have a considerably (P < 0.05) greater Ra than farmlands (teff, 0.20 ± 0.07 µmol m−2 s−1; groundnut, 0.09 ± 0.03 µmol m−2 s−1) in lowlands. Growing teff in the highlands and midlands will result in higher CO2 fluxes into the atmosphere. However, in-depth research is needed to implement effective land management that reduces CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temporal dynamics of soil respiration change in response to different land management practices are not well documented. This study investigated the effects of soil bunds on the monthly and diurnal dynamics of soil respiration rates in the highlands of the Upper Blue Nile basin in Ethiopia. Six plots (with and without soil bunds, three replicates) were used for measurement of seasonal soil respiration, and 18 plots were used for measurement of diurnal soil respiration. We collected seasonal variation data on a monthly basis from September 2020 to August 2021. Diurnal soil respiration data were collected four times daily (5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m., and 11 p.m.) for 2 weeks from 16 to 29 September 2021. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed that seasonal soil respiration rates differed significantly (p < 0.05) between soil bund and control plots in all seasons. In plots with soil bunds, seasonal soil respiration rates were lowest in February (1.89 ± 0.3 µmol CO2 m–2 s–1, mean ± SE) and highest in October (14.54 ± 0.5 µmol CO2 m–2 s–1). The diurnal soil respiration rate was significantly (p < 0.05) higher at 11 a.m. than at other times, and was lowest at 5 a.m. Seasonal variation in soil respiration was influenced by soil temperature negatively and moisture positively. Diurnal soil respiration was significantly affected by soil temperature but not by soil moisture. Further study is required to explore how differences in soil microorganisms between different land management practices affect soil respiration rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-scale irrigation schemes (SSIS) have been considered a solution to viability challenges in drought-stricken farming areas in developing countries. However, the schemes face severe constraints. In this paper, relevant constraints are identified and ranked in terms of how serious the limitations are from the perspective of stakeholders in drought-prone areas of the Chipinge District in Zimbabwe. Information for the study was gained through a questionnaire and focus group discussions with small-scale irrigation farmers as well as key informant interviews with government irrigation officials, irrigation managers and members of the local community leadership. The information was garnered between August and December in 2017 with the analysis conducted using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis, guided by the Theory of Constraints and classified in the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal (PESTEL) framework. Results indicated that SSIS are important in the drought-prone areas of the Chipinge District regarding food security and income generation. However, technical issues bedevilling the schemes are considered to be the most challenging limitations. The most important constraints—ranked in descending order of gravity—are technical, economic, social, environmental, legal and political challenges. Based on these findings, the research strongly recommends modernising small-scale irrigation schemes' infrastructure, among other issues, as a priority in Zimbabwe's drought-prone areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security and seasonal migration have emerged as key development issues inmany developing countries, including Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to investigatethe nexuses between seasonal migration and household food security in a moisturestressedarea of Tsagibji district in the northeast part of Ethiopia. A household survey,key informant interviews, and focus group discussions were used to collect importantmicro-level household data from 325 rural families. The Household Food BalanceModel (HFBM) and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) were used toexamine the availability, consumption, and access components of household foodsecurity. Furthermore, long-term climate and meteorological data from NMA were usedto analyse the sustainability dimension of food security status in the study area.According to the HFBM, 58% of the households assessed were food secure, while42% were food insecure. Similarly, 57% of migrant households were food insecure.According to the HFIAS, 60% of households were food secure, 23% were mildly foodinsecure, 15% were moderately food insecure and only 2% were severely foodinsecure. Moreover, long-term meteorological data analysis revealed that the studyarea has been vulnerable to recurrent drought, rainfall volatility, low rainfall distribution,and food insecurity problems for more than two decades. Seasonal migration has asignificant impact on household livelihoods as well as food availability and access. Onthe other hand, the seasonal migration of workers from rural to urban areas affectsagricultural output in the migrants’ home areas.

Study region: Six small agricultural watersheds in three tropical climatic regions of Ethiopia. Three regions of contrasting climate: highland, midland, and lowland regions with respectively high, middle, and low elevations and rainfalls. Study focus: Lag time (TL) and time of concentration (TC) are two measures of how quickly a stream responds to runoff-producing rainfall. These parameters are the main inputs used to estimate peak flow under flood conditions in ungauged watersheds. Many empirical methods have been proposed to estimate TL and TC, but the validity of none of them has been tested. This study compared 10 commonly used methods by using measured TL and TC. New hydrological insights: Measured median values of TL and TC for 176 rainfall–runoff events were used to evaluate the performance of empirical methods. For individual watersheds, the estimates of TL and TC differed by up to 2.6 h and 4.4 h, respectively. Most of the empirical methods tended to substantially underestimate TL and TC, which would lead to overestimation of runoff volume. TL and TC computed by two methods that consider both overland and channel flow were closest to the measured values of TL and TC, because such mixed flow is typical of tropical climate regions. Our results show the need for caution when empirical methods developed in regions with a particular climatic and geomorphological conditions are applied elsewhere.

Study region: Laguna watershed of the Upper Blue Nile basin, which is representative of drought-prone tropical sub-humid watersheds of Ethiopia. The river of the watershed drains into Lake Tana, one of the largest lakes in Ethiopia. Study focus: This study evaluated the impacts of five alternative land capability-based land use and management options in reducing runoff and sediment loss by integrating observed plot- and watershed-scale data with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool. New hydrological insights: We modified flow- and sediment-sensitive model parameters based on six best-performing plot-scale land management practices to simulate the runoff and sediment loss of the watershed under five alternative options. The results revealed that alternative land use options could reduce runoff and sediment loss by about 21–30% (from 740 to 517 mm) and 32–83% (from 101 to 18 t/ha), respectively, compared to the baseline data. The simulations of best alternative land management options also decreased runoff by 10–41% and sediment loss by 40–89%. Runoff and sediment loss reductions were estimated to be as high as 72% (from 740 to 210 mm) and 95% (from 101 to 5 t/ha), respectively, when land use and land management options are combined. These results indicate that implementing suitable land use and management practices has the potential to rehabilitate degraded watersheds in the sub-humid Ethiopian highlands and similar environments elsewhere.

Study region: Robit-Bata watershed, Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. Study focus: Stable isotopes of water (Oxygen-18 and Deuterium) were used as tracers to estimate the contribution of groundwater in shallow hillslope aquifers to streamflow in the Robit-Bata watershed. To assess the spatiotemporal variability of shallow groundwater and develop a hydrograph separation technique, we collected rainfall, shallow groundwater, and streamflow samples and analyzed their δ18O and δ2H isotopic compositions. The local meteoric water line (LMWL) and local evaporative line (LEL) of the study area were determined and compared with the global meteoric water line (GMWL). A standard unweighted two-component isotope-based hydrograph separation model was used to determine the percentage contribution of shallow groundwater to streamflow. New hydrological insights for the region: The LMWL (δ2H = 8.63·δ18O + 18.2) mostly showed heavy isotopic enrichment relative to GMWL, and the LEL (δ2H = 5.45·δ18O + 6.96) indicated isotopic enrichment compared to Ethiopian lakes. Shallow groundwater responded rapidly to rainfall, with good spatial correlation depending on topographic positions of wells. Pre-event water contributed 90% when the watershed reached maximum storage. This finding gives insight towards the predominant runoff generation process and has significant implications for sustainable dry season irrigation expansion in the area as the sub-surface flow drains out of the watershed from October onwards reducing water tables in the shallow wells.

The drought-prone Ethiopian Somali region has a long history of pastoralism (livestock grazing), which is a major source of livelihoods. However, it suffers from poor rangeland management and a lack of research and information. The objectives of this study were to develop a method for forecasting forage biomass and to quantify production of and spatial variation in forage from satellite imagery. We downloaded Sentinel-2 images and processed spectral information in the blue, red, and near-infrared bands, and calculated the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). Combining ground sampling (on 55 plots) with remote sensing data, we developed a forage forecasting model for the area. Forage (biomass) was significantly correlated with both EVI (R2 = 0.87; P < 0.001) and NDVI (R2 = 0.81; P < 0.001). Both gave good predictions of forage biomass in the district. We estimated the annual biomass in each grassland pixel at the peak of the growing season. Models based on each index revealed close estimates: NDVI indicated an average of 0.76 t/ha and a total of 38 772 t/year; EVI indicated an average of 0.78 t/ha and a total of 39 792 t/year. The estimated rangeland biomass showed high spatial variability of 0.22–4.89 t/ha.year. For future rangeland management in the area, the proposed approach and models can be used to estimate available forage biomass from satellite imagery in the middle of the grass growing season (2 months after the rains start), before the grass matures and is harvested.

As stated in the 2018 global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report, Ethiopia has the second largest multidimensionally poor population in Africa (after Nigeria). The global MPI was created to measure household's multiple deprivations, but little systematic study has been carried out on the application of MPI measures on a smaller scale and vis-à-vis other measures of poverty. In addition, most of the few existing studies ignore any measure of inequality amongst the multidimensionally poor. This study explored multidimensional poverty in three different drought-prone agro-ecological settings of the Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. A preliminary participatory exercise was carried out at the study sites to select important indicators and then a structured survey was administered to 390 systematically and randomly selected households. The Alkire–Foster method was used to analyse multidimensional poverty and verified it with Correlation Sensitive Poverty Index (CSPI). Multidimensional poverty incidence, adjusted head count ratio and inequality were significantly different between study sites (p < 0.001). Results indicated a high incidence (88%, 82% and 80%), intensity (52%, 55% and 56%), MPI (46%, 45% and 45%) and inequality (53%, 60% and 63%) of poverty in Aba Gerima, Guder and Dibatie study sites, respectively. A high level of divergence was revealed between the MPI and CSPI in terms of identifying the poor. The living standard and land and livestock ownership dimensions contributed the most to MPI. The case study signifies the importance of inclusion of land and livestock indicators for the national MPI. Besides, it implies that researchers and policymakers need to account for smaller scale contextualised indicators and location differences when studying and designing anti-poverty interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use/land cover (LULC) change and climate variability are two major factors controlling hydrological responses. The present study analyzed the separate and combined effects of these two factors on annual surface runoff and evapotranspiration (ET) after validating the selected models in three drought–prone watersheds of the Upper Blue Nile basin: Kasiry (highland), Kecha (midland), and Sahi (lowland). LULC maps were produced from aerial photographs and very-high-resolution satellite images from 1982, 2005/06 and 2016/17. During 1982–2016/17 the area covered by natural vegetation showed dramatic decreases, ranging from 60.2% in Kasiry to 51.8% in Sahi. In contrast, increases in cultivated land ranged from 36.7% in Kasiry to 279.6% in Sahi; the smaller increase in Kasiry resulted from the conversion of a portion of the cultivated land to an Acacia decurrens plantation after 2006. The observed LULC changes over the study period resulted in runoff increases ranging from 4% in Kecha to 28.7% in Kasiry. Climate variability in terms of annual rainfall had no significant effect on estimated runoff; whereas both LULC change and climate variability had significant effect on estimated ET. Though climate variability increased ET from 33.6% in Kecha to 42.1% in Kasiry, the LULC change related to the reduction in natural vegetation had an offsetting effect, which led to overall decreases in ET ranging from 15.8% in Kasiry to 32.8% in Kecha watershed. As changes in LULC and climate are expected to intensify in the future, it is important to study further hydrological responses considering these changes to devise future sustainable land and water management strategies. Unlabelled Image • Land use/land cover change and climate variability can cause hydrological responses. • We examined 35-year trends in land use/land cover and climate in three watersheds. • Land use/land cover change caused higher surface runoff and lower evapotranspiration. • Climate variability increased evapotranspiration in all three watersheds. • Land use/land cover change had a dominant role in the hydrological responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gully erosion is one of the main causes of land degradation, particularly in the drought-prone regions of Ethiopia. This study assessed spatio-temporal changes of gully length and density in watershed pairs in Guder, Aba Gerima, and Dibatie sites, which are representative highland, midland, and lowland agro-ecologies in the Upper Blue Nile basin of Ethiopia. Aerial photographs (1957, 1982) and very high resolution satellite images (QuickBird, IKONOS, Worldview-2, SPOT-7, and Pleiades) of the six watersheds, along with field survey results, were used in the analyses. The aerial photographs were scanned and orthorectified using ENVI 4.3 image analysis software, and gullies were mapped by visual image interpretation in the ArcGIS environment. Rates of increase in gully length in Guder (36.9 m yr−1) and Aba Gerima (33.6 m yr−1) were almost double the rate in Dibatie (17.8 m yr−1) from 1957 to 2016 or 2017, and over the same period, gully density similarly increased by 5.9, 5.4, and 3.7 m ha−1 in Guder, Aba Gerima, and Dibatie, respectively. The higher rates in Guder and Aba Gerima reflect the long history of cultivation and human settlement in those sites, whereas agricultural activity became widespread in Dibatie only after implementation of the national resettlement program in the 1980s. Moreover, although gully density tended to increase over time in all six watersheds, in the three watersheds (one in each paired watershed) where soil and water conservation measures had been introduced, the rate of increase was lower than in those where no such measures were implemented. In addition, gully distribution was linked to land use and landscape position; gully density was higher in cultivated areas and where slope gradients were gentle. The results of this study indicate that careful site-specific identification of factors controlling gully initiation and development is crucial so that appropriate management strategies can be developed for these three sites and for other areas with similar agro-ecologies in the Upper Blue Nile basin. • Little is known about the distribution and rates of gully erosion in Ethiopia. • High-resolution imageries help to detect long-term gully erosion dynamics. • Cultivation history is a key factor for gully erosion dynamics across three sites. • Cultivated lands found in gentle slope are the most-prone to gully erosion. • Gully erosion is being reversed following land management interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite rainfall estimates (SREs) have become alternative sources of rainfall data for several applications. However, the accuracy of the SREs is likely to vary from region to region and must be evaluated on a local basis. This study evaluated the accuracy of three SREs for the Lake Tana basin in northwestern Ethiopia. This basin is characterized by complex topography comprising both lowlands and highlands. The three SREs were the Tropical Applications of Meteorology using SATellite data and ground-based observations (TAMSAT), the Climate Hazard Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS), and the Africa Rainfall Climatology (ARC). The SREs were compared with gauge measurements in lowland and highland regions during the period 1995–2010 on a point-to-pixel basis at daily, dekadal (10 days), monthly, and seasonal periodicities. The results show that the three SREs underestimated rainy events, but TAMSAT captured rainfall occurrence relatively well in both regions. ARC better estimated light rain rates (1–5 mm d −1 ) than did TAMSAT and CHIRPS; however, all the SREs markedly underestimated moderate and heavier rain rates (≥10 mm d −1 ). TAMSAT and CHIRPS estimated the amount of rainfall reasonably well (high efficiency, low random errors, and bias <10%) at daily, dekadal, and monthly time scales, whereas ARC did not perform satisfactorily (high random errors, low efficiency, and bias >20%) at any time scale. On a seasonal scale, CHIRPS estimated the secondary rainy season (March–May) rainfall better than did ARC and TAMSAT, whereas TAMSAT outperformed both CHIRPS and ARC during the primary rainy season (June–September). Overall, the rainfall detection capabilities and rainfall amount estimates of the SREs were better over the lowlands, and the cumulative rainfall estimates tended to improve with increasing integration time (i.e., from daily to seasonal totals). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various soil and water conservation measures (SWC) have been widely implemented to reduce surface runoff in degraded and drought-prone watersheds. But little quantitative study has been done on to what extent such measures can reduce watershed-scale runoff, particularly from typical humid tropical highlands of Ethiopia. The overall goal of this study is to analyze the impact of SWC interventions on the runoff response by integrating field measurement with a hydrological CN model which gives a quantitative analysis future thought. Firstly, a paired-watershed approach was employed to quantify the relative difference in runoff response for the Kasiry (treated) and Akusty (untreated) watersheds. Secondly, a calibrated curve number hydrological modeling was applied to investigate the effect of various SWC management scenarios for the Kasiry watershed alone. The paired-watershed approach showed a distinct runoff response between the two watersheds however the effect of SWC measures was not clearly discerned being masked by other factors. On the other hand, the model predicts that, under the current SWC coverage at Kasiry, the seasonal runoff yield is being reduced by 5.2%. However, runoff yields from Kasiry watershed could be decreased by as much as 34% if soil bunds were installed on cultivated land and trenches were installed on grazing and plantation lands. In contrast, implementation of SWC measures on bush land and natural forest would have little effect on reducing runoff. The results on the magnitude of runoff reduction under optimal combinations of SWC measures and land use will support decision-makers in selection and promotion of valid management practices that are suited to particular biophysical niches in the tropical humid highlands of Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different soil and water conservation (SWC) practices have been implemented in many drought-prone parts of Ethiopia since the 1980s. We assessed the effect of SWC practices on runoff response and experimentally derived and tested the validity of the runoff curve number (CN) model parameter for the tropical humid highland climate of the Kasiry watershed in northwestern Ethiopia. We recorded daily rainfall and runoff depth from 18 runoff plots (30 m long × 6 m wide) representing the five main land-use types with various SWC practices and two slope classes (gentle and steep). CN values were derived using the lognormal geometric mean CN procedure. Runoff was significantly less from plots with SWC measures, with average reductions of 44 and 65% observed in cultivated and non-agricultural lands, respectively. Runoff on plots representing non-agricultural land was relatively accurately predicted with the derived CN method, but predictions were less accurate for plots treated with a SWC practice. We conclude that predicting the effect of SWC practices on runoff requires parameterization with separate sets of CN value for each SWC practice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Rural household water consumption has not been well-researched compared to urban water consumption, particularly in developing countries. Using cross-sectional household-level data from 330 villages in a drought-prone rural district of India, determinants influencing domestic water consumption are studied. Per capita water consumption is found to lie much below the national standards as well as within or sometimes below the limit set for basic water requirements for emergency conditions. Household size is found to have largest, but inverse impact on household water consumption. Determinants like collection time and distance, participation in village meetings, local conflicts over water collection etc. are also identified as significant determinants of household water consumption. Also, as the socio-economic conditions vary from low to high, their water consumption also changes demonstrating an inequity in availability and accessibility to water among the households. We present a practical scenario of persisting household water stress situation prevailing in a drought-prone rural area that gets worsened with onset and duration of drought. The identified factors provide the key priorities that need to be addressed in policy making process to ensure basic water requirements of rural households in drought-prone areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the drought-prone Upper Blue Nile River (UBNR) basin of Ethiopia, soil erosion by water results in significant consequences that also affect downstream countries. However, there have been limited comprehensive studies of this and other basins with diverse agroecologies. We analyzed the variability of gross soil loss and sediment yield rates under present and expected future conditions using a newly devised methodological framework. The results showed that the basin generates an average soil loss rate of 27.5 t ha − 1 yr − 1 and a gross soil loss of ca. 473 Mt yr − 1 , of which, at least 10% comes from gully erosion and 26.7% leaves Ethiopia. In a factor analysis, variation in agroecology (average factor score = 1.32) and slope (1.28) were the two factors most responsible for this high spatial variability. About 39% of the basin area is experiencing severe to very severe (> 30 t ha − 1 yr − 1 ) soil erosion risk, which is strongly linked to population density. Severe or very severe soil erosion affects the largest proportion of land in three subbasins of the UBNR basin: Blue Nile 4 (53.9%), Blue Nile 3 (45.1%), and Jema Shet (42.5%). If appropriate soil and water conservation practices targeted ca. 77.3% of the area with moderate to severe erosion (> 15 t ha − 1 yr − 1 ), the total soil loss from the basin could be reduced by ca. 52%. Our methodological framework identified the potential risk for soil erosion in large-scale zones, and with a more sophisticated model and input data of higher spatial and temporal resolution, results could be specified locally within these risk zones. Accurate assessment of soil erosion in the UBNR basin would support sustainable use of the basin's land resources and possibly open up prospects for cooperation in the Eastern Nile region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gunung Kidul regency is one of the regencies in Indonesia that almost every year (often) is susceptible to drought, there is an even in term of synonymous with a drought in the province. Water is the essential lifeblood on Earth, with the power to generate, sustain, receive, and ultimately to unify life. Water is also one of the most important resources that need to be protected, conserved, and maintained to support humanity and all life on earth. Drought is a state of shortage of water supply in an area in which a prolonged period (several months to years). Usually, these events appear if a region is continuously subjected to rainfall below the average. Dry season long will cause drought. Drought is also a lack of water for human life and other living things in an area that is usually not a lack of water. The environmental isotopes most widely used as a tracer in the study of hydrology cycle are the stable isotopes deuterium (2H), oxygen-18 (18O) and carbon-13 and the radioisotopes tritium (3H) and carbon-14 (14C). The use of environmental isotopes as a tracer in groundwater studies are usually complementary to approach topography, hydro geology, and geology which has been frequently used. The result of this research show that elevation as an orthometric height of the 15 wells water in the research has a variation elevation which spread at most of the district in The from -18.390 m at Girisubo district up to 238.599 at Nglipar district m. Concerning with elevation of the water table at several geological cross section (East - West) are close to orthometric height.

Land degradation is primarily caused by accelerated soil erosion rate, which results in a loss in soil fertility and agricultural production. An improved understanding of the effect of soil bund spacing is a precondition for sustainable land management practices on sloping highlands. We examined the effects of bund spacing on soil loss, runoff, and soil water content on teff (Eragrostis tef [Zucc.] Trotter) cropland in an area of 9 % slope on Luvisol soil in the Aba Gerima (micro) watershed of the Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia. We measured these parameters during 2018 and 2019 on five adjoining runoff plots (each 30 m long × 3 m wide) separated by metal sheets 0.35 m high. We used a plot with no bunds as a control. In the other four plots, we installed bunds at spacings of 27.2, 12.7, 7.87, and 5.45 m. Both runoff and soil loss were considerably higher in the control plot than in the plots with bunds. Narrower bund spacings resulted in substantial reductions of runoff and soil loss. The two-year average runoff depths in the control, 27.2, 12.7, 8.97, and 5.45 m bund spacing plots were 517, 454, 365, 306, and 243 mm, respectively. Average soil loss for the control plot was 25.7 ton ha−1, whereas it was 17.9, 11.8, 6.5, and 4 ton ha−1 for the 27.2, 12.7, 8.97, and 5.45 m bund spacing plots, respectively. The efficiency of soil bunds in enhancing soil water content increased with reduced soil bund spacing. Over the course of the measurement period, average soil water levels for soil bund spacings of 27.2, 12.7, 8.78, and 5.45 m were 0.30 kg kg−1, 0.31 kg kg−1, 0.32 kg kg−1, and 0.32 kg kg−1, respectively. Further cost–benefit analyses and statistical tests are needed to determine optimum bund spacings in the Ethiopian highlands. [Display omitted] • We quantified the effects of soil bund (SB) spacing on soil loss and runoff. • Soil bunds reduced runoff and soil loss. • Runoff and soil loss reduction were inversely related to the spacing between SB's. • Soil water content was higher in plots that had SBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temporal dynamics of soil respiration change in response to different land management practices are not well documented. This study investigated the effects of soil bunds on the monthly and diurnal dynamics of soil respiration rates in the highlands of the Upper Blue Nile basin in Ethiopia. Six plots (with and without soil bunds, three replicates) were used for measurement of seasonal soil respiration, and 18 plots were used for measurement of diurnal soil respiration. We collected seasonal variation data on a monthly basis from September 2020 to August 2021. Diurnal soil respiration data were collected four times daily (5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m., and 11 p.m.) for 2 weeks from 16 to 29 September 2021. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed that seasonal soil respiration rates differed significantly (p < 0.05) between soil bund and control plots in all seasons. In plots with soil bunds, seasonal soil respiration rates were lowest in February (1.89 ± 0.3 µmol CO 2 m -2  s -1 , mean ± SE) and highest in October (14.54 ± 0.5 µmol CO 2 m -2  s -1 ). The diurnal soil respiration rate was significantly (p < 0.05) higher at 11 a.m. than at other times, and was lowest at 5 a.m. Seasonal variation in soil respiration was influenced by soil temperature negatively and moisture positively. Diurnal soil respiration was significantly affected by soil temperature but not by soil moisture. Further study is required to explore how differences in soil microorganisms between different land management practices affect soil respiration rates., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Stocking larger sized fish in fattening along with good aquaculture practices (GAP) are considered potentials for achieving sustainable and safe fish production under the climatically challenged drought-prone areas where the maintenance of optimal water level throughout the culture period is a real obstacle. To be sustainable, fattening requires optimal stocking density, as lower stocking density can bring up economic loss and at higher stocking density fish are severely challenged by stressors. The present study was designed to explore suitable stocking density for fattening of carp using overwintered fish and maintaining the aspects of good aquaculture practices. The present study was conducted for a period of 6 months from July to December 2019 in ponds of Rajshahi district, Bangladesh with three different treatments of carp stocking densities such as T 1 : 2470 fishes/ha; T 2 : 3705 fishes/ha and T 3 : 4940 fishes/ha. Individual stocking weight of all the fishes was kept significantly higher at T 1 , medium at T 2 and lower at T 3. However, stocking biomass was maintained significantly indifferent in all the treatments. Fishes were fed with pelleted feed (containing 25% crude protein, 10% moisture, 4–5% crude fat and 8% crude fiber) twice a day and water quality parameters were monitored monthly. Significant variation was observed only in dissolved oxygen, NH 3 -N, plankton cell density and total heterotrophic bacterial count. However, two opportunistic bacterial counts (Pseudomonas spp. and Aeromonas spp.) were higher at treatment T 3 , and the presence of non-indigenous pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Escherichia coli) was not evident in all the treatments. Significantly higher final weight and survival of fishes were obtained with treatment T 1 , while combined production of fishes was significantly higher at treatment T 3 followed by T 2 and T 1. Furthermore, the higher market price of larger fishes at T 1 resulted in significantly higher total return and benefit-cost ratio (BCR), in which the average selling price of fishes at T 1 , T 2 and T 3 were 250, 218 and 195 BDT/kg, respectively. The data obtained from this study has the potency to be used as baseline information on the sustainability of GAP based carp fattening in water deprived drought-prone areas in Bangladesh and other comparable geographical areas in the tropics. • Good aquaculture practice (GAP) helped to produce safe fish by minimizing common hazards in aquaculture ponds. • Selection of lower stocking density caused significantly higher growth performance. • Lower stocking density found to shape food conversion ratio (FCR) at its best. • Higher benefit-cost ratio under lower stocking density is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating runoff and sediment responses to human activities and climate variability is crucial for prioritizing erosion hotspots and implementing appropriate land management interventions. This study evaluated the separate and combined impacts of soil and water conservation (SWC) practices, land use/land cover, and climate variability, on runoff and sediment yield (SY) using two approaches in drought-prone watersheds of northwestern Ethiopia. In the first (paired watershed) approach, runoff and SY outputs of Kecha (treated) and Laguna (untreated) watersheds were compared. In the second approach, we compared data before and after the implementation of SWC practices in the Kecha watershed. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was adopted for both untreated and treated watersheds and used to evaluate runoff and SY responses in the two approaches. Paired watershed approach results revealed that the SWC practices reduced the surface runoff in Kecha by about 28–36% and SY by about 51–68% as compared to those in Laguna. Similarly, compared with the baseline data at Kecha, the SWC practices reduced the surface runoff and SY by about 40% and 43%, respectively, corresponding to about 65–78% of the total changes brought by changes in land use/land cover and climate variability. Hence, combining the two approaches helped reasonably estimate the reduction of surface runoff and SY due to SWC practices by about 28–40% and about 43–68%, respectively, implying that SWC practices had a considerably greater effect on SY than surface runoff. The study further revealed that the untreated Laguna watershed, where >86% of the total area is categorized as the very high soil erosion severity class, should be an immediate conservation priority. The findings of this study will be vital to devise future alternative land management scenarios in these watersheds and similar agro-ecological areas elsewhere. Unlabelled Image • We examined changes in runoff and sediment responses in Ethiopian highlands. • Impacts of land use change, SWC practices and climate variability were studied. • Paired and single watershed modeling approaches were employed. • SWC caused higher sediment reduction (43–68%) than runoff (28–40%). • SWC accounts for over a two-third of the observed variation in sediment yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Soil properties significantly varied across agro-ecologcal zones & land uses types. • Croplands exhibited low values of most soil quality property parameters. • Sustainable land management practices improved sensitive soil properties. • Exlcosure substantially improved soil organic carbon and total nitrogen contents. The knowledge of how soil properties vary over space and time is essential to better understand the potential of soils and their sensitivity to management interventions under different local conditions. The objective of this study was to analyze the variation in key soil properties as influenced by different land use types (cropland, grazing land, and bushland) and sustainable land management (SLM) practices (soil bund reinforced with grass, and fanya juu for croplands, and exclosures with and without trenches for grazing and bushlands) in the three contrasting agro-ecological zones of the drought-prone Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. Nine soil properties—texture, bulk density (BD), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), total nitrogen (TN), soil organic carbon (SOC), available phosphorus (P av), and available potassium (K av)—were measured for topsoil (0–20 cm) samples collected from experimental plots established for monitoring runoff and soil loss rates. The results showed that seven of the nine studied soil properties significantly differed among the three land use types in the three agro-ecological zones (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001); pH, CEC, SOC, and TN values were generally lower in croplands than in others. These results imply that soil quality under crop production has been greatly deteriorated by unsustainable cropping systems practiced over centuries. Three years after the implementation of SLM practices, however, most soil parameters become within optimal ranges for supporting plant production. More particularly, sensitive soil properties (BD, SOC, TN, P av , and K av) showed remarkable improvement in plots where soil bunds reinforced with grass and exclosures were implemented. This improvement was primarily associated with the development of well-established vegetation cover owing to the favorable natural conditions maintained by fencing of plots and minimum tillage. These results therefore indicate that soil degradation can best be controlled through enhancing vegetation growth and reducing soil disturbance by tillage operations. We conclude that integrating land uses with suitable SLM practices is the most effective way to maintain and restore soil quality and sustain ecosystem functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) are key ecological indicators of soil quality in a given landscape. Their status, especially in drought-prone landscapes, is associated mainly with the land-use type and topographic position. This study aimed to clarify the effect of land use and topographic position on SOC and TN stocks to further clarify the ecological processes occurring in the landscape. To analyze the status of SOC and TN, we collected 352 composite soil samples from three depths in the uppermost soil (0–50 cm) in four major land-use types (bushland, cropland, grazing land, and plantation) and three topographic positions (upper, middle, and lower) at three sites: Dibatie (lowland), Aba Gerima (midland), and Guder (highland). Both SOC and TN stocks varied significantly across the land uses, topographic positions, and agro-ecosystems. SOC and TN stocks were significantly higher in bushland (166.22 Mg ha−1) and grazing lands (13.11 Mg ha−1) at Guder. The lowest SOC and TN stocks were observed in cropland (25.97 and 2.14 Mg ha−1) at Aba Gerima, which was mainly attributed to frequent and unmanaged plowing and extensive biomass removal. Compared to other land uses, plantations exhibited lower SOC and TN stocks due to poor undergrowth and overexploitation for charcoal and firewood production. Each of the three sites showed distinct characteristics in both stocks, as indicated by variations in the C/N ratios (11–13 at Guder, 10–21 at Aba Gerima, and 15–18 at Dibatie). Overall, land use was shown to be an important factor influencing the SOC and TN stocks, both within and across agro-ecosystems, whereas the effect of topographic position was more pronounced across agro-ecosystems than within them. Specifically, Aba Gerima had lower SOC and TN stocks due to prolonged cultivation and unsustainable human activities, thus revealing the need for immediate land management interventions, particularly targeting croplands. In a heterogeneous environment such as the Upper Blue Nile basin, proper understanding of the interactions between land use and topographic position and their effect on SOC and TN stock is needed to design proper soil management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water erosion factor layers: R, rainfall erosivity; K, soil erodibility; LS, slope length and steepness; C, cover management; and P, support practice. Wind erosion factor layers: CE, climatic erosivity; EF, wind-erodible fraction; SC, soil crust; VC, vegetation cover; and SR, surface roughness. • We assessed spatial patterns of water and wind erosion risks in East Africa. • The spatially distributed RUSLE model was adopted to assess water erosion. • A wind erosion index was developed by integrating five factors using fuzzy logic. • Areas of moderate or elevated erosion risks cover 10% (water) and 25% (wind). • Cropland and bareland are most affected by water and wind erosion, respectively. Land degradation by water and wind erosion is a serious problem worldwide. Despite the significant amount of research on this topic, quantifying these processes at large- or regional-scale remains difficult. Furthermore, very few studies provide integrated assessments of land susceptibility to both water and wind erosion. Therefore, this study investigated the spatial patterns of water and wind erosion risks, first separately and then combined, in the drought-prone region of East Africa using the best available datasets. As to water erosion, we adopted the spatially distributed version of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation and compared our estimates with plot-scale measurements and watershed sediment yield (SY) data. The order of magnitude of our soil loss estimates by water erosion is within the range of measured plot-scale data. Moreover, despite the fact that SY integrates different soil erosion and sediment deposition processes within watersheds, we observed a strong correlation of SY with our estimated soil loss rates (r2 = 0.4). For wind erosion, we developed a wind erosion index by integrating five relevant factors using fuzzy logic technique. We compared this index with estimates of the frequency of dust storms, derived from long-term Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor Level-3 daily data. This comparison revealed an overall accuracy of 70%. According to our estimates, mean annual gross soil loss by water erosion amounts to 4 billion t, with a mean soil loss rate of 6.3 t ha−1 yr−1, of which ca. 50% was found to originate in Ethiopia. In terms of land cover, ca. 50% of the soil loss by water erosion originates from cropland (with a mean soil loss rate of 18.4 t ha−1 yr−1), which covers ca. 15% of the total area in the study region. Model results showed that nearly 10% of the East Africa region is subject to moderate or elevated water erosion risks (>10 t ha−1 yr−1). With respect to wind erosion, we estimated that around 25% of the study area is experiencing moderate or elevated wind erosion risks (equivalent to a frequency of dust storms >45 days yr−1), of which Sudan and Somalia (which are dominated by bare/sparse vegetation cover) have the largest share (ca. 90%). In total, an estimated 8 million ha is exposed to moderate or elevated risks of soil erosion by both water and wind. The results of this study provide new insights on the spatial patterns of water and wind erosion risks in East Africa and can be used to prioritize areas where further investigations are needed and where remedial actions should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drought-prone Ethiopian Somali region has a long history of pastoralism (livestock grazing), which is a major source of livelihoods. However, it suffers from poor rangeland management and a lack of research and information. The objectives of this study were to develop a method for forecasting forage biomass and to quantify production of and spatial variation in forage from satellite imagery. We downloaded Sentinel-2 images and processed spectral information in the blue, red, and near-infrared bands, and calculated the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). Combining ground sampling (on 55 plots) with remote sensing data, we developed a forage forecasting model for the area. Forage (biomass) was significantly correlated with both EVI ( R 2 = 0.87; P < 0.001) and NDVI ( R 2 = 0.81; P < 0.001). Both gave good predictions of forage biomass in the district. We estimated the annual biomass in each grassland pixel at the peak of the growing season. Models based on each index revealed close estimates: NDVI indicated an average of 0.76 t/ha and a total of 38 772 t/year; EVI indicated an average of 0.78 t/ha and a total of 39 792 t/year. The estimated rangeland biomass showed high spatial variability of 0.22-4.89 t/ha.year. For future rangeland management in the area, the proposed approach and models can be used to estimate available forage biomass from satellite imagery in the middle of the grass growing season (2 months after the rains start), before the grass matures and is harvested., (© 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

• LULC changes, drivers and implications were examined (1982-2016/2017) in contrasting agro-ecologies. • Cultivated land has progressively increased in the first three decades across all agro-ecologies. • After 2012, A. decurrence has increased by 400% at the expense of cultivated land in highland agroecology (Guder). • Population growth associated with changing farming practices were the major drivers for LULC changes. • The expansion of cultivated land had aggravated the soil erosion and surface runoff in the watersheds. This study examined the trends, driving factors, and implications of land use/land cover (LULC) dynamics over the past 35 years (1982–2017) in three watersheds of the drought-prone areas that represent different agro-ecologies of Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia: Guder (highland), Aba Gerima (midland), and Debatie (lowland). The changes in LULC were analyzed by integrating field observations, remote-sensing data (aerial photographs [1: 50,000 scale] and very high resolution [0.5–3.2 m] satellite images), and geographic information systems. The drivers of LULC were explored using key informant interviews and relevant literature reviews. The implications of LULC change on soil erosion and surface runoff responses were also evaluated. A minimum of four and maximum of six LULC classes were identified in each watershed over the study period. The study revealed that forest land was the dominant LULC class accounting for 40.9% and 32.0% in Guder and Aba Gerima, respectively in 1982. While in the same period, bush land (36.6%) was the dominant LULC class in Debatie watershed. From 1982 to 2016/2017, forest land, bush land, and grazing land respectively decreased by about 70%, 50%, and 27% in Guder; 65%, 49%, and 63% in Aba Gerima; and 63%, 59%, and 38% in Debatie. During the same period, cultivated land increased by approximately 40%, 129%, and 704% in Guder, Aba Gerima and Debatie, respectively. In contrast, between 2012 and 2017, plantation cover increased by about 400% in the Guder, mainly at the expense of cultivated land, which decreased by 40% for the same period. Population growth and associated changes in the farming practices were the major driving forces for the observed LULC changes in the study watersheds. The traditionally deleterious impacts of human activities on the environment have been recently reversed at an unprecedented rate, particularly at Guder and to a lesser extent at Aba Gerima, following the shift from the traditional annual cropping to more economically attractive tree-based farming practices such as Acacia decurrens plantation in Guder and khat (Catha edulis) cultivation in Aba Gerima. The continued expansion of cultivated land combined with population growth positively linked to the increase of gully erosion and surface runoff potential in the study watersheds particularly, in Aba Gerima and Debatie watersheds. The Upper Blue Nile basin is currently experiencing both positive and negative socio-economic and environmental consequences of LULC dynamics. Hence, the present study can help form a basis for the appropriate development of land management policies and strategies in this and other basins experiencing similar problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]