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Assessment of Surface Irrigation Potential Using Geospatial Technology in the Megecha River Catchment

Received: 20 April 2023    Accepted: 13 July 2023    Published: 31 July 2023
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Abstract

The world is suffering from different crises, like the energy crisis, food insecurity, and a basic shortage of natural resources. This study has been conducted to assess the surface irrigation suitability of the Megecha River using geospatial models. The slope gradient, soil depth, soil drainage, soil type, land use (land cover), distance from a water source, and distance of the access road were considered to assess the land's suitability for surface irrigation. After preparing each criteria map, the weight for each parameter was calculated using the analytic hierarchy process and weight overlay map analysis conducted in the GIS environment. After conducting a pair-wise comparison matrix and normalizing the pair-wise comparison matrix, slope gradient, soil type, and soil depth were weighted at 33%, 23%, and 17%, respectively. The land use and land cover change detection revealed that agriculture and built-up areas had shown significant expansion while range land was promptly decreased. The reasons for these are mainly population growth, soil fertility loss, small industries, and business company expansion. About 581.74 km2 of area is moderately suitable, but the Megecha River has the potential to irrigate only 200ha for those selected crops based on CROPWAT 8.0 analysis. Finally, I recommend that the concerned offices enhance the soil and water conservation practices in the Megecha river watershed since it is the main water source for the private sector and the local community and its land use is changing in a hydrologically negative way.

Published in American Journal of Water Science and Engineering (Volume 9, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajwse.20230903.13
Page(s) 69-76
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Irrigation, Potential, Assessment, Geospatial, Megecha River, Gurage Zone

References
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[4] Saymen SW, "Performance evaluation of furrow irrigation system and GIS-based gravity irrigation suitable area map development at Godino Mariam, Debrezeit.," MSc thesis, Alemaya University., 2011.
[5] Zuo, Qingting and Shikui Liang, "Effects of Dams on River Flow Regime Based," Remote Sensing and GIS for Hydrology and Water Resources, pp. 275-280, 2015.
[6] A. Mohammed, "Surface Irrigation Potential Assessment Of Geba-Ramis Catchement, Ramis Sub-Basin," AMU, Arba Minch, 2019.
[7] N. Wagesho, "GIS based irrigation suitability analysis: A case study of abaya-chamo basin, southern rift valley of Ethiopia," in FWU, VOL. 4, Lake Abaya Research Symposium 2004 - Proceedings, Arbaminch, 2004.
[8] FAO, "The future of our land Facing the challenge. Guidelines for integrated planning for sustainable management of land resources," FAO, ROME, 1999.
[9] FAO (1985) Guidelines: Land Evaluation for Irrigated Agriculture. FAO Soils Bulletin 55, FAO, Rome, 290.
[10] FAO, "Land use planning applications. Proceedings of the FAO Expert Consultation," Rome, Italy, 1991.
[11] FAO, "A framework for land evaluation. FAO Soils Bulletin No. 32," FAO, Rome, Italy, 1997.
[12] T. L. Saaty, "The analytic hierarchy process," McGraw-Hill, New York, 1980.
[13] Saaty, T. L, "What is the Analytic Hierarchy Process?," Univ. Pittsburgh, 1988.
[14] Smith, M, "CROPWAT-A Computer Programme. Irrigation Planning and Management. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 46," Rome, 1992.
[15] Girma Bekele and Tadewos Adema, "Sediment Yield Estimation and Identifying the Soil Erosion Prone Areas in Koysha Dam Watershed of Omo-Gibe Basin," IISTE, vol. 14, no. 2, 2022.
[16] Yonas Mathewos and Teshale Begeno, "Evaluations of Stream Flow Response to Land Use and Land Cover Changes in Wabe Watershed, Omo-Gibe Basin, Ethiopia," vol. 12, no. 10, 2020.
[17] Takala, W., Adugna, T. and Tamam, D., "The effects of land use land cover change on hydrological process of Gilgel Gibe, Omo Gibe Basin, Ethiopia.," International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, vol. 7, no. 8, pp. 117-128, 2016.
[18] A. Mesafint, "Irrigation Potential Assessment Using GiS and Remote Sensing: Case Study in Megech Water Shade," AMU, 2011.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Girma Bekele Goba, Teshale Fita. (2023). Assessment of Surface Irrigation Potential Using Geospatial Technology in the Megecha River Catchment. American Journal of Water Science and Engineering, 9(3), 69-76. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20230903.13

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    ACS Style

    Girma Bekele Goba; Teshale Fita. Assessment of Surface Irrigation Potential Using Geospatial Technology in the Megecha River Catchment. Am. J. Water Sci. Eng. 2023, 9(3), 69-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20230903.13

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    AMA Style

    Girma Bekele Goba, Teshale Fita. Assessment of Surface Irrigation Potential Using Geospatial Technology in the Megecha River Catchment. Am J Water Sci Eng. 2023;9(3):69-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20230903.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajwse.20230903.13,
      author = {Girma Bekele Goba and Teshale Fita},
      title = {Assessment of Surface Irrigation Potential Using Geospatial Technology in the Megecha River Catchment},
      journal = {American Journal of Water Science and Engineering},
      volume = {9},
      number = {3},
      pages = {69-76},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajwse.20230903.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20230903.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajwse.20230903.13},
      abstract = {The world is suffering from different crises, like the energy crisis, food insecurity, and a basic shortage of natural resources. This study has been conducted to assess the surface irrigation suitability of the Megecha River using geospatial models. The slope gradient, soil depth, soil drainage, soil type, land use (land cover), distance from a water source, and distance of the access road were considered to assess the land's suitability for surface irrigation. After preparing each criteria map, the weight for each parameter was calculated using the analytic hierarchy process and weight overlay map analysis conducted in the GIS environment. After conducting a pair-wise comparison matrix and normalizing the pair-wise comparison matrix, slope gradient, soil type, and soil depth were weighted at 33%, 23%, and 17%, respectively. The land use and land cover change detection revealed that agriculture and built-up areas had shown significant expansion while range land was promptly decreased. The reasons for these are mainly population growth, soil fertility loss, small industries, and business company expansion. About 581.74 km2 of area is moderately suitable, but the Megecha River has the potential to irrigate only 200ha for those selected crops based on CROPWAT 8.0 analysis. Finally, I recommend that the concerned offices enhance the soil and water conservation practices in the Megecha river watershed since it is the main water source for the private sector and the local community and its land use is changing in a hydrologically negative way.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Assessment of Surface Irrigation Potential Using Geospatial Technology in the Megecha River Catchment
    AU  - Girma Bekele Goba
    AU  - Teshale Fita
    Y1  - 2023/07/31
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20230903.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajwse.20230903.13
    T2  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
    JF  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
    JO  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
    SP  - 69
    EP  - 76
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-1875
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20230903.13
    AB  - The world is suffering from different crises, like the energy crisis, food insecurity, and a basic shortage of natural resources. This study has been conducted to assess the surface irrigation suitability of the Megecha River using geospatial models. The slope gradient, soil depth, soil drainage, soil type, land use (land cover), distance from a water source, and distance of the access road were considered to assess the land's suitability for surface irrigation. After preparing each criteria map, the weight for each parameter was calculated using the analytic hierarchy process and weight overlay map analysis conducted in the GIS environment. After conducting a pair-wise comparison matrix and normalizing the pair-wise comparison matrix, slope gradient, soil type, and soil depth were weighted at 33%, 23%, and 17%, respectively. The land use and land cover change detection revealed that agriculture and built-up areas had shown significant expansion while range land was promptly decreased. The reasons for these are mainly population growth, soil fertility loss, small industries, and business company expansion. About 581.74 km2 of area is moderately suitable, but the Megecha River has the potential to irrigate only 200ha for those selected crops based on CROPWAT 8.0 analysis. Finally, I recommend that the concerned offices enhance the soil and water conservation practices in the Megecha river watershed since it is the main water source for the private sector and the local community and its land use is changing in a hydrologically negative way.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering, Wolkite University, Wolkite, Ethiopia

  • Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering, Wolkite University, Wolkite, Ethiopia

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