Seifu Tilahun

International Water Management Institute | IWMI

5 Over recent decades, Ethiopia has substantially invested in soil and water conservation (SWC) practices, particularly in more arid areas, to strengthen environmental resilience, maintain agricultural productivity, and improve food security. Despite huge efforts, the impact of those 8 practices on improving rural households' food security remains...

This study interrogates the state of social-ecological landscapes (SEL) in West Africa, focusing on two case studies: the Mankran SEL in Ghana (case study 1) and the Doma–Rutu SEL in Nigeria (case study 2). Using a mix of methods, the assessment was framed by the Drivers Pressure State Impact Response (DPSIR) model tailored for SEL evaluation (DPSI...

Soil moisture data is crucial for enhancing drought monitoring, optimizing water management, refining irrigation schedules, forecasting floods, and understanding climate change impacts. Despite the existence of long-term global satellite and reanalysis products, the performance of global satellite products in Ethiopia is underexplored, highlighting...

The impact of river bank erosion on sediment yield in alluvial rivers has been a neglected area of study. This research aims to assess the extent of upland erosion, channel erosion, and deposition along a 30km segment of the alluvial River in the lacustrine plain of Lake Tana. The estimation of upland erosion was carried out using data from upper g...

Soil erosion poses a significant challenge in the sub-humid Ethiopian highlands, yet research on the long-term effectiveness of soil and water conservation (SWC) practices in this region using pre- and post-conservation approaches remains limited. This study addresses this knowledge gap by evaluating the impact of SWC practices on water balance and...

This study examines the barriers faced by irrigation technology and service suppliers in Ethiopia, and their influence on business effectiveness. Data were collected from 42 firm owners and managers across 21 enterprises through online surveys, phone calls, and in-person interviews in August 2020. Additional insights were provided by 35 key informa...

This study examines the barriers faced by irrigation technology and service suppliers in Ethiopia, and their influence on business effectiveness. Data were collected from 42 firm owners and managers across 21 enterprises through online surveys, phone calls, and in-person interviews in August 2020. Additional insights were provided by 35 key informa...

Water quality is deteriorating in the world’s freshwater bodies, and Lake Tana in Ethiopia is becoming unpleasant to biodiversity. The objective of this study is to retrieve non-optical water quality data, specifically total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations, in Lake Tana using Machine Learning (ML) techniques applied to Landsa...

This study aimed to investigate the impacts of the conservation agriculture production system, CAPS, and conventional tillage production system, CTPS, on agricultural water management and soil nutrient improvement in Ethiopia. A total of 15 field experimental plots, each consisting of 100 m2; were established for the two farming systems, CAPS and C...

Unlock the potential of irrigation technology in Ethiopia! Our preprint, "Bridging the Gap: Analysis of Systemic Barriers to Irrigation Technology Supply Businesses in Ethiopia," dives deep into the challenges faced by suppliers. Through comprehensive data from 21 enterprises and insights from 42 firm owners/managers, we reveal critical barriers li...

Small-scale cultivation of irrigated fodder is emerging as a vital production system in mixed farming communities. Efficient water management plays a key role in enhancing forage production, especially in the face of changing climate. A field-scale experimental study was conducted in Robit Bata kebele, Ethiopia, with the following objectives: (1) t...

Introduction The increasing pressure on land and water resources, fueled by high population growth and climate change, has profound implications for crop yield and quality. While studies thrive for various crops, a notable research gap exists in understanding the responses of forage crops to irrigation and nutrient management in developing countrie...

A comprehensive evaluation of satellite-based and reanalysis soil moisture products over the upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia Addis A. Alaminie, Sofie Annys, Jan Nyssen, Mark R. Jury, Giriraj Amarnath, Muluneh A. Mekonnen, Seifu A. Tilahun • SMAP and SMOS emerge as the most accurate, with SMOS notably excelling in spatial representation and remarkab...

Finding effective ecosystem services (ESS) management practices to counteract land degradation and poverty is becoming increasingly urgent in the Ethiopian highlands, where livelihood security is strongly dependent on local ESS, particularly those provided by water and soil. In this paper, we test the effects of widely implemented soil and water co...

Land degradation is a significant environmental challenge across sub-Saharan Africa. In recent decades, efforts have been undertaken, with varying successes, to rehabilitate degraded rural landscapes. However, there needs to be more evidence on the outcomes regarding enhanced productivity, environmental management, and socio-economic benefits. This...

Land degradation is a severe environmental problem in the northern and northwestern Ethiopian highlands. As a response to increasing land degradation, rehabilitation of degraded grazing lands through exclosures (exclusion of farmers and domestic animals) has been undertaken. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of 11 and 8-year exclosures...

Several studies have assessed the dynamics of soil quality induced by soil and water conservation (SWC), but many showed disagreement over the efficacy of SWC interventions in the Ethiopian highlands. This study used a before and after soil and water conservation practices (SWCP) comparison approach to evaluate the effect of SWCP on soil quality dy...

This study evaluates the Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) dynamics and water quality in the Mankran landscape in Ghana (case study-1) and the Doma-Rutu landscape in Nigeria (case study-2) using the Drivers Pressure State Impact Response (DPSIR) for social ecological landscape (SEL) assessment framework (DPSIR-SEL). In the Mankran landscape, between 2...

This study evaluates the Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) dynamics and water quality in the Mankran landscape in Ghana (case study-1) and the Doma-Rutu landscape in Nigeria (case study-2) using the Drivers Pressure State Impact Response (DPSIR) for social ecological landscape (SEL) assessment framework (DPSIR-SEL). In the Mankran landscape, between 2...

The absence of a basin-wide apportionment agreement on using the Nile River equitably has been a long-standing source of disagreement among Nile riparian states. This study introduces a new approach that the riparian states can consider that quantifies the Nile River’s apportionment. The approach includes (1) developing a basin-wide database of ind...

The development of irrigation and agricultural water management technology holds significant potential to improve water productivity. Improper on-farm irrigation management practices lead to poor water distribution, non-uniform crop growth, excessive leaching in some areas leading to waterlogging, and insufficient leaching in others leading to sali...

Irrigation is widely considered a potential means to improve agricultural productivity, nutrition, and income, as farmers can carry out farming and production year-round. However, the feasibility of irrigation technologies is highly dependent on the long-term economic return farmers achieve. Solar-based irrigation could address the challenges of un...

In most water balance studies, basins are considered closed systems; however, interbasin groundwater flow (IGF), which is an unaccounted hydrological component in most studies, could occur at basin boundaries where there is a hydraulic gradient and appropriate permeability of the geologic formations. IGF is a complex hydrogeological process and hid...

Soil and water conservation have been traditionally part of farming practices for thousands of years. Despite massive efforts to implement modern soil and water conservation practices (SWCPs) in the Ethiopian Highlands, soil erosion increased after the 1970s when social and political events led to a remarkable change in land use. This review aims t...

Soil and water conservation have been traditionally part of farming practices for thousands of years. Despite massive efforts to implement modern soil and water conservation practices (SWCPs) in the Ethiopian Highlands, soil erosion increased after the 1970s when social and political events led to a remarkable change in land use. This review aims t...

Atampugre, G.; Tilahun, S. A.; Owireko, I. O.; Owusu-Amofah, S. B.; Amponsah, A. K.; Cofie, O.; Adusei-Gyamfi, J.; Boateng, E. 2023. Inclusive landscape management plan for the transformation of agrifood systems in Ahafo Ano Southwest District of Ghana. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on West an...

Excess sediment and nutrient losses from intensifying agriculture degrade water quality and boost plant growth. The relationship between circulation patterns, spatial water quality degradation, and water hyacinth infestation is not adequately studied. The objective of this study is, therefore, to investigate the effect of lake circulation patterns...

The highlands serve as water towers for the blue water in the surrounding area, with often insufficient rainfall for rainfed crops. The population is growing in the highlands, changing the hydrology and blue and green water availability. One of the changes that affect the highlands of Ethiopia is the rapidly expanding areas of small patches of euca...

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 (m...

Natural resources are degraded continuously due to rapid population, global climate change, poor management, and misunderstanding of the nature of resources. Changes in groundwater level and water quality caused by irrigation practices (overwater application and use of high chemical fertilizers) are currently observed problems. This study focused o...

Water quality degradation of freshwater bodies is a concern worldwide, particularly in Africa, where data are scarce and standard water quality monitoring is expensive. This study explored the use of remote sensing imagery and machine learning (ML) algorithms as an alternative to standard field measuring for monitoring water quality in large and re...

Nitrate is globally the most widespread and widely studied groundwater contaminant. However, few studies have been conducted in sub-Saharan Africa, where the leaching potential is enhanced during the rainy monsoon phase. The few monitoring studies found concentrations over drinking water standards of 10 mg N-NO3− L−1 in the groundwater, the primary...

In the Ethiopian Upper Blue Nile Basin, like in other regions in the world, agricultural productivity is declining due to water scarcity owing to longer dry seasons coupled with soil acidity−induced fertility problems. Wheat is one of the major food security crops in Ethiopia but its productivity is reduced due to water scarcity, especially during...

In the Tana sub-basin, there is a practical knowledge deficit in the development of stage-discharge rating curves utilizing the salt dilution approach. Even though there are lots of discharge measurement techniques in the gauged watershed, which are difficult, expensive and time-consuming. The aim of this study was to develop a stage-discharge rati...

Study region: Tana basin is the origin of the Blue Nile Basin located in Ethiopia. The Lake Tana’s mean annual precipitation is approximately 1400 mm/yr and its outflow drains an area of about 15,096 km2. There is limited effort to apply nested hydrological models for flood prediction due to being poorly gauged for validation. Study focus: The obje...

Erosion of agricultural land endangers the livelihood of millions of people who depend on natural resources. Soil and water conservation practices (SWCP) are intended to reduce runoff production and erosion. Understanding surface runoff drivers are crucial for the effective design and implementation of SWCPs. We present field observations of comple...

Study region: Robit Bata and Dengeshita watersheds, Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia Study focus: Sustainable development of groundwater in the Ethiopian Highlands requires recharge measurements. The Water Table Fluctuation (WTF) method has been used to measure recharge. Lateral flow in sloping hillside aquifers violates the assumptions on which the...

Development of irrigation technologies and agricultural water management systems holds significant potential to improve productivity and reduce vulnerability to climate change. Our study dealt with the behavior of irrigation water productivity, partial nutrient balance and grain yield of wheat under the application of different irrigation water man...

ABSTRACT In arid and semi-arid areas, a shortage of soil moisture limits rainfed crop growth and consequently reduces crop yield. By adding a small amount of water, supplemental irrigation can boost crop yields dramatically. The objective of this study was to identify suitable land for supplemental irrigation in a moisture deficit area in the semi-...

Poverty is multi-dimensional global challenge that impedes individual and community capacities to satisfy basic needs. These capacities are shaped by locally configured institutional and biophysical processes that are often hidden from external researchers and practitioners. To explore this worldwide aspect, we adopt participatory rural appraisal (...

As part of water resources management policy, water resources projects undertake environmental flow assessments (EFA) to determine how much water should be maintained or released to the downstream part of rivers to protect the health of aquatic and riparian ecosystems and societal wellbeing. In Ethiopia, EFA is being undertaken mostly in relation t...

Improper implementation of conservation structures in the Ethiopian highlands in general and in the Yewoll watershed, in particular, enabled the existence of soil erosion at an aggressive rate. This research aimed to enable a better understanding of the hydrological processes of the Yewoll watershed in the upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. Rainfall,...

For sustainable climate hazard management, climate information at the local level is crucial for developing countries like Ethiopia, which has an exceptionally low adaptive capacity to changes in climate. As a result, rather than making local decisions based on findings from national-scale studies, the study area’s research gap of local level clima...

In Ethiopia, soil fertility problem caused by acidity substantially limits agricultural productivity, necessitating sustainable integrated nutrient management. This study assessed the effect of combined application of lime, manure and inorganic fertilizer on selected hydrophysical properties of an acid clay Nitisols in the Koga irrigation scheme, E...

Engaging youth and women in data-scarce, least developed countries (LDCs) is gaining attention in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) arena, as is using citizen science as a multi-faceted mechanism for data collection, engendering personal empowerment and agency. Involving these populations in citizen science is a powerful synergy that simultane...

Engaging youth and women in data-scarce, least developed countries (LDCs) is gaining attention in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) arena, as is using citizen science as a multi-faceted mechanism for data collection, engendering personal empowerment and agency. Involving these populations in citizen science is a powerful synergy that simultane...

Nutrient enrichment from increased anthropogenic activities causes algal blooms and the proliferation of water hyacinth and other aquatic weeds. It is a recent phenomenon in developing nations where the link between water quality and water hyacinth infestation is not well studied. The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship betwe...

Closing the yield gap and enhancing efficiency in rainfed maize production systems in Ethiopia requires urgent action in increasing the productivity of degraded agricultural land. The degradation of land through continuous compaction and decline in the organic matter has resulted in a wide-spread formation of a hardpan that restricts deep percolati...

Background For sustainable climate hazard management, climate information at the local level is crucial for developing countries like Ethiopia, which has an exceptionally low adaptive capacity to changes in climate. As a result, rather than making local decisions based on findings from national-scale studies, the study area's research gap of local...

Agriculture in Africa is adversely affected by the loss of soil fertility. Conservation agriculture (CA) was introduced to curb the loss of soil fertility and water shortages and improve crop productivity. However, information on how CA practices enhance soil quality and nutrients is scarce in the sub-Saharan Africa context. The objective of this s...

Abstract: Understanding the relationship between topography, hydrological processes, and runoff source areas is essential in engineering design, such as predicting floods and implementing effective watershed management practices. This relationship is not well defined in the highlands with a monsoon climate and needs further study. The objective of...

Estimating water supply through irrigation canal distribution systems is a crucial process for better water management in the irrigation schemes. This study aimed to develop an approach to predict the discharge delivered to unregulated irrigation canals (such as quaternary canals) from geometric and hydraulic information of regulated section of the...

Groundwater resources have a fundamental importance to satisfy the rapidly increasing agricultural, livestock and domesticwater requirements within the region especially in Robit watershed. Hence the quantification of this water resource is important for the efficient and sustainable water resource management. In this study spatial variability of i...

Perovskite solar cells are one of the most promising solar cell technologies, showing rapid development in power conversion efficiency (PCE). In this work, the performance and stability of triple-cation perovskite solar cells under continuous outdoor illumination in Bahir Dar climatic conditions and also the luminescence properties using steady-sta...