The Status of Gully Erosion, Driving Factors and Management Options in Ethiopia: A Review

Abstract

Gully erosion is a severe erosion process that has significant environmental and economic consequences. The aim of this review was to assess the magnitude, determinant factors, and possible management options for gully erosion in Ethiopia. Relevant materials were discovered using search engines such as Google, Google Scholar, Research Gate, Academia, and the most popular journal websites. The search criteria included recent publications in reputable journals (2005-2024). The inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed to fit the study's objectives. The reviewed findings and reports demonstrated that the amount of gully erosion across agro-ecology was expanding at a rapid rate and contributed to large soil losses, affecting agricultural production and productivity and posing socioeconomic and environmental challenges. Land cover, agricultural expansion, population increase, human paths, farming practices, poor land use, overgrazing, steep slope agriculture, area topography, soil type, and climatic conditions have all been cited as contributing reasons to gully erosion. Gully erosion control strategies identified included diverting runoff from gully heads, changing gully morphology, constructing check dams, re-vegetating with locally available planting materials, planting grass, and integrating check dams with grass and re-vegetative planting materials. Following the findings of this review, it was recommended that innovative technological development and promotion of specific agro-ecological gully erosion control strategies be prioritized, as well as community awareness and training on gully erosion prevention measures.