Fentahun et al. (2026) Assessment of suitable land for surface irrigation development in an Ardy watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Arabian Journal of Geosciences
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-16
• Authors: Abebe Fentahun, Arega Mulu, Samuel Berihun Kassa, Kassahun Birhanu
• DOI: 10.1007/s12517-026-12589-y

Research Groups

• Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources Management
• Department of Agricultural Engineering, Addis Ababa University
• International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Short Summary

This study assessed suitable land for surface irrigation in the Ardy watershed, Ethiopia, identifying 99% of the area as suitable and providing guidance for sustainable resource use. The findings highlight the need for targeted management strategies to ensure reliable irrigation during peak demand periods.

Objective

• To determine the suitability of land for surface irrigation in the Ardy watershed, Ethiopia

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Watershed scale (Ardy watershed, Ethiopia)
• Temporal Scale: Long-term (using historical climate and hydrological data)

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), CROPWAT 8.0
• Data sources: Satellite imagery, soil data, land use/land cover maps, meteorological data, streamflow records

Main Results

• 99% of the watershed is suitable for surface irrigation
• 53% classified as moderately suitable
• Critical command area that can be reliably irrigated ranges from 918 ha (maize) to 1,057 ha (potato)

Contributions

• Original contribution to existing literature on land evaluation and irrigation management in Ethiopia
• Provides policymakers with valuable guidance for developing targeted and effective management strategies

Funding

• Not specified

Citation

@article{Fentahun2026Assessment,
  author = {Fentahun, Abebe and Mulu, Arega and Kassa, Samuel Berihun and Birhanu, Kassahun},
  title = {Assessment of suitable land for surface irrigation development in an Ardy watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia},
  journal = {Arabian Journal of Geosciences},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1007/s12517-026-12589-y},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-026-12589-y}
}