Result and Discussion
Based on the analysis, the amount of soil loss in the Awash basin is about 37684000 ton per
year from 11.2 million hectare. As shown in the figure 8, the amount of soil loss of each parcel
of land in the basin ranges from 0 to 330414.5 t/ha/year. The mean annual soil loss of the
Awash basin is 28.84 t/ha/year. The result of study falls within the ranges of the findings of
FAO (1984). According to the estimate of FAO (1984), the annual soil loss of the highlands of
Ethiopia ranges from 1248 – 23400 million ton per year from 78 million of hectare of pasture,
ranges and cultivated fields through out Ethiopia.
The spatial locations of the high spot area for soil erosion in the study revealed that the
potential soil loss is typically greater along the steeper slope banks of tributaries. Other high
soil erosion areas are dispersed through out the basin and are typically associated with high
erosion potential land uses. The plain area of the basin shows the least vulnerable to soil
erosion.