Prioritization of Sub-Watersheds for Soil and Water Conservation Planning Using Geospatial Techniques Integrated with R software in Efertana Gidem District, Central Lowlands of Ethiopia

Since 1980, agricultural productivity in Ethiopia has been suffering from soil erosion. Conservational activities have been implemented, but inadequate implementation has left erosion even in the study watershed. This study uses the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model (RUSLE) integrated with geospatial techniques for the planning of soil and water conservation activities based on sub-watershed soil loss and uses R-software to analyze the leading influence of factors that are contributing to soil loss. The sources of data mostly include field data collection, FAO, and open-access geospatial data sources. The study identifies the leading cause of soil erosion; the average annual soil loss rate in the study watershed was 9.8 t ha ^-1 yr ^-1 , with a standard deviation of 47.7 t ha ^-1 yr ^-1 . Based on soil loss, sub-watersheds SW12, SW9, SW8, and SW4 were classified as high priority; SW6, SW7, SW3, and SW10 as medium priority; and SW1, SW5, SW2, and SW11 as low priority. Regressions and correlation analysis done by multiple linear regression model (MLR) in the study watersheds indicate that the slope length and steepness (LS factor) and conservation factor are the leading factors of soil erosion. The LS factor (1.95, p < 0.001) and the P-factor (16.39, p = 0.003) have significant effects on soil loss. Overall, the study recommends implementing both physical and biological conservation mechanisms based on prioritizing sub-watersheds to utilize limited resources. The implementation of conservation structures must consider the investigation of soil loss and other influencing factors, using geospatial technology integrated with different soil loss estimation models.