Land cover change and its implications to hydrological variables and soil erodibility in Lower Baro watershed, Ethiopia: a systematic review

Water-induced soil erodibility is the most severe kind of land degradation, with substantial environmental and social consequences. Few studies have been conducted on land cover change and soil erodibility in Ethiopia. During the data search, 83 articles were looked at, with studies published from 2007 to 2022. Only 2% of the abstracts that were considered for assessment were eventually accepted. The review was conducted using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and a meta-analysis approach. According to this study, when compared to the values predicted in the river basin’s master plan, Baro Akobo’s estimated surface water potential has been reduced by about 3.6 Bm³. As a result, changes in land cover affected a variety of fundamental processes in watersheds, at several spatial and temporal scales. As a result, of the reviewed, in lower Baro, built-up/settlement, agricultural land, water body, bare/outcrop, and commercial farm all rose by roughly + 195, + 48, + 35, + 35, and + 1%, respectively. Shrubland, rangeland, forest land, and wetland, on the other hand, all decreased by − 1, − 0.5, − 5, and − 10%, respectively. The K-factors are 0.31, 0.23, 0.14, and 0.07 for chromatic vertisols, humic cambisols, eutric cambisols, and eutric nitosols, respectively. From the results of the review studies, the RUSLE looks to be a good alternative for assessing soil erodibility in lower Baro, and soil water conservation measures are crucial for minimizing soil erodibility.