Estimating the runoff response from hillslopes treated with soil and water conservation structures in the semi-arid Ethiopian highlands: Is the curve number method applicable?

Planning and management of water resources is crucial to enhance agricultural productivity ensure food security in drylands. For this, adaptable reliable runoff prediction models are urgently needed support harvesting irrigation development. In this study we explored the potential Curve Number (CN) method estimate daily surface from representative land use types conditions Tigray (north Ethiopia). National Engineering Handbook (NEH-Tables) derive CN values for plots treated with without soil conservation (SWC) structures. Moreover, rainfall-runoff data collected 21 large (600–1000 m2) during three years (2010 2012) were used calculate CN-values. Results show that derived NEH-Tables larger by 21% compared those calculated plot data. The vary widely (34 91) response type, slope gradient, applied SWC Our results structures strongly influence production. Considering otherwise similar characteristics, consistently rangeland sites as cropland sites. Likewise, greatly reduce production their presence also leads a clearly lower performance model. relevant contributions towards addressing several goals agenda 2063 African union either directly or indirectly international sustainable development (SDG). Based on our analysis field observations, propose calibrated may be yield assessments environments.