APPLICATION OF THE ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS FOR MANAGEMENT OF SOIL EROSION IN OMAN

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.sidebar##

Published Apr 1, 2020
Alia Khalfan Hamdoon Al-Rahbi Mohammad F.M. Abushammala Wajeeha A. Qazi

Abstract

The level of soil degradation worldwide is alarming due to its potential for causing serious problems such as threatening food security. The sultanate of Oman faces the problem of soil erosion which also disturbs waterways, infrastructure and agriculture. The problem of soil erosion has become increasingly apparent in Oman and is due to inappropriate land management. This occurs particularly with dams where sedimentation is a common issue and in the aflaj water systems. Currently, there are no appropriate methods being practiced that would overcome the problem of soil erosion in Oman, and no specific studies are available that discuss suitable methods for soil protection in Oman. Therefore, this study is an initiative to overcome the problem of soil erosion in Oman by proposing the best soil erosion protection method using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). In order to achieve this goal, this study reviews different methods of preventing soil erosion and the factors governing their selection. The important and controlling factors were considered in an AHP model to rank the soil erosion protection methods. Based on the AHP model, pairwise comparisons were conducted with the help of 15 experts from different sectors including authorities responsible for soil conservation in Oman, decision-making governmental departments and research institutes. The results of the AHP analysis indicated that the most suitable soil erosion protection method, based on the considered factors, is erosion control fences, followed by protection of the gully head and revetment. As no previous studies on suitable methods for soil conservation in Oman exist, this study bridges the gap by providing valuable information on the best soil protection methods that could help soil conservation authorities in Oman as they decide about possible future strategies.The study also indicated that the AHP model is a suitable guiding framework for decision-making because it involves a group of experts for the selection of soil protection methods based on the situation in Oman.

How to Cite

Al-Rahbi, A. K. H., Abushammala, M. F., & Qazi, W. A. (2020). APPLICATION OF THE ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS FOR MANAGEMENT OF SOIL EROSION IN OMAN. International Journal of the Analytic Hierarchy Process, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.13033/ijahp.v12i1.683

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract 1496 | PDF Downloads 422

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##

Keywords

soil erosion, soil protection, analytical hierarchy process, multi-criteria decision analysis

References
Avni, Y. (2008). Glacial–interglacial cycles, soil erosion and natural desertification in the Middle East. Sediment Dynamics in Changing Environments (Proceedings of a symposium held in Christchurch, 325, 383–390.

Alexander, M. (2012). Decision-making using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and SAS/IML®. Baltimore, MD: NESUG.

Bot, A. & Benites J. (2005). The importance of soil organic matter: key to drought-resistant soil and sustained food production. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Conservation Management Services. (2015). Soil erosion control and veld rehabilitation for the gouritz cluster biosphere reserve. The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve and Conservation Management Services. Retrieved from https://gouritz.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Soil-Erosion_Soil-erosion-control-and-veld-rehabilitation-guidelines_Coetzee-Stroebel_2015-compressed.pdf doi: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781526465412

Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW. (2007). Reducing soil erosion with compost. Retrieved from https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/waste/waste-facilities/organics-processing-facilities/-/media/EPA/Corporate%20Site/resources/warrlocal/070413-reducing-erosion.ashx?la=en&hash=23443EE8260232D77E5518995E3ECB01248DC2BA

Department of Economic Development. (2017). Gully erosion. Retrieved from http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/farm-management/soil-and-water/erosion/gully-erosion

El-Swaify, S. (1997). Factors affecting soil erosion hazards and conservation needs for tropical steeplands. Soil Technology, 11(1), 3–16. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0933-3630(96)00111-0

Ehrgott, M. (2010). Multiple criteria decision making for sustainable energy and transportation systems. Berlin: Springer.

Francis, C. A. (2005). Crop rotation. In D. Hillel (Eds.), Encyclopedia of soils in the environment. Oxford: Elsevier/Academic.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2015). Status of the worlds soil resources: main report. Rome.

Geyik, M. P. (1986). FAO watershed management field manual: Gully control. Rome: FAO.

Loken, E. (2007). Use of multicriteria decision analysis methods for energy planning problems. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 11(7), 1584–1595. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2005.11.005

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Protection against wave-¬based erosion. Retrieved from https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/waverosionrevetment.pdf

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. (2005). Biotechnical measures for erosion and sediment control. Retrieved from http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/sec4.pdf

Nixon, J.D., Dey, P.K., Ghosh, S.K., & Davis, P.A. (2013). Evaluation of options for energy recovery from municipal solid waste in India using the hierarchical Analytical Network Process. Energy, 59, 215–223. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2013.06.052

Overseas Development Institute. (1997). Better land husbandry: Re-thinking approaches to land improvement and the conservation of water and soil. Retrieved from https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/2953.pdf doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/1872-9037_afco_asc_1285

OYO International Corporation. (2007). Countermeasures against river erosion. Retrieved from http://open_jicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/11856424_04.pdf

Pimentel, D. (2006). Soil erosion: a food and environmental threat. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 8, 119–137. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-005-1262-8

Prathapar, S.A., & Bawain, A.A. (2014). Impact of sedimentation on groundwater recharge at Sahalanowt Dam, Salalah, Oman. Water International, 39(3), 381–393. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2014.895889

Qazi, W.A., Abushammala, M.F.M, & Azam, M. (2018). Multi-criteria decision analysis of waste-to-energy technologies for municipal solid waste management in Sultanate of Oman. Waste Management and Research, 36(7), 594–605. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242x18777800

Robichaud, P. R., & Brown, P. R. (2002). Silt fences: An economical technique for measuring hillslope soil erosion. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. doi: https://doi.org/10.2737/rmrs-gtr-94

Ritter, J. Soil erosion – causes and effects (2012). Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

South African National Roads Agency. Gabions, erosion protection. Retrieved from https://www.nra.co.za/content/Chapter_15.pdf

Saaty, T.L. (1980). The analytic hierarchy process. New York: McGraw- Hill.

Saaty, T.L., & Sagir, M. (2009). An essay on rank preservation and reversal. Mathematical and Computer Modelling, 49(5–6), 1230–1243. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcm.2008.08.001

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2012). Stormwater best management practice: Silt fences. Retrieved from https://www3.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/siltfences.pdf

Wilson, J., & Josiah, S. (2004). Windbreak design. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Sciences. Retrieved from https://nfs.unl.edu/documents/windbreakdesign.pdf

Waelti, C., & Spuhler, D. (2019, June 13). Planting pits. Retrieved from https://sswm.info/sswm-solutions-bop-markets/affordable-wash-services-and-products/affordable-technologies-and/planting-pits
Section
Special Topic Articles