Characterization of Moisture Conservation Practices on Yield of Sorghum in Holte, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Water is the common medium for several life processes; it is very limited in semi-arid climatic zone for growth and development. A coping mechanism; water management includes understanding about the release pattern and storage of water by the soil. The emphasis given to the conservation practices in conserving and retaining moisture is very limited in semi-arid zone of southern Ethiopia. The aim of this study is to characterize the three conservation practices in relation to moisture with various soil depths. Erratic rain fall over the season makes harsh for growing vegetations. Indigenous conservation practice in the form of (mona, poteya and targa), trash line and stony with little straw were evaluated for their volumetric moisture content. SAS 9.2 version was used to analyze the data, for instance, there was statistically difference (P ≤0.05) among conservation practices and there was statistically difference between indigenous and trash line conservation practices over the stony with little straw conservation practice over the growing period and depth intervals of the profile.