Effects of soil and water conservation practices on selected soil physico-chemical properties in Debre-Yakob Micro-Watershed, Northwest Ethiopia

Tigest Alemayehu,Getachew Fisseha

doi:10.4314/ejst.v11i1.3

Abstract

Although different types of soil and water conservation practices (SWCPs) were introduced, the sustainable use of these practices is far below expectations, and soil erosion continues to be a severe problem in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted at Debre Yakobe Micro-Watershed (DYMW), Northwest Ethiopia with the general objective of finding out the effects of SWCPs on selected soil physico-chemical properties. Practices including non-conserved plot in the gentle slope (NCGS), non-conserved plot in the moderate slope (NCMS), bund with Sesbania sesban in the gentle slope (BSGS), bund with Sesbania sesban in the moderate slope (BSMS), bund with pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) in the gentle slope (BPGS) and bund with pigeon pea in the moderate slope (BPMS) were examined. Soil samples were collected from different land management plots and soil texture while bulk density (BD), pH, organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), Available Phosphors (Av.P), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were analyzed in the laboratory. Data were analyzed with the use of one-way analysis of variance and simple regression methods. The results of the study revealed that there is significant difference (p< 0.05) between conserved and non-conserved plots. The conserved plots had the highest soil pH (BPMS) 6.7, OM (BPMS) 3.01%, TN (BSGS) 0.13%, Av.P (BPMS) 4.20 (ppm) and CEC (BSGS) 32.01 cmol( + ) kg -1 but a lower BD (BPMS) 1.34 g cm -3 ; suggesting that bund accompanied by Sesbania sesban and pigeon pea were found to be effective in improving soil physico-chemical properties in the study area. Keywords: Biological practices, erosion, physical structure, soil properties

Highlights

Erosion, one of the symptoms of unsustainable land management, is a consequential degradation process affecting the soil resource in the entire world (Herweg and Stillhardt, 1999)
There was no significant difference among treatments that were managed through different soil & water conservation practices (SWCPs)
Mulugeta Demelash and Karl (2010) confirmed that soils of non-conserved land had the highest percentage of mean value of clay and silt and the lowest percentage of sand due to the exposure of soil by tillage to soil erosion by water that exposes the subsoil, which is naturally high in clay content

Summary

Introduction

One of the symptoms of unsustainable land management, is a consequential degradation process affecting the soil resource in the entire world (Herweg and Stillhardt, 1999). It is a severe problem in the highlands of Ethiopia, especially in the Amhara Region (Lakew Desta et al, 2006). Rill and gully erosion are commonly observed in the high rainfall areas of East and West Gojam where Nitosols are dominant (Birru Yitaferu, 2003) These types of erosion carry away the fine soil particles of the most fertile topsoil and organic matter (Gete Zeleke, 2000). The Debre Yakob Micro-Watershed (DYMW) is one of the watersheds that are facing soil degradation and loss of land productivity in (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/CC BY4.0)

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Conclusion