Abstract
BackgroundSoil erosion is among the foremost causes of declining soil resources in Ethiopia, which in turn affect agricultural productivity. To limit this problem, for the last two decades in Gumara watershed, soil and water conservation measures have been practiced through free labor community mass-mobilization. However, their effect on soil fertility has not been evaluated. This study investigated the impact of implemented soil and water conservation measures on fertility improvement in the Gumara watershed. Both composite and core soil samples were taken from upstream, midstream, and downstream adjacent conserved and non-conserved cultivated and grazing plots. Selected soil fertility indicators were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures.ResultsSoil and water conservation practices have resulted in a statistically significantly higher mean values of total nitrogen, exchangeable Na+ and Mg2+ at p < 0.01, and of soil organic carbon and organic matter at p < 0.05 in the watershed. The clay content, soil reaction, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable K+ showed non-significant, but higher mean values in conserved plots. Furthermore, the effects of conservation practices on soil properties were found more effective in cultivated land uses as compared to that of grazing land uses. This is because conservation treatments had significant effects on organic carbon, total nitrogen, exchangeable Na+ and Mg2+ in cultivated land uses but only on exchangeable Na+ in grazing land uses. The interaction effect of treatments and land uses did not reach a statistically significant result for any of the soil properties considered in this study.ConclusionConservation measures have important implications for improving soil fertility in the Gumara watershed. Therefore, proper guidance and follow-up, use of agro-forestry and grass strips, and maintenance are required for the watershed’s sustainability and good soil conditions.
Highlights
Land degradation and its related decline in the productivity potential of agricultural land are challenging the economic and social well-being of the current and future generations on earth (Keno and Suryabhagavan 2014; Haregeweyn et al 2012)
According to the soil map of the watershed collected from Ministry of Water, Irrigation, and Energy, the soil of the watershed is characterized by haplic luvisols, haplic nitisols, and haplic alisoils (Ministry of Water Resources of Ethiopia (MoWR) 1998)
The impact of soil and water conservation practices on soil properties SWC measures implemented in the Gumara watershed have improved the soil condition as a result of reduction in runoff and sediment transport
Summary
Land degradation and its related decline in the productivity potential of agricultural land are challenging the economic and social well-being of the current and future generations on earth (Keno and Suryabhagavan 2014; Haregeweyn et al 2012). The slope steepness, long cultivation history with outdated technology, and overgrazing make soil erosion more severe in Ethiopia (Nyssen et al 2004) It has been identified as a major threat to the national economy (Hurni 1993) and among the main challenges influencing the sustainability of agriculture (Molla and Sisheber 2017). Two-thirds of the population of Ethiopia has been affected by soil erosion mainly associated with the conversion of forest to agricultural land (Hurni et al 2015) This is indicated by a 0.4% increase in crop yields and a 5.7% increase in cultivated land from 1991 to 2003 (International Monetary Fund 2005). Soil erosion is among the foremost causes of declining soil resources in Ethiopia, which in turn affect agricultural productivity To limit this problem, for the last two decades in Gumara watershed, soil and water conservation measures have been practiced through free labor community mass-mobilization. Selected soil fertility indicators were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures
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