Abstract
Vertisols are important agricultural soils in the Ethiopian highlands. The highland part of the Jama district is one of which Vertisols have huge coverage and are underutilized due to waterlogging. Such potential Vertisol areas need to be put under wise cultivation. Thus, a study was conducted to investigate the effects of soil drainage methods on surface runoff, soil loss, and yield of wheat crop as indicators of productivity improvement of typical Vertisol in the Jama district of Amhara Region, Ethiopia, during the rainy season of 2017/18. The treatment comprised three soil drainage methods (BBF120, BBF80, and BBF40) arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications on standard runoff plots. Statistical Analysis System, version 9.0, was used to perform analysis of variance and mean separation of the collected data on yield, soil loss, and runoff. The result indicated that the effect of BBF120 brought significantly ( P < 0.05 ) higher difference on surface runoff, yield, and biomass of wheat over BBF40. The rainfall of about 55.05%, 51.45%, and 48.07% was lost as runoff from BBF120, BBF80, and BBF40, respectively. Drainage method BBF120 gave 34.6% and 17.3% of grain yield advantage over the drainage methods of BBF40 and BBF80, respectively, whereas soil loss was not significantly ( P > 0.05 ) different among all treatments; it is still in the range of soil loss tolerance in Ethiopia. As enhanced drainage is a requirement for successful crop production on Vertisol areas, BBF120 is recommended for draining excess runoff and consequently maximizing the yield of wheat in the study area and others with a similar farming system and agroecology.
Highlights
In Ethiopia, about 12.6 million hectares of land are reported as Vertisol; it accounts for the portion of about 10% of the total area of the country and is almost constrained by the waterlogging problem due to the excess rainfall during the main growing seasons [1,2,3]. e highland location where rainfall is plenty coupled with relatively noble inherent fertility status enables these soils to have great potential for crops
To overcome the waterlogging stress, farmers in the highlands of eastern Amhara adopt a drainage technology called broad bed and furrow (BBF), but using this technology, they plant late in the season around the end of August up to mid-September when excess water naturally drained away so that the crops grow on residual moisture; planting late in the season has yield disadvantage as the crop would be exposed to terminal moisture stress and frost damage [9, 15] In good years, the harvest may be very good if there is no frost
It is proved that substantial increases in crop yield could be obtained on Vertisols if excess surface soil water is drained off and if appropriate cropping practices are used [17]. erefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of soil drainage methods on (i) enhancing surface drainage as an indicator of improved productivity through making an effective ridge and furrow system, (ii) soil loss as indicators of the extent of soil degradation, and (iii) runoff generation for further discoveries related with water management to improve the productivity of typical Vertisol in the highland area
Summary
Evaluation of Soil Drainage Methods for the Productivity of Waterlogged Vertisols in Jama District, Eastern Amhara Region, Ethiopia. E highland part of the Jama district is one of which Vertisols have huge coverage and are underutilized due to waterlogging. Us, a study was conducted to investigate the effects of soil drainage methods on surface runoff, soil loss, and yield of wheat crop as indicators of productivity improvement of typical Vertisol in the Jama district of Amhara Region, Ethiopia, during the rainy season of 2017/18. Drainage method BBF120 gave 34.6% and 17.3% of grain yield advantage over the drainage methods of BBF40 and BBF80, respectively, whereas soil loss was not significantly (P > 0.05) different among all treatments; it is still in the range of soil loss tolerance in Ethiopia. As enhanced drainage is a requirement for successful crop production on Vertisol areas, BBF120 is recommended for draining excess runoff and maximizing the yield of wheat in the study area and others with a similar farming system and agroecology
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
