Impact of Selected Soil and Water Conservation Measures on Sustainability of Soil Moisture Content at Bambasi District, Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia

Tekilil Wolde,Alemu Bade

doi:10.11648/j.jeece.20200503.12

Tekilil Wolde, Alemu Bade

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20200503.12

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Abstract

Conservation of soil and water resources is important for sustainability of agriculture and environment. Soil and water resources are under immense pressure due to ever increasing population thereby ensuring growing demand for food, fiber and shelter. Soil and water resources are being deteriorated due to different anthropogenic and natural factors. Soil erosion is one of the several major deteriorative processes which results in deterioration of the soil. Agriculture in Ethiopia is subjected by rain fed farming with low productivity especially dry land Part of the country, like bambasi distrct of Benishangul gumuz region. As a result, crops have severe moisture stress through their growth stages. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at bambasi distrct farmers own land by newly established selected conservation measures in the year of 2016 to analyze the impact of selected soil and water conservation measures (soil bund, grass mulch and contour cultivation), enhancing soil moisture and thereby land productivity. The experiment was arranged in a random complete block design with three replications. The analysis of variance for the results of the study indicated that significant differences were observed in soil moisture content at different soil depths at an interval of 15 days. Statistically not significant measurement were recorded between soil bund and contour cultivation in some measuring interval and depths, but reasonable difference was obtained in grass mulch treatment throughout the season in all measuring depth. Therefore, grass mulch should be recommended to reduce the risk of moisture stress and to ensure sustainability of soil moisture in the study area.

Highlights

IntroductionMost farmers are poor and operate at subsistence level and investment for intensification of agriculture is not well developed in the country
Most farmers are poor and operate at subsistence level and investment for intensification of agriculture is not well developed in the country. This has created a vicious circle of low productivity land degradation reduces the production potential of the land and this, in return makes it difficult for farmers to produce enough and Land degradation in the form of soil erosion, sedimentation, depletion of nutrients deforestation and over grazing is one of the basic problem facing farmers in the Ethiopia high land and this limits their ability to increase agricultural production and reduce poverty and food insecurity
Age of the Soil and Water Conservation Measures The study found that age distribution, economic status, education of farmers have significantly influence the idea of moisture content, conservation measures and age of measures

Summary

Introduction

Most farmers are poor and operate at subsistence level and investment for intensification of agriculture is not well developed in the country. This has created a vicious circle of low productivity land degradation reduces the production potential of the land and this, in return makes it difficult for farmers to produce enough and Land degradation in the form of soil erosion, sedimentation, depletion of nutrients deforestation and over grazing is one of the basic problem facing farmers in the Ethiopia high land and this limits their ability to increase agricultural production and reduce poverty and food insecurity. The backbone of the agrarian economy in most developing countries is rain fed agriculture.

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