Indigenous Soil Conservation Research Articles

Perceptions and practices of indigenous soil conservation measures in beas valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

Perceptions and practices of indigenous soil conservation measures in beas valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

Effectiveness OF Mulching Under Miraba in Controlling Soil Erosion, Fertility Restoration and Crop Yield in the Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

AbstractSoil erosion is a major threat to food security in rural areas of Africa. Field experiments were conducted from 2011 to 2014 in Majulai and Migambo villages with contrasting climatic conditions in Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. The aim was to investigate the effectiveness of mulching in reducing soil erosion and restoring soil fertility for productivity of maize (Zea mays) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) under miraba, a unique indigenous soil conservation measure in the area. Soil loss was significantly higher (p < 0·05) under miraba sole than under miraba with mulching, for example, 35 versus 20 and 13 versus 8 Mg ha−1 y−1 for Majulai and Migambo villages, respectively, in 2012. Soil fertility status was significantly higher (p < 0·05) under miraba with Tughutu mulching than under miraba sole, for example, 0·35 versus 0·25% total N, 37 versus 22 mg kg−1 P and 0·6 versus 0·2 cmol(+) kg−1 K for the Majulai village; and 0·46 versus 0·38 total N, 17·2 versus 10·2 mg kg−1 P and 0·50 versus 0·2 cmol(+) kg−1 K for the Migambo village. Maize and bean yields (Mg ha−1) were significantly higher (p < 0·05) under miraba with Tughutu mulching than under miraba sole, 2·0 versus 1·3 for maize and 0·9 versus 0·8 for beans in Majulai; and 3·8 versus 2·6 for maize and 1·0 versus 0·8 for beans in the Migambo village in 2012. This implies that Tughutu mulching is more effective in improving crop yield than Tithonia, although both could potentially protect the arable land from degradation caused by water erosion under miraba. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effectiveness of Selected Soil Conservation Practices on Soil Erosion Control and Crop Yields in the Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

Indigenous soil conservation measures such as miraba have been widely used in Usambara Mountains for controlling soil erosion but with little success. On-farm runoff experiments were set from 2011–2014 on Acrisols in Majulai and Migambo villages with contrasting agro-ecological Original Research Article Mwango et al.; JAERI, 2(2): 129-144, 2015; Article no.JAERI.2015.014 130 conditions in the Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. The aim was to investigate the effectiveness of miraba and miraba with various mulching materials in reducing runoff, soil and nutrient losses and improving productivity of maize (Zea mays) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). Results show that mean annual runoff coefficients (mm mm) ranged from 0.72 for cropland with no soil conservation measure (control) to 0.15 for cropland with miraba and Tithonia (Tithonia diversifolia) mulching in Majulai village and respectively from 0.68 to 0.13 in Migambo village. Soil loss was significantly (P = .05) higher under control than under miraba with either Tughutu (Vernonia myriantha) or Tithonia mulching e. g. 184 vs. 20 in Majulai and 124 vs. 8 Mg ha -1 year -1 in Migambo village in 2012. The Pfactors were significantly (P = .05) higher under miraba sole than under miraba with mulching in Majulai village (0.18 vs. 0.11) and in Migambo village (0.10 vs. 0.05).The annual nutrient losses in kg hayr were significantly (P = .05) higher under control than under miraba with mulching 367 vs. 37 total N, 0.8 vs. 0.1 P and 14 vs. 4 K for Majulai village; 474 vs. 26 total N, 0.7 vs. 0.1 P and 20 vs. 1.2 K for Migambo village in 2012. Maize and bean yields were significantly (P = .05) higher under miraba with Tughutu mulching than under control (e.g. 2.0 vs. 0.7 Mg ha for maize in Majulai in 2012). Thus miraba with Tughutu mulching is more effective in improving crop yields than miraba with Tithonia and miraba sole.

Long-term indigenous soil conservation technology in the Chencha area, southern Ethiopia: origin, characteristics, and sustainability.

The purpose of this study is to examine the origin, development, and characteristics of terraces (kella), plus their potentials and determinants for sustainable use in the Chencha-Dorze Belle area of southern Ethiopia. Field surveys were conducted to determine the various parameters of the indigenous terraces and in order to collect samples for radiocarbon dating. To identify farmers' views of the terrace systems, semi-structured interviews and group discussions were also carried out. Terraces were built and used-as radiocarbon dating proves-at least over the last 800 years. The long-term continued usage of the indigenous terraces is the result of social commitments, the structural features of the terraces, and the farmers' responses to the dynamics of social and cultural circumstances. We dubbed that the terraces are a success story of fruitful environmental management over generations. Thus, a strong need is to preserve and develop this important cultural heritage and example of sustainable land use.

State of soil conservation practices in Silti Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

Soil erosion is the major problem of Ethiopian highland areas where an average soil loss of 42tons/ha/year, with rate soil depth loss of more than 2 cm/year, corresponding to 1 to 2 billion US$/year (an amount comparable to the country’s annual budget). The higher soil loss has been estimated at Southern Ethiopia where densely settled on highlands. A vast majority of the population derives its livelihood from forest, livestock herding and agriculture. The economic conditions force the rural poor to exploit the environment for their survival. Keeping the importance, the work was conducted in Silti Woreda, Southern Ethiopia, with the objectives; to identify the current status and trend of soil conservation practices, to assess the socio-cultural, economic, biophysical and institutional/policy/support system constraints for the implementation and maintenance of conservation practices. The study reveals, indigenous soil conservation technologies are considered as effective methods of conservation. But, population poverty and unawareness are major constraints.

A theoretical and empirical model for soil conservation using indigenous knowledge

This paper illuminates the practice of indigenous soil conservation among Mamasani farmers in Fars province in Iran. Bos’s decision making model was used as a conceptual framework for the study. A qualitative paradigm was used as research methodology. Qualitative techniques were: MindMapping, RRA, semi-structured interviews, indepth and focus group interviews. A new decision making model which was rich in subjective views flexibility and high level of interactivity among farmers and researchers was developed.

Indigenous soil conservation methods: Fulo and Bekpong catchments of upper West region, Ghana

Indigenous soil conservation methods: Fulo and Bekpong catchments of upper West region, Ghana

Farmers' knowledge of wind erosion processes and control methods in Niger

Field research on wind erosion processes in Sahelian Africa has revealed that wind-blown particle transport forms a constraint for local crop production systems. This paper describes the results of an on-farm survey on wind-erosion processes and soil conservation practices. Interviews were held with 138 farmers from seven villages in southern Niger. Of the interviewed farmers, 63 per cent consider wind-blown particle transport as damaging to their cropping systems. Nearly all farmers reported to observe differences between fields with respect to wind erosion. Fields that are mainly eroded were said to lose fertility and produce less, whereas deposition of material results in a better fertility and production. These differences occur also on a smaller scale, with erosion and deposition spots in the same field. Most farmers (96 per cent) are familiar with techniques to reduce wind erosion, and 92 per cent applied one or more of these techniques in the field. The indigenous soil conservation techniques are application of manure and mulching with crop residues or tree branches. New techniques are tree planting, natural regeneration of woody vegetation, and application of zai, a method of soil preparation from Burkina Faso, using pits filled with compost for sowing crops. The farmers who have applied these new techniques reported to have less wind-erosion problems in their fields. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

African soil erosion — nature undone and the limitations of technology

AbstractA wide range of mechanical soil conservation techniques commonly used in Africa are reviewed in a politico‐economic framework. Three factors within this framework play a significant role in the adoption of mechanical soil conservation techniques. These are: (a) land considerations, such as land availability and tenure, and farm size; (b) capital and labour constraints; and (c) access to, and functioning of, institutions.Hypotheses which are concerned with the relationships between these factors and the likelihood of farmers adopting soil conservation techniques are introduced. Case studies drawn from Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland and Sierra Leone, as well as from Jamaica, are used to test these hypotheses in relationship to such techniques as terracing, grass strip cultivation, bunding, and contour cultivation. Greater reliance on local knowledge and indigenous soil conservation techniques seems to provide the best solution to the introduction of mechanical soil conservation techniques.