Effects of Soil Bund and Stone-Faced Soil Bund on Soil Physicochemical Properties and Crop Yield Under Rain-Fed Conditions of Northwest Ethiopia

Research-based evidence on the effects of soil and water conservation practices (SWCPs) on soil physicochemical properties and crop yield is vital either to adopt the practices or design alternative land management strategies. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of about 10-year-old soil bund (SB) and stone-faced soil bund (SFSB) structures on selected soil physicochemical properties, slope gradient, barley grain yield, and yield components in the Lole watershed, in the northwest highlands of Ethiopia. The experiment consisted of three treatments: (i) fields treated with SB, (ii) fields treated with SFSB, and (iii) fields without conservation practices (control) with three replications at three slope classes. A total of 27 composite soil samples from 0 to 20 cm depth and barley grain yield samples from 27 locations were collected. The soil samples were analyzed for bulk density, soil texture, porosity, soil reaction, cation exchange capacity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorous, and potassium. Barley grain yield was analyzed using different agronomic parameters. The result indicated that SB and SFSB positively influenced the physicochemical properties of soils and barley grain yield. The interslope gradient between the successive SBs and SFSBs was reducing. Moreover, the untreated fields showed significantly lower barley grain yield, plant height, and straw biomass. Hence, SB and SFSB practices were found to be effective in changing slope gradient, improving soil fertility, and increasing crop yield. Therefore, this finding is vital to create awareness and convince farmers to construct SWCPs on their farmlands for sustainable land management.

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MULCH APPLICATION ON BARLEY GRAIN YIELD AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL IN NEGELE ARSI DISTRICT, CENTRAL, ETHIOPIA

EPRA International Journal of Research & Development (IJRD) ◽

10.36713/epra6311 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 22-34

Author(s):

Fekadu Dule ◽

Zebene Asfew

Keyword(s):

Physicochemical Properties ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Block Design ◽

Barley Grain ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Central Ethiopia ◽

Treatment Type ◽

Conventional Farm ◽

Properties Of Soil

There is uncertainty about the type of mulch to use to reduce soil nutrient depletion and water loss and at the same time enhance crop yield that will also be influenced by the materials available locally for use and their management. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of mulch application on barley grain yield and physicochemical properties of soil in Negele Arsi district, Central, Ethiopia. Experimental plots were laid on farmers fields’ in randomized complete block design by taking farmers field as a replication. Five farms of each with a currently mulched plot, a year ago mulched plot with perennial mulch and conventional fields as control (15plots of 10m in width and 20m in length in general) were selected for the establishment of the experiment. Subplots of 1mx1m at each corner and a center of each main plot were used for taking barley grain yield and soil data. A total of 30 soil samples collected from two depth layers: 0–20 and 20–40cm were air-dried and passed through a 2 mm sieve to remove roots, and large organic residues. Soil organic carbon concentration in the soil samples was determined by Walkley and Black method. The soil data were subjected to a two-way ANOVA analysis using the general linear model Procedures of SAS. The pairwise comparison method was also used to assess the mean difference of the treatment types and depth levels depending on soil properties. The average barley grain yield obtained from plots mulched with perennial mulch in 2018 (1.52±0.209kg) was higher than plots mulched in 2017 (1.48±0.135kg) and conventional farmland plots (1.44±.0962kg). The overall mean SOC stock was found to be higher under plots mulched in 2018(49.8291±17.9301) and lower in soils under conventional farm plots (39.1182±13.5183) than another treatment type. The highest overall mean of soil carbon stock under plots mulched in 2018 indicates that perennial mulch might be the remedy for replenishing the declining soil fertility on conventional farmlands and to increase barley grain yield on a sustainable basis. KEYWORDS: conventional farm, grain yield, perennial mulch, soil fertility

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Effects of Selected Soil and Water Conservation Structures on Soil Physiochemical Properties, Lemo Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

10.20944/preprints202112.0114.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mulatu Chernet Madolo ◽

Yohannes Horamo More ◽

Melese Gogo Masamo

Keyword(s):

Physicochemical Properties ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Soil Structure ◽

Well Being ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Control Plot ◽

Southern Ethiopia ◽

Soil Physicochemical Properties ◽

Dispersion Ratio

Soil erosion is now almost universally recognized as a serious threat to man's well-being, if not his very existence. As a result, we assessed the soil physicochemical properties of two possible levels of soil bund and fanya juu. RCBD with three replications was used to collect soil samples from each soil conservation structure. Five composite soil samples were collected from each soil structure based on slop (0-30cm). Soil physicochemical properties such as erosion index, dispersion ratio, and erodibility proportionality ratio were investigated. The effect of different soil structure levels revealed that soil properties differed significantly (P≤0.05) for all parameters studied. The control plots had significantly higher (P≤0.05) dispersion ratio, erosion indexes, and erodibility proportionality than the soils treated by the level bund and level Fanya juu structures. On the control plot, this result showed lower clay content and higher sand content. The level of soil bund and fanya juu had a significant (P≤0.05) effect on soil OC, CEC, OM, and TN, as well as available phosphorous and potassium. As a result, all related soil properties show a positive relative change when the level of soil bund and fanya juu is compared to the control plot. Aside from this result, the dynamic natures of the sciences compel us to conduct additional research based on the agro-ecological zones of the study area.

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Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Measures on Selected Soil Physicochemical Properties: The Case of Ejersa Lafo District, Central Highlands of Ethiopia.

10.21203/rs.3.rs-81008/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Siraj Mammo ◽

Adugna Tolesa ◽

Eve Bohnett

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Physicochemical Properties ◽

Watershed Management ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Soil And Water Conservation ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Soil Physicochemical Properties ◽

Management Intervention ◽

Soil And Water

Abstract BackgroundLand degradation in the form of soil erosion and fertility depletion is the major environmental problem in Ethiopia. However to curb this problem, Soil and Water conservation (SWC) measures are commonly practiced in many rural parts of Ethiopia. This study was conducted to assess the effects of SWC measures on selected soil quality indicators in Ejersa Lafo District. For this study two peasant associations (kebeles) were selected from the district based on the severity of soil erosion and information on SWC practices. A total of 12 composite soil samples from soil 0 to 20cm depth from two sub watersheds with SWC and without SWC practices at Jamjam laga batu and Koriso Odo guba from three landscape positions (upper slope, middle slope, and bottom) were collected. All the soil samples were analyzed following the standard and recommended procedures in Ambo University chemistry laboratory and subjected to ANOVA using the SPSS computer program. ResultMost of the selected soil physicochemical properties were affected by watershed management intervention. Comparing the two farmlands, the highest bulky density of 1.37gcm-3 was observed from unconserved farmland. The results of the study also showed higher values of Soil electrical conductivity (EC), Total nitrogen (TN), Cation exchange capacity (CEC), Soil Organic matter (SOM), Organic Carbon, Available Phosphorus (Av. P) and Available Potassium (Av. K) in conserved land and those all significantly varied between farm plots. On the other hand, Sandy, pH, SOM, TN, Av. P and Av. K values were significantly affected (p<0.05) by slope and all increased from upper (>30%), middle (15-30%) and lower (8-15%). ConclusionThe contribution of watershed management intervention to improve soil physicochemical properties is significant in the study area as it improved some of the selected soil physicochemical properties of soil. Furthermore, efforts are required to enhance community adoption towards soil and water conservation. Additionally, further research has to be carried out on socio-economic aspects and impacts of the intervention on crop productivity for better understanding of the sustainable use of the land and to make a comprehensive conclusion.

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Effects of soil and water conservation practices on soil physicochemical properties in Gumara watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

Ecological Processes ◽

10.1186/s13717-019-0188-2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mengie Belayneh ◽

Teshome Yirgu ◽

Dereje Tsegaye

Keyword(s):

Physicochemical Properties ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Soil And Water Conservation ◽

Conservation Practices ◽

Soil Physicochemical Properties ◽

Nile Basin ◽

Blue Nile ◽

Blue Nile Basin ◽

Gumara Watershed ◽

Soil And Water

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Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Practices in Selected Soil Physicochemical Properties: The Case of Ezha District, Southern Ethiopia

10.7176/jbah/9-7-02 ◽

2019 ◽

Keyword(s):

Physicochemical Properties ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Soil And Water Conservation ◽

Southern Ethiopia ◽

Conservation Practices ◽

Soil Physicochemical Properties ◽

Soil And Water

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Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Structures on Selected Soil Physicochemical Properties: The Case of Ejersa Lafo District, Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Applied and Environmental Soil Science ◽

10.1155/2021/9910237 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Adugna Tolesa ◽

Siraj Mammo ◽

Eve Bohnett

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Physicochemical Properties ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Block Design ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Soil And Water Conservation ◽

Soil Physicochemical Properties ◽

Total N ◽

Soil And Water

Land degradation in the form of soil erosion and fertility depletion is the major environmental problem in Ethiopia. However, to curb this problem, soil and water conservation (SWC) structures are commonly practiced in many rural parts of Ethiopia. This study was conducted to assess the effects of SWC structures on selected soil physicochemical properties in Ejersa Lafo district. For this study, two kebeles (peasant associations) were selected purposively from the district based on the severity of soil erosion and information on SWC practices. The research design employed in this study was systematic, randomized, complete block design. A total of 12 composite soil samples were collected from the depth of 0 to 20 cm at two subwatersheds, namely, Jamjam laga batu and Koriso Odo guba with SWC and without SWC structures at three landscape positions. All the soil samples were analyzed following the standard and recommended procedures. The effect of independent variables (SWC practices and landscape positions) on the dependent variables (soil properties) was statistically tested using the SPSS computer program 21. In this study, most of the selected soil physicochemical properties were affected by watershed management intervention (SWC) structures. Soil moisture content (SMC), clay, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total N (TN), available (AP), available K (AK), and organic carbon (OC) were higher in the subwatershed treated with SWC structures (conserved), whereas bulk density, silt, and sand were higher in the subwatershed without SWC structures (nonconserved). Most of the selected soil chemical properties were significantly varied ( p < 0.05 ) between conserved and nonconserved farm land except EC. All the selected soil physicochemical properties did not show any significant variation ( p < 0.05 ) at landscape positions except sandy soil. The physicochemical soil properties of selected parameters were in good conditions in the conserved areas with higher N and OM and lower BD, indicating fertility of the soil compared with the nonconserved land. The implementation of SWC structures improved some of the physicochemical properties of soil, such as SMC, clay particle, pH, EC, total N, AP, AK, and OC in the study area. Furthermore, efforts are required to enhance community adoption towards soil and water conservation. Additionally, further research has to be carried out on socioeconomic aspects and impacts of the intervention on crop productivity for better understanding of the sustainable use of the land.

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