Agricultural Science Digest - A Research Journal
SCOPUS
  • Year: 2023
  • Volume: 43
  • Issue: 3

Assessment of soil and water conservation practices and its implication on soil physicochemical properties, at West Guji Zone, Gelana Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

  • Author:
  • Haile Tamiru1,*, Bayisa Bussa2, Tadele Geneti3
  • Total Page Count: 5
  • Page Number: 346 to 350

1Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agricultural Science, Bule Hora University, Ethiopia

2Department of Natural Resources Management, College of Agricultural Sciences, Bule Hora University, Ethiopia

3Department of Plant Science, College of Agricultural Science, Bule Hora University, Ethiopia

*Corresponding Author: Haile Tamiru, Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agricultural Science, Bule Hora University, Ethiopia, Email: hailetamiru14@gmail.com

Online published on 11 July, 2023.

Abstract

Land degradation is one of the major challenges in developing nations like Ethiopia. The study was conducted on both conserved and non-conserved land. A total of 18 composite soil samples were collected from the top 0–20 cm soil depths to analyze the selected physical and chemical properties of soil.

For data analysis one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used. From our observation soil and water conservation practice which is found in our study area was soil cut-off drains, waterways, bunds and bench terrace and also traditionally they use horizontal plough, land rotation, crop rotation and mulching soil management.

The results revealed that soil chemical and physical properties: soil organic matter, available phosphorous, soil pH, cation exchange capacity, bulk density and soil moisture shows significant difference between conserved and non-conserved lands. However soil texture and total nitrogen shows no significant difference. The non-conserved land had low organic matter, Cation exchange capacity, total nitrogen, available phosphorous, soil moisture and with highest bulk density. Further research is recommended to study the magnitude of the effects and a better understanding of sustainable soil and water conservation practices.

Keywords

Conserved land, Soil and water conservation practices, Soil physico-chemical properties, Un-conserved land