Effects of integrated use of grass strip and soil bund on soil properties, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil degradation is the major environmental and agricultural production problem in the highlands of Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were to examine farmers' use of grass strip and soil bund to minimize soil degradation, and effects of grass strip and soil bund on basic soil properties. Structured questionnaire survey and field observations were conducted to collect data on farmers' use of grass strips and soil bund to minimize soil erosion, improve soil fertility and crop productivity. Simultaneously, composite soil samples were collected from croplands treated with both grass strip and soil bund, and the adjacent lands treated with soil bund only. The statistical result indicates respondents sex, marital status, educational level, erosion degree, access to conservation information, contact with extension workers, and trainings were significantly (P < 0.05) and positively affect the use of grass strips while livestock and land holding sizes were significantly (P < 0.05) and negatively affect farmers use of grass strip. The interaction of land management practices (grass strip and soil bund) and slope positions was significantly (P < 0.05) affects soil clay fractions and moisture, the highest amounts was observed at lands managed with grass strip situate at lower slope position. Similarly, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and cation exchange capacity were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the combined effects of land management practices and slope positions, highest quantity of these properties were observed lands managed with a grass strip and soil bund in lower slope position. Hence, integrated use of soil bund with grass strip has a meaningful contribution for selected soil property improvement that enhances soil fertility and crop productivity.

Effects of Soil and Water Conservation at Different Landscape Positions on Soil Properties and Farmers’ Perception in Hobicheka Sub-Watershed, Southern Ethiopia

“…More sand material remains in the upper slope positions due to the removal of clay fraction from the upper slope positions and depositing it on the lower slope positions. is was in line with Umer et al [15], who reported that at the upper slope position, the soil bund managed with grass strips had better clay than the soil bund alone. Soil bunds stabilized with grass contribute a higher proportion of clay particles than the bund alone [37] and fine materials are selectively removed from the upper slope and deposited on the lower slope [38].…”

“…e soil bund with desho grass may reduce the probability of evaporation by increasing surface cover, and down movement of soil nutrients along the slope positions resulted in a high deposition of soil materials in the lower slopes which contribute the greatest amount of soil moisture content recorded under soil bund with desho grass of the lower slope. e root systems of the desho grass conserve soil moisture through minimizing erosion, evaporation, surface runoff, and modifying soil microenvironment [15,21], and variations in topography conservation measures and soil attributes affect the distribution of soil moisture content. 3, the mean value of soil pH (p ≤ 0.05) was significantly different between both SWC measures (soil bund with desho grass and soil bund only).…”

“…Soil conservation measures can change the physical conditions of the soil such as soil organic matter content, soil structure, water holding capacity, soil bulk density, soil porosity, soil pH, and its workability [11,12], and the emphasis of soil conservation measures in Ethiopia should be shifted away from the construction of bunds and toward the use of vegetative and agronomic measures that are the most effective measure in erosion control. e main challenges of soil and water conservation practices in Ethiopia include an emphasis on physical measures (soil bunds, Fanya-juu, and so on), implementing uniform technologies for all agro-ecologies, a failure to integrate physical measures with biological practices, a topdown extension approach, and a lack of attention to indigenous knowledge [13][14][15]. Because of the issues presented, soil and water conservation initiatives in Ethiopia, particularly the Hobicheka sub-watershed, have been less successful.…”

A taxonomic revision of Cenchrus L. (Poaceae) in Thailand, with lectotypification of Pennisetum macrostachyum Benth.

“…This species has been used for improving pasture quality, in soil remediation and erosion control ( Asmare et al 2016 ; Umer et al 2019 ; Kumar and Fulekar 2022 ). It was introduced to Thailand from India for forage.…”

Effect of Soil Management Practices on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties: A Case of Wera Sub-Watershed, Southern Ethiopia

“…e main challenges of soil management practices in Ethiopia include an emphasis on physical measures (soil bunds, Fanya-juu, and so on), implementing uniform technologies for all agro-ecologies, a failure to integrate physical measures with biological practices, a top-down extension approach, and a lack of attention to indigenous knowledge [13,14]. Because of the issues presented, soil management initiatives in Ethiopia, particularly the Wera sub-watershed, have been less successful.…”