Soil Properties and Crop Yields along the Terraces and Toposequece of Anjeni Watershed, Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Amare, Tadele; Terefe, Aemro; Selassie, Yihenew G.; Yitaferu, Birru; Wolfgramm, Bettina; Hurni, Hans

doi:10.5539/jas.v5n2p134

Cited by 73 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…This could be due to low soil organic carbon and high soil compaction by livestock grazing in non-conserved open communal grazing lands. The results of other studies also clearly showed the important role of organic matter for rehabilitating degraded soils by improving other soil properties [51,52]. The BD decreased 1.28-1.26 g cm −3 due to terrace Table 5 Effect of slope position on SOC concentration, SOC stock, and soil bulk density (Mean ± SEM)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

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Exclosures backed up with community-based soil and water conservation practices increased soil organic carbon stock and microbial biomass carbon distribution, in the northern highlands of Ethiopia

Welemariam

Kebede

Bedadi

et al. 2018

Chem. Biol. Technol. Agric.

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Background: Land degradation is a treat for natural resources in Tigray high lands of northern Ethiopia, where 30-50 percent of the soil productive capacity has been lost in the past 500 years. Restoration and management of degraded lands improve soil health through enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) stock and microbial biomass carbon (MBC). The knowledge on SOC and MBC concentration and distribution is essential to refine soil management, thereby restoring the ecosystem. This paper quantified the effect of decades old community-based soil and water conservation (SWC) measures, mainly stone terraces, exclosure with and without stone terraces, and non-conserved communal grazing lands on the distribution of MBC and SOC stock.Methods: Soil sample collection was carried out using systematic sampling design. Transects parallel to each other and to the slope of the landscape were established. In each transect, three landscape positions (i.e., upper, middle, and foot slope) were formed. Composite soil samples were taken from four corners and center of 10 m × 10 m plot of each slope positions under the different SWC measures. Analysis of variance was used to determine the difference in SOC and MBC using SAS 9.2. Results:Total soil organic carbon concentration was significantly higher in exclosures as compared to terraces and non-conserved grazing lands. The highest mean value of SOC stock (29 Mg C ha ) was recorded in non-conserved communal grazing lands. Exclosures with terraces improved SOC stock by 64%, followed by exclosures without terraces by 37%, while terraces improved the SOC stock by 25% compared to non-conserved open communal grazing lands in the last 20 years. The upper (0-15 cm) soil depth had significantly (P < 0.05) higher (24 Mg C ha ). Microbial biomass carbon was the highest (640 mg kg −1 soil) in exclosures without terraces, followed by exclosures with terraces, (570 mg kg −1 soil), terraces (440 mg kg −1 soil), and non-conserved communal grazing lands (370 mg kg −1 soil). Conclusion:Exclosures supported with terraces improved and restored the SOC stock and microbial biomass carbon of degraded free grazing lands in the highlands.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…Similarly, Mekuria and Veldkamp [48] in northern highlands of Ethiopia and Amare et al [51] in Anjeni Watershed in central highlands of Ethiopia found higher SOC in lower and depositional zone than upper and loss zones.…”

Section: Swc Measures Mbc (Mg Kgmentioning

confidence: 74%

Exclosures backed up with community-based soil and water conservation practices increased soil organic carbon stock and microbial biomass carbon distribution, in the northern highlands of Ethiopia

Welemariam

Kebede

Bedadi

et al. 2018

Chem. Biol. Technol. Agric.

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“…Terraces decreased surface erosion and improved soil conditions [4]. Soil quality was improved after installation terraces [9,10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of community-based soil and water conservation practices on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi types, spore densities, root colonization, and soil nutrients in the northern highlands of Ethiopia

Welemariam

Kebede

Bedadi

et al. 2018

Chem. Biol. Technol. Agric.

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Background: Soil and water conservation measures (SWC) have a great practical significance to the restoration of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AMF). The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of decades long community-based soil and water conservation practices on arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi spore density, woody plant root colonization, and soil nutrients. Methods:The SWC measures considered were stone terraces, exclosures + stone terraces, exclosures alone, and adjacent non-conserved open communal grazing lands. Soil and root samples were collected from the rhizosphere of matured woody plant species using systematic sampling from 10 m × 10 m plot based on slope positions. Spores were isolated using wet sieving and decanting method, while AMF fungal root colonization was done using the gridline intersection method. Results:The study revealed that five major genera of AMF, including Glomus, Acaulospora, Gigaspora, Scutellospora, and Entrophospora were identified. Glomus was found to be the most abundant genera, which accounted for (52%) of the total spore density, followed by Acaulospora (18%). Besides, exclosures had the highest total spore density (60%) being followed by stone terraces (23%), whereas the lowest (17%) spore density was recorded in the open communal grazing lands. Total root colonization among the treatments ranged from 48.6% in the open communal grazing lands to 68.7% in the exclosure with terraces. Hyphal colonization was higher than arbuscular and vesicular colonization. The total colonization was in the order of exclosure with terraces > exclosure alone > terraces > non-conserved communal grazing lands. Conclusions:Rehabilitating the communal grazing lands with terraces and exclosure is an important approach for restoring AMF and regenerating the degraded lands.

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“…Therefore, efforts towards integrated soil fertility management practices may help to improve crop productivity that may lead to sustainable agriculture. For example long term investment on soil and water conservation (SWC) in the highlands of Ethiopia improved soil fertility (Adgo et al, 2013;Alemu et al, 2013;Amare et al, 2013). Ethiopian farmers also use various cultural soil fertility improvement practices such as inter cropping, crop rotation, fallowing and farmyard manure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of ‘‘Guie’’ on Soil Organic Carbon and Other Soil Properties: A Traditional Soil Fertility Management Practice in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Amare¹,

Yitaferu²,

Hurni³

2013

JAS

Self Cite

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A traditional soil fertility management practice through soil burning, locally called ''guie'' is practiced in the central highlands of Ethiopia. The study was conducted to investigate the effect of ''guie'' on physico-chemical properties of the soil and its long term impact on soil organic carbon (SOC). Two sets of soil samples were collected from the field. The first set was from central part of the heaps of the burnt soil. The second set was from adjacent cultivated fields used with and without ''guie'' for many years. Collected samples were analysed following standard laboratory procedures. Complete soil burning showed a significant decrease in SOC, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable calcium, magnesium, sodium, available iron and clay while it significantly increased available phosphorus, manganese and copper, exchangeable potassium and sand. A significant difference (p<0.001) in SOC was also obtained for the second sample set. The highest (7.14%) and the smallest (1.54%) mean SOC was obtained from cultivated land where ''guie'' integrated with fallowing and without ''guie'' and fallowing, respectively. This indicates that fallowing could help the soil to accumulate SOC and if it coupled with the partial soil burning practice, accumulation of stable organic carbon in the soil could be enhanced. Intensive cultivation exposes the soil for erosion accompanied by active mineralization of the organic matter. Thus, results of the present study have an implication that fallowing integrated with ''guie'' is more sustainable to reserve OC in the soil system than the continuous cultivation.

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Soil Properties and Crop Yields along the Terraces and Toposequece of Anjeni Watershed, Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Cited by 73 publications

References 24 publications

Exclosures backed up with community-based soil and water conservation practices increased soil organic carbon stock and microbial biomass carbon distribution, in the northern highlands of Ethiopia

Exclosures backed up with community-based soil and water conservation practices increased soil organic carbon stock and microbial biomass carbon distribution, in the northern highlands of Ethiopia

Effect of community-based soil and water conservation practices on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi types, spore densities, root colonization, and soil nutrients in the northern highlands of Ethiopia

Effects of ‘‘Guie’’ on Soil Organic Carbon and Other Soil Properties: A Traditional Soil Fertility Management Practice in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

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