Evaluation of Soil and Water Conservation Practice on Soil phsico-chemical properties

Academic Paper from the year 2019 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Geology, Mineralogy, Soil Science, grade: A, Wollega University, course: Soil physical properties, language: English, abstract: Land degradation is a pervasive problem that negatively influences agricultural productivity in Ethiopia as it cause depletion of soil organic matter. Therefore, implementation of soil and water conservation is believed to mitigate the impacts of soil erosion. An on-farm study was conducted in Arjo Gudetu kebele, Eastern Wollega of Oromia with the objective of evaluating soil and water conservation practices on soil physio chemical properties and productivity of crop lands. The study involves one factor: level soil bund (with and without) was a main plot. The treatment (Treatment1=with bund splited in to 12 and Treatment2 = without splited in to 10) with randomized complete block design. Soil sample were collected at 0-50cm and 30-60cm soil depth and analyzed for selected physical and chemical properties. Yield and yield components of the crops were determined using a quadrant sampling technique 1*1m. The data was analyzed using general linear model procedures and to separate difference between mean LSD (5%) was used. On maize (Zea Mays L.) field, level soil bund increased the mean value of soil moisture contents at 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm soil depth, the grain yield increased by 26% and biomass increased by 22%. On sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) field the mean value of soil moisture content, days to flowering, maturity dates significantly affected and biomass was increased by 8.25%.