Effect of Soil and Water Conservation Measures on Selected Soil Physicochemical Properties and Sorghum Yield at Babile District, East Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia

Climate change, Soil degradation, drought, and moisture stress were the main problems for annual crop production and soil productivity in the eastern part of Ethiopia. Using moisture, physical soil, and water conservation measures improves soil water retention capacity and crop production. The study was done to evaluate the effect of SWC measures on selected soil physicochemical properties and Sorghum yield in the Lowland area of Babile district, East Harrarghe Zone, Ethiopia. The soil pH in the experimental area varied from 7.89 to 8.36, with an average value of 8.01, which is moderately alkaline. This is not a severe problem for plant growth, and better biomass and yield of sorghum were gained from tied ridges across the structures. Whereas relatively low yields were harvested from the control with no structure, which indicates a significant difference between the measures. However, the height of the plant was non-significant. Soil and water conservation with Tied ridge and level soil bund significantly improved the soil qualities (soil pH, K+, available P, SOC, TN, clay, and CEC) compared to Contour furrow and control, improving the soil properties and thereby improving sorghum yield. Tied ridge and level soil bund were recommended for the study area and the same agro ecology for sorghum production and soil moisture conservation. There, the two recommended soil and water conservation practices should be demonstrated and promoted. Further research should be done on the integration of these recommended physical soil and water conservation and biological measures with annual crop production for the study area and the same agrology. 

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Land degradation is a problem in the Ethiopian highlands, which have a good climate, agro ecology, and high potential soil fertility, and provide a living for nearly 87% of the people [1,2]. The removal of top fertile soil as a result of erosive rainfall and subsequent runoff is known as runoff-led soil erosion by rainfall [3]. As a result, it has emerged as the key challenge for global agricultural sustainability [4], as well as for the Ethiopian highlands. According to reports, the country’s agricultural practices are distinguished by backward production technology, small, fragmented land sizes, and insufficient land management approaches. Natural vegetation clearing, excessive cultivation, and crop waste collection are the factors that have contributed to the greatest decrease in soil organic carbon concentration [5].

Population pressure, marginal land farming, and overgrazing can all contribute to increased soil nutrient depletion, decreased agricultural production, and ultimately economic issues for the nation [6]. Due to variances in management practices and biophysical conditions, soil loss ranges from 37 to 246 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ [7] and [8]. In addition to having a significant impact on soil removal, gully erosion causes significant damage to arable land management [9]. Have already been harmed and are no longer usable. This could result in a scarcity of farmland, particularly in the high-density agricultural [1]. However, improving soil physicochemical properties and ensuring rural livelihoods through SWC measures has recently emerged as one of the top policy priorities. Because a substantial portion of the population of the area is employed in agriculture, Ethiopia must give the greatest importance to managing its soil and water resources. However, our current understanding of soil fertility management cannot support the vast majority of farmers who depend on the soil for their livelihood, either directly or indirectly.

To stop soil erosion, farmers are currently using SWC conservation strategies throughout the country. However, because the extent of the intervention, the amount of manpower required, and the possible rewards vary by place, so does the execution [9,10]. The achievement of this research is to improve soil quality and productivity, to reduce erosion, to increase water infiltration and storage, improve air and water quality, etc. Several studies on SWC have been conducted throughout the country [11], but most of them have been conducted in the northern and eastern parts of the country, where rainfall is scarce. For the last two to 15 years, different SWC measures have been implemented through mass community mobilization led by the government in eastern Hararghe; however, the problem of soil erosion remains the greatest challenge, and the effectiveness of the SWC efforts implemented has not been adequately evaluated in the area.

Such relevant research is important because it can be used to improve land management practices in the watershed and other comparable areas of Hararghe. Therefore, assessing the effects of SWC measuring practices by taking into account various commonly used structures is critical to learning lessons for better future conservation planning. Specifically, this study focuses on assessing the impact of SWC measures on the physicochemical properties of the soil and investigating the effects of the topographic position and conservation structures on the efficacy of SWC measures in the Babile district. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effect of SWC measures on selected soil physicochemical properties and Sorghum yield at the study area.

Materials and methods

Description of the study area

Erer station is located in Babile district, Oromia National Regional State, East Hararghe (Figure 1). It is geographically found at the latitude of 9°10’12.85”N north and longitude of 42°15’13.29”E east, in lowland areas and at an altitude of 1312 meters above sea level. The annual maximum and minimum temperatures are 26 and 20°C, respectively, and the mean annual temperature was 24°C. Mean annual rainfall of the study area in 2022 and 2023 was 795.85mm.

Figure 1: Map of the study area.

Experimental design and treatments

The experimental design was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The improved and early-maturing Melkam sorghum variety was used. The area of 30 *16 was used, and the distances between the plot and block were 1m and 2m, respectively. The experiment consisted of five treatments, four types of moisture conservation structures, and a control. The treatments were Broad bed, Level soil bund, Tied ridge, and Contour furrow. Those physical soil and water conservation structures were constructed based on the manual and Ethiopia soil and water conservation guideline, with some modification depend on the agro ecology, soil type, and topography [12].

Data collection and soil data analysis

Soil samples were collected before and after the implementation of the interventions in a zigzag movement from each plot. A total of 15 soil samples were taken at a depth of 0-30cm and composited across the interventions. The soil’s physical and chemical properties were analyzed based on standard methods. Soil organic carbon was determined by the potassium dichromate wet combustion procedure. Soil moisture content was also recorded at planting time, as well as at different growth stages of sorghum. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) was analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of SWC measures on improving soil properties. The p^H of the soil was measured in water suspension in a 1: 2.5 (soil: liquid ratio). TN content was determined by the wet oxidation procedure of the kjeldal method, and the available P content was determined by the 0.5 M sodium bicarbonate extraction procedures Olsen method. A flame photometer was used for the determination of K+. And Sorghum plant height, biomass, and grain yield were collected, recorded, and analyzed.

The Author would like to thank Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI) for providing research funds. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Fedis Agricultural Research Center and Natural Resource Research Process for their support.

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