Abstract:
Soil erosion and land degradation as a result of various causes have been
deteriorating agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. To regulate the problems,
numerous integrated practices of soil and water conservation have been implemented
in the country. This study was conducted to assess the effects of soil and water
conservation practices and slope gradients on selected physicochemical properties of
soil at Ejersa watershed, Tokke Kutaye district, Ethiopia. The Ejersa watershed was
classified into treated and un-treated lands. Both the treated and un-treated lands
were divided into three slope classes namely higher (>20%), medium (10-20%) and
lower (<10%). A total of 18 composite soil samples were collected from the treated
and un-treated lands. The selected soil physical and chemical properties were
analyzed in the laboratory by using standard procedures. The data were analyzed by
using statistical software. Highly significant (P<0.01) difference was observed among
the slope gradients on soil textural classes. The values of electrical conductivity, soil
moisture, total nitrogen and available phosphorus were highly significantly (P<0.01)
different between the treated and un-treated lands as well as among the slope
gradients. The values of soil bulk density were highly significantly (p<0.01) different
between treated and un-treated lands. The pH of soil showed highly significant
(P<0.01) variation between treated and un-treated lands and exhibited significant
(P<0.05) difference among the slope classes. Soil organic carbon and soil organic
matter revealed significant (P<0.05) difference between treated and un-treated lands.
The values of cation exchange capacity of soil showed significant (P<0.05) difference
between treated and un-treated lands as well as among the slope gradients. Maximum
values of many of the selected soil physicochemical properties except bulk density
were observed on the conserved land and lower slopes due to decreasing rate of
erosion and their deposition effects. Therefore, soil and water conservation practices
should widely and sustainability be implemented by the community, government and
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non-government organizations to improve fertility of soil. Additional study is required
to see the effects of soil conservation practices on yield of crops grown because this
study did not identify them. Extra work is needed to evaluate life of the users of the
soil and water conservation practices.
