Assesment Ofsoil Degradationalong The Slope Gradient In The Cultivated Fields In The Case Of Ejersa Lafo District, West Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil degradation is one of the great issues in highland parts of Ethiopia which needs efforts to reduce it. The Objective of the study was to assess farmers‘ perception on soil degradation assessment along slope gradient in cultivated fields and to assess the soil degradation status along the slope gradient of the cultivated land by taking some important soil chemical and physical parameters. The study was conducted to assess the soil degradation status of the cultivated land along the slope gradient and farmers perception on the causes extent and consequences of soil degradation in Ejersa Lafo District. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of soil degradation along the slope gradient in the cultivated fields. For laboratory soil analysis, 3 randomly selected voluntary farmers‘ farm plots. Soil samples have been collected (from three holes (0-20cm)on each farm plots (3*3), 9 times and the selected physicochemical properties of the soil analyzed through laboratory.The analysis of variance (ANOVA) results showed that the particle size distribution o f the soil in the study area was significantly affected by Land use and slope gradient (P≤0.01). Accordingly, the highest percentage of sand content (39.94%) was observed under the cultivated land and the lowest (31.95%) in study area. The percentage of the silt fractions was 20, 16, and 10.67% of upper, middle and lower slope respectively.The clay content of Soil 40.05, 64.05 and 57.39% in upper, middle and lower slope of the land respectively. On the other hands, BD, pH, OM, SMC,TN, CEC and EC analyzed. The descriptive data were analyzed through mean, frequency, percentage and finally put in table and charts. For laboratory soil fertility analysis, the data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOV) using General Liner Model (GLM) procedures in SPSS, paired samples- t test done to check whether the difference in soil chemical properties under soil bund and control. The significance might be affected by the treatments and separated using one way ANOVA at 5% level of significance.