A critical analysis of soil (and water) conservation practices in the Ethiopian Highlands: Implications for future research and modeling

Fenta, Habtamu M.; Aynalem, Dessalew W.; Malmquist, Louise; Haileslassie, Amare; Tilahun, Seifu A.; Barron, Jennie; Adem, Anwar A.; Adimassu, Zenebe; Zimale, Fasikaw A.; Steenhuis, Tammo S.

doi:10.1016/j.catena.2023.107539

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 156 publications

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“…However, there are concerns about the potential adverse effects resulting from efforts to increase infiltration rates on steep slopes without simultaneously addressing the consequences of saturation excess overland flow development in lower-lying foot-slope positions [52]. Inappropriate land management interventions, especially in Vertisol areas, have been shown to dramatically increase gully erosion [53,54]. This research also supports previous claims that more emphasis should be placed on understanding the variability of soil properties with soil depth, and the influence this has on catchment hydrology [55].…”

Section: Implication For the Hydrologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil-Forming Factors of High-Elevation Mountains along the East African Rift Valley: The Case of the Mount Guna Volcano, Ethiopia

Sisay,

Tsegaye,

Tolossa

et al. 2024

Soil Systems

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The soils of the high-elevation mountains along the East African Rift Valley are poorly understood. Assessing the potential of soils for agriculture, climate change mitigation, and environmental functioning requires insight into how they relate to the factors influencing soil formation. Between 3000 and 4120 m a.s.l., 85 soil profiles of Mount Guna were described and sampled. Standard physicochemical analyses were done on all pedons. Additionally, X-ray diffraction, Alox and Feox content, and P fixation were performed on six selected profiles. Soils on Mount Guna included Andosols, Phaeozems, Leptosols, Regosols, Cambisols, Luvisols, and Vertisols. With increasing elevation, clay content, bulk density, and pH decreased while the C:N ratio remained constant. In contrast, sand, silt, silt-to-clay ratio, SOC, Ntotal, and SOCS increased. With a factor analysis, the soil-forming factors’ elevation/climate could be disentangled from the factor’s parent material as these affect topsoil and subsoil differently. In the ordination based on climate/elevation and parent material, Andosols and Vertisols stood out while other Reference Soil Groups (RSG) showed indistinct patterns. Soil erosion appeared as an additional soil-forming factor not accounted for by the factor analysis. The distribution of the RSG was significantly associated with elevation belts (p < 0.001), lithology (p < 0.001), and landcover (p < 0.003). On the summital ridge, the Andosols were crucial for groundwater storage due to high precipitation. Shallow and stony soils in the mid-elevation belt contributed to runoff generation. Average soil carbon stock ranged from 8.1 to 11 kg C m−2 in the topsoil and from 29.2 to 31.9 kg C m−2 in the upper meter, emphasizing the global importance of high-elevation areas for carbon sequestration.

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