Assessment of community based watershed management practices: emphasis on technical fitness of physical structures and its effect on soil properties in Lemo district, Southern Ethiopia

Bekele, Amanuel; Aticho, Abebayehu; Kissi, Endalkachew

doi:10.1186/s40068-018-0124-y

Cited by 28 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The recommended and scientific standards have not been given due attention. This result was confirmed by Bekele et al (2018) who stated that the spaces between successive graded bunds were somewhat wider than the recommended standards mainly due to lack of technical assistance in bund design and layout. Such conditions more likely increase erosion risk on the cropland due to the large amount of runoff accumulation in bund ditches (Molla and Sisheber 2017).…”

Section: Some Limitations Of the Swc Practices Affecting Its Effectivmentioning

confidence: 55%

Effects of soil and water conservation practices on soil physicochemical properties in Gumara watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

2019

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Background: Soil erosion is among the foremost causes of declining soil resources in Ethiopia, which in turn affect agricultural productivity. To limit this problem, for the last two decades in Gumara watershed, soil and water conservation measures have been practiced through free labor community mass-mobilization. However, their effect on soil fertility has not been evaluated. This study investigated the impact of implemented soil and water conservation measures on fertility improvement in the Gumara watershed. Both composite and core soil samples were taken from upstream, midstream, and downstream adjacent conserved and non-conserved cultivated and grazing plots. Selected soil fertility indicators were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. Results: Soil and water conservation practices have resulted in a statistically significantly higher mean values of total nitrogen, exchangeable Na + and Mg 2+ at p < 0.01, and of soil organic carbon and organic matter at p < 0.05 in the watershed. The clay content, soil reaction, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable K + showed nonsignificant, but higher mean values in conserved plots. Furthermore, the effects of conservation practices on soil properties were found more effective in cultivated land uses as compared to that of grazing land uses. This is because conservation treatments had significant effects on organic carbon, total nitrogen, exchangeable Na + and Mg 2+ in cultivated land uses but only on exchangeable Na + in grazing land uses. The interaction effect of treatments and land uses did not reach a statistically significant result for any of the soil properties considered in this study. Conclusion: Conservation measures have important implications for improving soil fertility in the Gumara watershed. Therefore, proper guidance and follow-up, use of agro-forestry and grass strips, and maintenance are required for the watershed's sustainability and good soil conditions.

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Section: Some Limitations Of the Swc Practices Affecting Its Effectivmentioning

confidence: 55%

Effects of soil and water conservation practices on soil physicochemical properties in Gumara watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

2019

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“…Plot size was also found to have a positive effect on farmers' perception to invest in SWC technologies in northwestern highlands of Ethiopia (Belachew, Mekuria and Nachimuthu 2020; Moges and Taye 2017; Teshome, de Graaff and Kassie 2016), in eastern Ethiopia (Sileshi et al 2019), and in Lemo district, southern Ethiopia (Bekele, Aticho and Kissi 2018). It was also found to exert a positive and signi cant effect on the adoption of soil management practices in southwestern Uganda (Mugonola et al 2013) and in West African Sahel (Kpadonou et al 2017).…”

Section: Factors Affecting Use Of Improved Structural Swc Measuresmentioning

confidence: 94%

Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Structural Soil and Water Conservation Measures in Eastern Ethiopia

Wordofa

Okoyo

Erkalo³

2020

Preprint

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Background: Agriculture remains to be the leading sector that contributes enormously to economic development in Ethiopia. Despite its significant contribution to livelihoods, the sector faces persistent challenges due to depletion of natural resources and soil erosion that resulted in diminishing crop and livestock productivity. In order to curb the effects of land degradation, the Government of Ethiopia has been taking serious measures to expand Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) practices throughout the country. Despite the efforts made, the adoption of new practices by farmers have been generally low. This study was aimed at assessing factors influencing smallholder farmers’ decision on the use of improved structural SWC practices in Haramaya district, eastern Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 farm households and 248 plots. A structured interview schedule was used to collect primary data. Descriptive and inferential statistics and Multinomial Logit (MNL) regression model were used to analyze the data. Results: The key findings showed that a host of socio-demographic, economic and institutional factors significantly affected smallholders’ decision to adopt improved structural SWC. In this study, we found that education, farming experience, plot area, distance of the plot from dwelling unit, number of economically active household members, and extension contact were the significant predictors of using improved SWC structures. Conclusions: Based on our findings, we concluded that improved SWC measures should be scaled up through a concerted effort of extension workers, local administration and other relevant non-state actors. In particular, the extension system should encourage rural communities on sustainable management and use of natural resources. Moreover, the need to create learning opportunities through facilitating appropriate educational and training programs for farmers and focusing on proper management of available economically active household members should be emphasized.

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“…In recent studies, access to extension service was found to have a significant effect on the adoption of SWC practices in different parts of the country: northwest Ethiopian highlands (Belachew et al 2020;Moges and Taye 2017); Wereillu district, northern Ethiopia (Asfaw and Neka 2017); Gibe basin, southwest Ethiopia (Mengistu and Assefa 2019); Lemo district, southern Ethiopia (Bekele et al 2018); and, Gusha Temela watershed, Arsi, Ethiopia (Biratu and Asmamaw 2016). Likewise, contact with extension service providers was found to have positive effect on the adoption of SWC measures in Techiman Municipality of Ghana (Darkwah et al 2019), in Tanzania (Lasway et al 2020;Shrestha and Ligonja 2015), and in the Rwizi catchment of south western Uganda (Mugonola et al 2013).…”

Section: Extension Contactmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors influencing adoption of improved structural soil and water conservation measures in Eastern Ethiopia

Wordofa

Okoyo

Erkalo³

2020

Environ Syst Res

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Background: Agriculture remains to be the leading sector that contributes enormously to economic development in Ethiopia. Despite its significant contribution to livelihoods, the sector faces persistent challenges due to depletion of natural resources and soil erosion that resulted in diminishing crop and livestock productivity. In order to curb the effects of land degradation, the Government of Ethiopia has been taking serious measures to expand Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) practices throughout the country. Despite the efforts made, the adoption of new practices by farmers have been generally low. This study was aimed at assessing factors influencing smallholder farmers' decision on the use of improved structural SWC practices in Haramaya district, eastern Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 farm households and 248 plots. A structured interview schedule was used to collect primary data. Descriptive and inferential statistics and Multinomial Logit (MNL) regression model were used to analyze the data. Results: The key findings showed that a host of socio-demographic, economic and institutional factors significantly affected smallholders' decision to adopt improved structural SWC. In this study, we found that education, farming experience, plot area, distance of the plot from dwelling unit, number of economically active household members, and extension contact were the significant predictors of using improved SWC structures. Conclusions: Based on our findings, we concluded that improved SWC measures should be scaled up through a concerted effort of extension workers, local administration and other relevant non-state actors. In particular, the extension system should encourage rural communities on sustainable management and use of natural resources. Moreover, the need to create learning opportunities through facilitating appropriate educational and training programs for farmers and focusing on proper management of available economically active household members should be emphasized.

show abstract

Assessment of community based watershed management practices: emphasis on technical fitness of physical structures and its effect on soil properties in Lemo district, Southern Ethiopia

Cited by 28 publications

References 15 publications

Effects of soil and water conservation practices on soil physicochemical properties in Gumara watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

Effects of soil and water conservation practices on soil physicochemical properties in Gumara watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Structural Soil and Water Conservation Measures in Eastern Ethiopia

Factors influencing adoption of improved structural soil and water conservation measures in Eastern Ethiopia

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