Effects of Acacia decurrens Willd. tree-based farming system on soil quality in Guder watershed, North Western highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

Continuous conversion of land for different agricultural production purposes has resulted in degradation of soil resources. Rehabilitating soil quality through sustainable land management is one of the most pressing agenda in agriculture. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the trends of major soil quality after the introduction of A. decurrens tree-based farming in Guder watershed. Soil samples were collected from 5 land use types, 2 soil depths, and 3 slope positions with 3 replications and then analysed for selected soil physicochemical quality indicators. Selected soil physicochemical indicators were subjected to three-way ANOVA. The result revealed that the highest clay particles and soil bulk density were recorded at A. decurrens tree farmland and cropland soils, respectively. The maximum soil pH was recorded from natural forest (5.99), subsurface soil layer (5.56) and lower slope (5.57). The lowest soil organic carbon and total nitrogen contents were observed in cropland. Greater available phosphorus (13.58) mg kg −1 was obtained in the topsoil depth of A. decurrens tree farmland at the lower slope. Among the studied soil quality indicators total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity and soil pH were strongly and Zerfu Bazie ABOUT THE AUTHORS Zerfu Bazie is a researcher at Adet Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia. His research interest focuses on the generation of climate smart soil management technologies that increase agricultural productivity and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases as well as enhances the resilient of smallholder farmers during climate shocks.

Modeling the Spatial Distribution of Acacia decurrens Plantation Forests Using PlanetScope Images and Environmental Variables in the Northwestern Highlands of Ethiopia

“…For this study, cloud-free data from the PS satellite for February 2022 were collected. The images were a level 3B product that had undergone pre-processing, including radiometric and geometric The major economic activity in the area is a mixed crop-livestock system [66] and recently, charcoal production from Acacia decurrens plantation has become another significant source of income for residents [67], replacing crop and grazing lands [16]. Consequently, the vegetation status of the district has increased over the last two decades, resulting in an improvement in the ecosystem condition [68].…”

Cause and cost of onsite nutrient loss replacement in the highlands of Ethiopia and implication of Soil and Water Conservation measures

“…Teff, maize, fi ngermilte, wheat and barley crops and livestock's such as cattle, goats and sheep production were an important source of household consumption and sell [52][53][54]. In addition, acacia decurrens tree-based farming system is commonly experienced by the larger portion of smallholder farmers in the highland agricultural landscape particularly in northwestern Ethiopia highland as the major source of income from charcoal production and crop production [55]. This farming system is considered as one approach of agroforestry that has a positive effect on restoring soil degradation through the improvement of soil chemical and physical properties and reduces soil erosion with its associated problems [56,57].…”

A Mixed Method Approach for Analyzing Drivers of Land Use Land Cover Change in the Northwestern Ethiopian Highlands

“…After the farmers harvest Acacia decurrens trees within four to five years, they produce crops on it to tap into its potential for increasing productivity (Endalew & Anteneh, 2023). Acacia decurrens significantly improve organic carbon and nitrogen in the soil (Abebe et al, 2020), highly improve soil fertility, and increase productivity (Bazie et al, 2020). On the other hand, farmers change crop lands adjacent to eucalyptus plantation sites to eucalyptus plantations within three to five years due to crop yield reduction associated with the allopathic effect of the eucalyptus trees on the adjacent cropland (Yeshaneh et al, 2013).…”