Intensification of agriculture on vertisols to minimize land degradation in parts of the Ethiopian Highlands

Wakeel, Abdul; Astatke, A.

doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-145x(199603)7:1<57::aid-ldr216>3.0.co;2-c

Cited by 23 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Under wet conditions, Vertisols are very susceptible to erosion which is considered to be the major limitation to long-term production (Freebairn et al, 1996;Deckers et al, 2001). Haregeweyn et al (2008) report a sediment yield from 4 to 18 t ⁄ ha ⁄ yr from 11 catchments in Tigray and 80% of soil loss from farmland (Wakeel & Astatke, 1996). In order to increase crop productivity, the management of soil moisture needs to be better (FAO AGL, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of conservation agriculture on runoff, soil loss and crop yield under rainfed conditions in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Araya

Cornelis

Nyssen

et al. 2011

Soil Use and Management

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The aim of conservation agriculture (CA) is to improve soil quality and crop yield whilst reducing runoff and topsoil erosion. An experiment was carried out in a rainfed field using a permanent raised bed planting system for 3 yr (2005-2007) in Adigudem, northern Ethiopia in order to evaluate the effect of CA on runoff, soil loss and crop yield. CA practices were introduced in fields with Vertisols in a randomized complete block design on permanent 5 x 19 m plots. Three treatments were evaluated: (1) conventional tillage (CT) with a minimum of three tillage operations and removal of crop residues, (2) terwah (TER) that was similar to CT except that contour furrows were included at 1.5 m intervals, and (3) derdero+ (DER+), which consists of permanent raised beds with a furrow and bed system, retention of 30% of standing crop residues and zero tillage on the top of the bed. All ploughing as well as the maintenance of the furrows of the permanent raised beds was done using a local ard plough called maresha. Results from monitoring over 3 yr showed that soil loss and runoff were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in CT followed by TER and DER+. Average soil losses of 5.2, 20.1 and 24.2 t/ha were recorded from DER+, TER and CT, respectively. Runoff was 46.3, 76.3 and 98.1 mm from DER+, TER and CT, respectively. Grain yield was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in DER+ under teff in 2006, probably due to the high sensitivity of teff to weeds. The yield of wheat in 2007 was significantly higher in DER+ followed by TER. The terwah system is recommended as a first measure for wider adoption to reduce runoff and soil loss and to increase crop yield. The long-term goal is to achieve a derdero+ system, i.e. a permanent raised bed planting system along with the application of crop residues

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of conservation agriculture on runoff, soil loss and crop yield under rainfed conditions in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Araya

Cornelis

Nyssen

et al. 2011

Soil Use and Management

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“…El Wakeel and Astatke (1996) carried out studies on alleviating agricultural pressures on steep slopes to reduce land degradation in parts of the Ethiopian highlands. The camber bed and furrow technology was used to minimize soil loss on crop lands during the rainy season, and forage legumes were grown to improve soil nutrients, so as to allow intensive cultivation on the Vertisols of the highlands.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving the productivity of vertisols in the Accra plains of Ghana using leguminous cover crops

Nyalemegbe

Asiedu

Ampontuah

et al. 2011

International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

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The productivity of the Vertisols of the Accra plains is low, in spite of its high potential fertility. This could be attributed to physical constraints and low organic matter content. A study was conducted at the Agricultural Research Centre, Kpong, to assess the suitability of Mucuna pruriens, Mimosa invisa and Stylosanthes guianensis, in short fallows, for improving the fertility, physical properties, moisture conservation and weed control in the case of these soils. Mucuna had the highest biomass of 5.3tha 21 , as opposed to 4.1tha 21 under natural fallow. The mucuna and stylosanthes biomass had comparatively higher total N values (240.75 and 203.51kgha 21 , respectively) than mimosa and natural fallow (152.46 and 162.74kgha 21 , respectively). Soil organic carbon, one year after the incorporation of cover crops, was found to be relatively higher under the cover crops (mucuna, stylosanthes and mimosa) than it was under natural fallow. Bulk densities were thus lower under the cover crops than they were under natural fallow. Also, soils under the cover crops had higher total porosity, water infiltration rates and moisture storage than they did under natural fallow. Weed cover, 115 days after planting maize, was significantly lower in plots previously under Mucuna pruriens than it was under natural fallow, Stylosanthes guianensis and Mimosa invisa. There was a negative linear correlation between cover crop biomass and weed density (R 2 ¼ 0.593-0.805). Grain and stover yields of maize were higher under Mucuna pruriens than they were under natural fallow (138 and 70 per cent higher, respectively). Burning of the natural fallow resulted in greater weed growth than when the material was worked into the soil (41 and 8 per cent, respectively). Grain yield was significantly greater under mucuna than it was under natural fallow (3.1 and 1.3tha 21 , respectively).

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“…The livestockhuman ratio is 14Á3: 1 (Bureau of Agriculture, unpubl.). Long periods of cultivation of steep slopes and intensive grazing (El Wakeel and Astatke, 1996;Taddese, 2001) have induced soil erosion that resulted in shallow soils, diminished soil water-holding capacity (Zeleke and Hurni, 2001), as well as diminished herbaceous and woody vegetation cover (Tekle et al, 1997;Tekle and Hedlund, 2000). In eastern Tigray, northern Ethiopia (Figure 1), 65 per cent of the open-grazing lands are severely degraded (Asefa, 2001), while in northwestern Ethiopia, forest cover declined from 27 per cent to 0Á3 per cent between 1957 and 1995 (Tekle, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In eastern Tigray, northern Ethiopia (Figure 1), 65 per cent of the open-grazing lands are severely degraded (Asefa, 2001), while in northwestern Ethiopia, forest cover declined from 27 per cent to 0Á3 per cent between 1957 and 1995 (Tekle, 1999). Consequently, much of the native vegetation diversity might have been lost or is being threatened (El Wakeel and Astatke, 1996). In response to the severe levels of degradation in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, land rehabilitation is promoted by the government by using the relief supplies of food given to Ethiopia by donors, in the form of food-for-work given to local communities in order to rehabilitate severely degraded crop and grazing lands.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An assessment of restoration of biodiversity in degraded high mountain grazing lands in northern Ethiopia

Asefa¹,

Oba²,

Weladji³

et al. 2002

Land Degrad Dev

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Loss of biodiversity is the single most important threat to the conservation and sustainable use of drylands in northern Ethiopia due to many centuries of cultivation and heavy livestock grazing pressure. The current study assessed the restoration of biodiversity in highly degraded areas in eastern Tigray, northern Ethiopia using area enclosures (AEs). The study assessed whether the differences in biodiversity between AEs and open management schemes and time of land abandonment influenced diversity of plant life forms (i.e. herbs, shrubs and trees). Changes in biodiversity were compared using the state-and-transition model. Management types and time since abandonment (hereafter called age) had a significant effect on herbaceous plant species abundance but not in shrub species, while site factors had a greater effect on diversity of plant life forms in general. Herbaceous species richness increased with age of restoration, reaching a maximum after three years of rest and declined thereafter, most probably as a result of hay harvesting and replacement of annual species by perennial grass species. Tree species richness increased gradually with age of land abandonment up to the maximum age of eight years. Four vegetation states and seven possible transitions that could guide management were identified. The vegetation states differed in terms of diversity of herbs and tree species but not those of shrubs. Promotion of tree species states will require longer periods of rest, while promotion of herbaceous species richness will need shorter periods. The state-and-transitional model could, therefore, be used to guide future management by promoting vegetation states that are desired by land users.

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Intensification of agriculture on vertisols to minimize land degradation in parts of the Ethiopian Highlands

Cited by 23 publications

References 3 publications

Effects of conservation agriculture on runoff, soil loss and crop yield under rainfed conditions in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Effects of conservation agriculture on runoff, soil loss and crop yield under rainfed conditions in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Improving the productivity of vertisols in the Accra plains of Ghana using leguminous cover crops

An assessment of restoration of biodiversity in degraded high mountain grazing lands in northern Ethiopia

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