Water Resource and Irrigation Management

SOIL PROPERTY ANALYSIS AND LAND SUITABILITY EVALUATION AT TEBILO IRRIGATION SCHEME, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA.

2021-02-24T08:16:02Z

SOIL PROPERTY ANALYSIS AND LAND SUITABILITY EVALUATION AT TEBILO IRRIGATION SCHEME, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA. Almaz Awoke Assessment of land suitability for irrigation is important to utilize resources efficiently, sustainable production of crops and increasing food security of the ever-increasing people in the study area. The study was initiated with the objective of soil property analysis and land suitability evaluation at Tebilo irrigation scheme, North West Ethiopia. Based on slope gradient and soil depth, the entire study area was categorized into four slope, two soil depths then divide in to four land mapping units (LMUs). Within four-slope gradient and two soil depth factors on three replication, 24 composite soil samples were collected. Slope suitability map of the study area were derived from digital elevation model of the area clipped from DEM satellite with 30 m resolution by masking layer of the scheme. For data analysis, general linear model procedure of SAS version 9.0 were used, Furthermore, among 439 irrigated users,71 house hold were selected purposely and interviewed. Parametric evaluation were apply. The statistical analysis of soil properties revealed that, clay, bulk density, pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, C/N ratio, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases, calcium carbonate and CEC were significantly affected (p < 0.05 and/or p < 0.01) by slope and soil depth. However, the silt content were not significantly (p >0.05) affected by slope. The lowest mean bulk density and the highest content clay, soil pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, CEC and exchangeable bases were recorded in gentle slope. The result showed that considering slope suitability, gentle slope 452.140ha (47.71 %) were highly suitable and moderately steep slope 32.144 ha (3.39 %) was not suitable and suitability of land showed that 96.3% (915.628 ha) are moderately suitable (S2), and 3.39 % (32.1446 ha) currently not suitable (S3) for irrigation. From the socio economic, perspective there was shortage of water in pike irrigation season and there was problem of infrastructure and market information.Road access, market information, transportation, and improving the availability of TN, Av p and CEC by addition of organic matter and fertilizer. Key words: Land Suitability, Irrigation, Soil properties, parametric method

EFFECT OF INTEGRATED USE OF LIME AND NITROGEN FERTILIZERS RATES ON SOIL PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES, YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF MAIZE (Zea mays l.) AT NITISOLS OF BURIE AREA, NORTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA

2021-02-24T08:10:17Z

EFFECT OF INTEGRATED USE OF LIME AND NITROGEN FERTILIZERS RATES ON SOIL PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES, YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF MAIZE (Zea mays l.) AT NITISOLS OF BURIE AREA, NORTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA BIRTUKAN AMARE Soil fertility problem is the limiting factor for agricultural productivity in the highlands of Ethiopia. Soil acidity coupled with soil nutrient depletion negatively affect the performance and yield of maize in the Amhara National Regional State (ANRS) region. The attention given to lime with nitrogen fertilizer is none. This study was carried out at Burie district in one cropping season to determine the effect of integrated use of lime and urea fertilizer rate on soil physicochemical properties, yield and yield components of Maize. The treatments include lime (0 and 0.5 t ha-1), urea (0, 100, 200,300, and 400 kg ha-1). Recommended NPS (19% N, 38% P2O5 and 7% S) was used uniformly to all plots at the time of seed sowing. The maize variety BH-661 was used as a test crop. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with ten treatments replicated three times. Five representative soil samples were collected and one composite sample was taken for surface soil physicochemical properties analysis. After harvesting, disturbed soil samples were collected for soil chemical properties analysis. A total of thirty undisturbed soil samples were collected from three blocks for bulk density determination. Physical properties of soil texture before and bulk density were analyzed before and after harvesting. The change in chemical properties of soil including pH, SOC, OM, CEC, TN, Available P, and EC was also analysed following the standard laboratory procedure. The Morpho-phenological parameters (50% tasselling,50% silking, days to 90% maturity, plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of cobs per plant, number of grain per cob, 1000 grain weight, grain yield, above ground dry biomass yield, harvest index, straw yield were collected and analyzed. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out using the SAS statistical package program version 9.0. Duncan’s test was used to evaluate differences among treatment means where significant differences were obtained by ANOVA. Soil physicochemical properties were changed due to lime and urea. Field experiments revealed that individual, as well as combined application of lime and urea, improved yield and yield components of maize. The maximum grain yield of maize was 7,122 kg ha-1 with the net benefit of 58,891 ETB ha-1. The economic analysis of maize result indicated that the application of lime and Nitrogen fertilizer was found economically feasible for maize production. Plots treated with mineral fertilizer were the best in nutrient use efficiency (5.88%). The recommended treatments are T2 (100 kg ha-1 Nitrogen), T7 (0.5 t ha-1 lime and 100 kg ha-1 Nitrogen), T8 (0.5 t ha-1 lime and 200 kg ha-1 Nitrogen) and T9 (0.5 t ha-1 lime and 100 kg ha-1 Nitrogen). Because Mariginal rate of return of these treatments was greater than 100%. Based on the highest net benfit combined application of 0.5 t ha-1 lime and 300 kg ha-1 urea is economically feasible and recommended to the farmers. Keywords: Economical, liming, Nitrogen, Optimum, Soil acidity

This thesis is submitted to the school of graduate studies of Bahir Dar University in the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (MSc.) in Watershed Management and Soil and Water Conservation.

2020-10-22T09:11:47Z

This thesis is submitted to the school of graduate studies of Bahir Dar University in the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (MSc.) in Watershed Management and Soil and Water Conservation. NEGESE, ADMAS Gully erosion is affecting agricultural production, decreasing food security, and causing sedimentation in water bodies in Ethiopia. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to identify the major causes of gully formation and development, to assess the gully erosion and to evaluate the impacts of different gully erosion management practices in Timet watershed in the northwest highlands of Ethiopia. Interview, transect walk, soil sampling, Google earth imagery and field measurements were used for data collection. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), SAS and Arc GIS software’s were used for data analysis. This research was conducted in Timet watershed at an elevation between 2000- 2159 m a.s.l in the northwest of Ethiopia, 2019. As a result, local road formation, surface runoff, topography, free grazing, poor agricultural practices, absence of proper waterway and local drainage channels were found to be important causes of gully formation and development. 3.66 ha of lands and 55197.9 tons of soil were lost from the investigated four gullies. The long term gully erosion rate was found to be 5 t/ha/yr. About 113.15 m3 and 357.7 m3 sediments were trapped by physical and biophysical treatment practices, respectively, which indicates that the integration of physical and biological treatment practices is better than physical treatment practice alone. The loss of soil and agricultural lands has been quantified to indicate the severity of gully erosion on economic and social aspects as well as creates attention on the people and concerned bodies to control it. There could be also used to select proper design and best treatment practices of gully erosion. Specifically, it is used for sustainable planning processes of gully erosion prevention and control measures for the community and the district agricultural offices as well as non-governmental organizations. Gully catchment should be improved with properly designed cutoff drains so that weak points in gully head cut areas could be protected from overland flow. The combine treatment practices of gully erosion are the most important measure to rehabilitate the gully rapidly. Key words/Phrases: Gully Erosion, Soil and Land Loss, Trapped Sediment, Physical Gully Treatment Practice.

LAND USE / LAND COVER CHANGE AND THE EFFECTS OF LAND USE TYPE AND SOIL DEPTH ON SOIL PROPERTIES IN MERE WATERSHED, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA

2020-10-22T09:11:15Z

LAND USE / LAND COVER CHANGE AND THE EFFECTS OF LAND USE TYPE AND SOIL DEPTH ON SOIL PROPERTIES IN MERE WATERSHED, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA Gasha, Alene In most developing countries, including Ethiopia, the amount, rate and intensity of land use changes are very high. This study was conducted in Mere watershed; northwest Ethiopia with the objective of analysing land use land cover change and investigate the effect of different land use types and soil depth on soil properties. Land cover maps of 1990 and 2018 were interprated and analyzed within GIS to quantify the land cover change in the study area. Four major land use types: natural forest, grazing land, cultivated land and plantation forest lands were selected. While undisturbed core and disturbed composite soil sample were collected with three replications for each land use types at two depths (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm). Standard soil analytical procedures were followed in carrying out soil analysis. The soil physicochemical properties were analyzed at Amhara Design and Supervision Works Enterprise, Bahir Dar. The statistical results revealed that variations due to land use types and soil depth. sand, clay, bulk density, pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, cation exchange capacity and exchangeable Ca, K, and Na were significantly (p < 0.05 and/or p < 0.01) different. In contrast, silt, carbon to nitrogen ratio and exchangeable Mg were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected. The highest value of all soil chemical properties except exchangeable Na and C: N ratio were recorded under natural forest and the lowest value except CEC, Na and C: N ratio was found under plantation forest. With soil depth, the higher mean value of organic matter, total Nitrogen and cation exchange capacity were recorded in the 0-20 cm than 20-40 cm depth and the higher mean value of pH and exchangeable Na was recorded in the 20-40 cm than 0-20 cm depth. Texture, bulk density, available Phosphorus, C: N, exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg and K) were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by soil depth. The changes of natural forest to other land use types were one of the impacts of soil fertility that contributed to low agricultural productivity. Therefore, the study is suggesting the need for intervention to sustain and optimize the soil quality. Key Words: cultivated land, natural forest, grazing land, Soil depth, Soil physico-chemical properties 1 Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Background and Justification In most developing countries, including Ethiopia, the amount, rate and intensity of land use changes are very high. The out come of these changes are deterioration of soil physico chemical properties (Rao and Pant, 2001). Ethiopia is gifted with potential r