Abstract:
ABSTRACT
In the study area, stone-faced soil bund conservation practices have been practiced for last ten years. Especially with the support of safety net program micro-basins, hillside terraces and stone faced soil bunds (SFSB) have been widely implemented since 2010 G.C. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of stone-faced soil bund conservation practices on selected soil properties and wheat yield production in Alalo Watershed, Northwest Ethiopia. Farmlands treated by stone-faced soil bunds were compared with untreated farmland and evaluated under three slope gradients (three slope classes 2-5 %, 5-10% and 10-15 %. A total of 24 soil samples were collected from the top soil at a depth of 20 cm, in three replications, and composite soil samples were collected in square plots with a length of 20 ×20 m. Household survey, focus group discussions and field observations were conducted to assess the effect of stone-faced soil bund conservation practices on wheat yield production, forage production, and livestock production of peoples. The fractions of silt and clay showed no significant variation between treated and untreated farmlands, and across slope gradients (P<0.05). Sand showed significant variation between treated and untreated farmlands (P=0.009), and no variation across slope gradients (P<0.05). Bulk density also showed variation between treated and untreated lands across slope gradient. The amount of organic carbon (P=0.003), available P (P=0.044) and soil PH (P=0.039) were significant variation in soils from treated and untreated lands and across slope gradient (P<0.05). However, N and K showed no variation (P>0.05). The mean wheat yield of the treated farmland was much higher than by 62.5%, 50% and 45.5% from the untreated one with each adjacent slope. Likewise, farmers showed a positive attitude towards the conservation practice and perceived changes in crop yield, and livestock production in the watershed. However, some soil properties did not vary between lands with and with no conservation measures; therefore inclusive studies focusing on the magnitude of effects and how the measures should be implemented are needed. Such measures would help to rehabilitate soil fertility and improve sustainable land use.
Keywords: physical Soil and water conservation, soil properties, treated an