However, the performance of s oil and water conservation structures has not been well studied. Impacts of soil and water conservation practices on crop. Bewket w 2007 soil and water conservation intervention with conventional technologies in northwestern high lands of ethiopia. Their willingness is highly dependent on their knowledge of the problem of soil.
Impact of physical soil and water conservation structure. Soil degradation is one of the crucial issues in mountainous areas of ethiopia which needs efforts to reduce it. Conclusions are drawn with respect to the applied tools and to soil and water conservation. This research investigated the effects of swc practices on soil. Since 1990s, vetiver grass is used in ethiopia as one of the soil and water conservation measures.
Different soil conservation technologies with different approaches have. Even though a number of soil and water conservation methods were introduced to combat land degradation, adoption of these practices remains below expectations. The problem attracted the attention of policy makers and. The impact of soil and water conservation for improved agricultural. Biological soil and water conservation measures learning. The carbon balance between emission and sequestration indicated that the park is currently net source of carbon. Land degradation in the form of soil erosion and nutrient depletion presents a threat to food security and undermining land productivity in the highlands of ethiopia.
Soil conservation stores more of the runoff from excess rainfall in the reservoir of the soil for subsequent crop use. Soil erosion is one of the major causes for low agricultural productivity in ethiopia and particularly in assosa woreda. Appraisal on soil and water conservation and its implication on food security are crucial. Conservation techniques conserve water within the biomass and the soil by reducing runoff and keeping the water where it falls, as much as possible. Methods for sustaining soil and water conservation. Today these techniques of soil and water conservation are being prac ticed in many countries with much benefit to great numbers of people. Soil and water conservation in ethiopia springerlink. Farmers participation in soil and water conservation.
Soil conservation food and agriculture organization. Past efforts at soil and water conservation swc did not bring about significant. Although efforts at soil and water conservation are routinely viewed as instrumental in reducing vulnerability to climate change, their impact has rarely been quantified. Some of the methods that must be adopted for conserving soil are as follows. In the past ten years, intensive soil and water conservation works have been started, one of which was goromti watershed. The article contains information about the traditional soil conservation practices, the reasons for intervention with traditional soil conservation technologies, the historical background of instutionalized soil conservation. Swc, land degradation, adaptation, climate, mitigatio n, ethiopia. It ensures a protective cover of vegetation on the soil surface, slowing down the flow of running water and spreads the water over a large area. Adoption rates of soil and water conservation measures remain below the expected levels in ethiopia despite the considerable investments in reducing land degradation and improving soil fertility. Fanya juu soil conservation structure on selected soil. Box 2003, addis ababa, ethiopia 1world agroforestry centre, p.
Assessment of integrated soil and water conservation measures. Soil conservation is the prevention of loss of the top most layer of the soil from erosion or prevention of reduced fertility caused by over usage, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination. Accelerated erosion due to misuse of resources of land, water and soil. It has a negative impact on agricultural economy and the natural environment taddese 2001 clearly explained that the major causes of land degradation in ethiopia are the rapid population increase, soil. Combining data on the timing and intensity of soil and water conserva tion interventions in select ethiopian watersheds from 2009. The guidelines for development agents on soil conservation in ethiopia. Impacts of soil and water conservation practices on livelihood. The case of watershed in gambela region, ethiopia gatbel chot1, awdenegest moges2 and amanuel shewa3 1department of natural resources management, college of agricultural sciences, arba minch university, ethiopia. By capturing more of the rainfall in the soil, water will be made available to crops during the critical dry periods and soil. Their willingness is highly dependent on their knowledge of the problem of soil erosion 5.
Pdf farm households decision to invest in soil and. The impact of soil and water conservation for improved. Soil erosion and nutrient depletion have been the major challenges in ethiopia that adversely affect soil fertility and crop productivity. The importance of soil conservation was largely neglected in ethiopia prior to 1974. Mowo1 and kidist hilemichael ethiopian institute of agricultural research, p. Where adequate maintenance is lacking, conservation. Soil loss by runoff is a severe ecological problem occupying 56% of the world wide area. Combining data on the timing and intensity of soil and water. Sustainable land management project has been a long time partner of ethiopia.
Write a report of more than 500 words about the soil and water and energy conservation practices you saw. Soil erosion is a natural phenomenon by which soil is removed from rocks. Soil and water conservation practices on crop productivity and its economic implications in ethiopia. In ethiopia, soil erosion is a severe problem and a major cause of the decline of agricultural productivity. Pdf impacts of soil and water conservation on land. Yet most soil and water conservation projects in subsaharan africa have failed. Research article open access suitability and scenario. Today these techniques of soil and water conservation. Since irrigation is not feasible, ethiopia s best hope for increasing food production is increasing the efficiency of rainfall harvesting. Factors affecting adoption of soil and water conservation.
Pdf 32 a history of soil and water conservation in tigray. Highlights of soil and water conservation investments in four regions of ethiopia. Using satellite imagery to assess impacts of soil and water. International crops research institute for the semiarid tropics icrisat. Even though a number of soil and water conservation methods were introduced to combat land degradation, adoption of these practices. The paper suggests some rules of thumb for identifying the priority areas for government and donor intervention, including the need for targeted research on the productivity. Water harvesting techniques gather water from an area termed the catchment area and channel it to the cropping area or wherever it is required. In addition to improving soil fertility, water harvesting, enhancing the soil water retention capacity and reducing soil erosion are measures that could significantly improve agricultural productivity in rainfed marginal environments. Although indigenous swc techniques date back to 400 bc, institutionalized swc activity in ethiopia. The guidelines for development agents on soil conservation in ethiopia has been in use for 30 years. The article shows results of an international and interdisciplinary project with the title rainfall and its erosivity in ethiopia. The amount of carbon stock and ongoing deforestation rates indicated high.
Impacts of soil and water conservation practices on soil. It has a negative impact on agricultural economy and the natural environment taddese 2001 clearly explained that the major causes of land degradation in ethiopia are the rapid population increase, soil erosion, deforestation, low vegetative cover and unbalanced crop and livestock production. Eleni t 2008 continued use of soil and water conservation practices. Pdf farm households decision to invest in soil and water.
Soil and water conservation practices on crop productivity. Using satellite imagery to assess impacts of soil and. Determinants for adoption of physical soil and water. The principal environmental problem in ethiopia is land degradation in the form of soil erosion, gully formation, soil fertility loss and severe soil erosion hurni. The article contains information about the traditional soil conservation practices, the reasons for intervention with traditional soil conservation technologies, the historical background of instutionalized soil conservation activities, the institutional. Methods for sustaining soil and water conservation measures. Apr 30, 2019 soil erosion and nutrient depletion have been the major challenges in ethiopia that adversely affect soil fertility and crop productivity. It allows water to sink into the soil increasing soil moisture levels. With the aim of curbing land degradation problems, efforts are underway on the implementation of soil and water conservation swc practices. Factors influencing the adoption of soil and water. This is a way of tapping as much water as possible and storing it in tanks or reservoirs. In the last two decades, various soil and water conservation interventions had been introduced in to different parts of ethiopia. Conservation techniques conserve water within the biomass and the soil by reducing runoff and keeping the water. Interventions were taken by introducing soil and water conservation practices.
This revised edition of the guidelines for development agents on soil and water conservation in ethiopia is more than timely. Guidelines for development agents on soil and water conservation in ethiopia this introductory chapter describes the aim of this book and how it can be used in the field when you carry out soil and water conservation. Biological measures for soil and water conservation work by their protective impact on the vegetation cover. There are varieties of soil erosion, and rill and interrill erosion are the recurrent types of water erosion, involving detachment, transport, and accumulation of soil. Therefore, soil and water conservation in ethiopia is not only related to improvement and conservation of the environment but also it is a key factor for sustainable development of the agriculture sector and the economy of the country at large. Soil erosion by water constitutes a threat to the maintenance of the subsistence living of the ethiopian rural population. Physical measures are structures built for soil and water conservation. By capturing more of the rainfall in the soil, water will be made available to crops during the critical dry periods and soil erosion reduced. Where adequate maintenance is lacking, conservation works quickly dilapidate and accelerate erosion instead of reducing it.
Ethiopia is among the sub saharan belt countries with degradation problem. Soil and water conservation in ethiopia article in journal of soils and sediments 12. Pdf soil and water conservation in ethiopia guidelines. Physical soil and water conservation measures learning. Soil and water conservation in ethiopia hurni h, berhe wa, chadhokar p, daniel d, gete z, grunder m, kassaye g. Effect of soil and water conservation measures on land.
Accelerated erosion due to misuse of resources of land, water and soil is today one. Slmp, one of the conservation initiatives launched in 2008. Soil constitute over 95% of the total carbon stock. Assessment of integrated soil and water conservation. Soil and water conservation practices in ethiopia are very old as evidenced by the existence of traditional measures in some parts of the country. Today, soil and water conservation measures are not only socially accepted and inte grated in most farming systems. Soil conservation includes all those measures which help in protecting the soil from erosion and exhaustion. Soil degradation in the highlands is caused primarily by soil erosion. The study was carried out in assosa woreda, in benshangul gumuz regional state to assess farmers perception on soil.
The research was carried out in a case study watershed in the central highlands of ethiopia. Governments and development agencies have invested substantial resources to promote. Assessment of integrated soil and water conservation measures on key soil properties in south gonder, northwestern highlands of ethiopia mulugeta demelash1 and karl stahr2 1orthodox church development and interchurch aid commission eocdicac, p. Indigenous soil and water conservation in africa introduction many parts of africa are experiencing annual population growth rates between 2 and 4 %, degradation of the natural resource. Pdf this revised edition of the guidelines for development agents on soil and water conservation in ethiopia is more than timely. The main objective of the soil conservation research project scrp is to support, through research, experimentation, and training, soil and water conservation. Therefore, carbon management is directly related with the forest management and soil conservation. Impact of physical soil and water conservation structure on. Land degradation and rehabilitation in ethiopia society at large is also suffering from uncertain information about the rates of land use change and land degradation. This research investigated the effects of swc practices on soil properties and crop productivity in cultivated.
As in most western ethiopia farm fields in the study area typically known for intensive cultivation that led to high runoff, soil erosion and sediment loss. Land degradation due to soil erosion and nutrient depletion is considered as the main problem constraining the development of the agricultural sector in ethiopia. It ensures a protective cover of vegetation on the soil surface, slowing down the flow of running water and spreads the water. Land degradation is a major concern in ethiopia since it leads to declining agricultural productivity, poverty and food insecurity.
Soil and water conservation effects on soil properties in the. Anette stumptner 2007, after data from kruger 1997. Soil and water conservation effects on soil properties in. New soil strategies, water technology, policy initiatives and advances on restoring degraded landscapes are bringing crosssectoral and crossscale results in ethiopia s agricultural sector. I anticipate that the conclusions and recommendations from this report will increase. Impacts of soil and water conservation practices on. Soil erosion is the most dangerous ecological process observed in ethiopia, degrading. Soil erosion is the most dangerous ecological process observed in ethiopia. Soil and water conservation practices global science research.
The states of soil and water conservation in ethiopia in any developing country understanding the framers willingness to use soil and water conservation practices is mandatory. Although indigenous swc techniques date back to 400 bc, institutionalized swc activity in ethiopia became significant only after the 1970s. Environmental degradation, including soil erosion with gully formation, decrease in. Thesis paper on farmers perception on the role of vg for swc. A major argument is that what has been constructed often at great expense has seldom been maintained by the beneficiaries. This research was conducted in the koga watershed, near lake tana, in the catchment of a recently constructed dam. The tools are applied with the aim to evaluate the agroecological effect of three major soil and water conservation practices at field, farm and landscape scale in tigray, ethiopia. Slash and burn and other unsustainable methods of subsistence farming are practiced in some lesser developed areas. Therefore, this study concentrated on the role of vetiver grass for soil and water conservation in tulube peasant association, metu district of illubabor zone, south west ethiopia.