The amount of carbon stock and ongoing deforestation rates indicated high. I anticipate that the conclusions and recommendations from this report will increase. 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. Although indigenous swc techniques date back to 400 bc, institutionalized swc activity in ethiopia. Soil and water conservation 265 life on this planet, as the so il is an essential resource to suppor t plants for producing food, and to provide shelter to insects and animals.
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. Although indigenous swc techniques date back to 400 bc, institutionalized swc activity in ethiopia became significant only after the 1970s. Farmers participation in soil and water conservation. 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. Pdf farm households decision to invest in soil and water.
Environmental degradation, including soil erosion with gully formation, decrease in. This revised edition of the guidelines for development agents on soil and water conservation in ethiopia is more than timely. Using satellite imagery to assess impacts of soil and. By capturing more of the rainfall in the soil, water will be made available to crops during the critical dry periods and soil. In ethiopia, soil erosion is a severe problem and a major cause of the decline of agricultural productivity. Where adequate maintenance is lacking, conservation works quickly dilapidate and accelerate erosion instead of reducing it. Even though a number of soil and water conservation methods were introduced to combat land degradation, adoption of these practices remains below expectations. 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. Soil and water conservation practices global science research. The study guide can effectively contribute to emerging participatory research and extension approaches, while addressing one of the critical constraints in the smallholder production systems in the region. Swc, land degradation, adaptation, climate, mitigatio n, ethiopia. Their willingness is highly dependent on their knowledge of the problem of soil. It allows water to sink into the soil increasing soil moisture levels. Biological measures for soil and water conservation work by their protective impact on the vegetation cover.
Fanya juu soil conservation structure on selected soil. International crops research institute for the semiarid tropics icrisat. Today, soil and water conservation measures are not only socially accepted and inte grated in most farming systems. Impacts of soil and water conservation practices on. The problem attracted the attention of policy makers and. Interventions were taken by introducing soil and water conservation practices. Soil conservation food and agriculture organization. Apr 30, 2019 soil erosion and nutrient depletion have been the major challenges in ethiopia that adversely affect soil fertility and crop productivity. The carbon balance between emission and sequestration indicated that the park is currently net source of carbon. Box 2003, addis ababa, ethiopia 1world agroforestry centre, p. Combining data on the timing and intensity of soil and water conserva tion interventions in select ethiopian watersheds from 2009. Sustainable land management project has been a long time partner of ethiopia.
Their willingness is highly dependent on their knowledge of the problem of soil erosion 5. The importance of soil conservation was largely neglected in ethiopia prior to 1974. Effect of soil and water conservation measures on land. 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. Bewket w 2007 soil and water conservation intervention with conventional technologies in northwestern high lands of ethiopia. Physical soil and water conservation measures learning. Assessment of integrated soil and water conservation measures. 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. In the last two decades, various soil and water conservation interventions had been introduced in to different parts of ethiopia. The article shows results of an international and interdisciplinary project with the title rainfall and its erosivity in ethiopia. Since 1990s, vetiver grass is used in ethiopia as one of the soil and water conservation measures. Since irrigation is not feasible, ethiopia s best hope for increasing food production is increasing the efficiency of rainfall harvesting. 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.
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. Some of the methods that must be adopted for conserving soil are as follows. Soil erosion by water constitutes a threat to the maintenance of the subsistence living of the ethiopian rural population. The main objective of the soil conservation research project scrp is to support, through research, experimentation, and training, soil and water conservation. Appraisal on soil and water conservation and its implication on food security are crucial. Pdf soil and water conservation in ethiopia guidelines. Impacts of soil and water conservation practices on soil. Soil and water conservation in ethiopia hurni h, berhe wa, chadhokar p, daniel d, gete z, grunder m, kassaye g.
Factors affecting adoption of soil and water conservation. 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. Where adequate maintenance is lacking, conservation. Soil erosion is the most dangerous ecological process observed in ethiopia, degrading. Conclusions are drawn with respect to the applied tools and to 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.
Soil and water conservation effects on soil properties in the. The impact of soil and water conservation for improved agricultural. 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. Pdf 32 a history of soil and water conservation in tigray. Although efforts at soil and water conservation are routinely viewed as instrumental in reducing vulnerability to climate change, their impact has rarely been quantified. 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. Impact of physical soil and water conservation structure on. Soil and water conservation in ethiopia article in journal of soils and sediments 12. Highlights of soil and water conservation investments in four regions of ethiopia. Soil erosion is the most dangerous ecological process observed in ethiopia.
The guidelines for development agents on soil conservation in ethiopia has been in use for 30 years. Slash and burn and other unsustainable methods of subsistence farming are practiced in some lesser developed areas. Methods for sustaining soil and water conservation measures. Pdf farm households decision to invest in soil and. Determinants for adoption of physical soil and water. Soil loss by runoff is a severe ecological problem occupying 56% of the world wide area. Soil degradation in the highlands is caused primarily by soil erosion.
The research was carried out in a case study watershed in the central highlands of ethiopia. This research investigated the effects of swc practices on soil. Impacts of soil and water conservation practices on crop. Soil conservation stores more of the runoff from excess rainfall in the reservoir of the soil for subsequent crop use. Pdf farmers perception on soil erosion and biological. Soil and water conservation in ethiopia springerlink. Today these techniques of soil and water conservation are being prac ticed in many countries with much benefit to great numbers of people. Pdf this revised edition of the guidelines for development agents on soil and water conservation in ethiopia is more than timely. 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.
Factors influencing the adoption of soil and water. This research was conducted in the koga watershed, near lake tana, in the catchment of a recently constructed dam. Soil degradation is one of the crucial issues in mountainous areas of ethiopia which needs efforts to reduce it. However, the performance of s oil and water conservation structures has not been well studied. Accelerated erosion due to misuse of resources of land, water and soil.
Accelerated erosion due to misuse of resources of land, water and soil is today one. Conservation techniques conserve water within the biomass and the soil by reducing runoff and keeping the water where it falls, as much as possible. Soil erosion is one of the major causes for low agricultural productivity in ethiopia and particularly in assosa woreda. Impact of physical soil and water conservation structure. Soil erosion and nutrient depletion have been the major challenges in ethiopia that adversely affect soil fertility and crop productivity. 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. Therefore, carbon management is directly related with the forest management and soil conservation. Slmp, one of the conservation initiatives launched in 2008. 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. Write a report of more than 500 words about the soil and water and energy conservation practices you saw.
Soil and water conservation in ethiopia researchgate. Selection of biological soil and water conservation measures applied in wm image credit. 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. Soil and water conservation practices on crop productivity. Ethiopia is among the sub saharan belt countries with degradation problem.
Even though a number of soil and water conservation methods were introduced to combat land degradation, adoption of these practices. 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. 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. Thesis paper on farmers perception on the role of vg for swc. Soil and water conservation practices on crop productivity and its economic implications in ethiopia. Impacts of soil and water conservation practices on livelihood. Soil erosion is a natural phenomenon by which soil is removed from rocks. Governments and development agencies have invested substantial resources to promote. New soil strategies, water technology, policy initiatives and advances on restoring degraded landscapes are bringing crosssectoral and crossscale results in ethiopia s agricultural sector. Different soil conservation technologies with different approaches have. Methods for sustaining soil and water conservation. Assessment of integrated soil and water conservation.
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. 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. Today these techniques of soil and water conservation. The guidelines for development agents on soil conservation in ethiopia.
Pdf impacts of soil and water conservation on land. Modeling the effect of three soil and water conservation. Soil conservation includes all those measures which help in protecting the soil from erosion and exhaustion. The impact of soil and water conservation for improved. 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.
Impacts of soil and water conservation on land suitability to crops. This is a way of tapping as much water as possible and storing it in tanks or reservoirs. Conservation techniques conserve water within the biomass and the soil by reducing runoff and keeping the water. Combining data on the timing and intensity of soil and water. Using satellite imagery to assess impacts of soil and water.
In the past ten years, intensive soil and water conservation works have been started, one of which was goromti watershed. Yet most soil and water conservation projects in subsaharan africa have failed. The study was carried out in assosa woreda, in benshangul gumuz regional state to assess farmers perception on soil. 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. Eleni t 2008 continued use of soil and water conservation practices. Water harvesting techniques gather water from an area termed the catchment area and channel it to the cropping area or wherever it is required. Anette stumptner 2007, after data from kruger 1997. It ensures a protective cover of vegetation on the soil surface, slowing down the flow of running water and spreads the water.
Pdf soil and water conservation in ethiopia guidelines for. This research investigated the effects of swc practices on soil properties and crop productivity in cultivated. 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. A major argument is that what has been constructed often at great expense has seldom been maintained by the beneficiaries. Soil constitute over 95% of the total carbon stock. Physical measures are structures built for soil and water conservation. Land degradation due to soil erosion and nutrient depletion is considered as the main problem constraining the development of the agricultural sector in ethiopia. 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. Past efforts at soil and water conservation swc did not bring about significant. Biological soil and water conservation measures learning.