Evaluation of surface water drainage systems for cropping in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia (original) (raw)
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2021
Vertisols are important agricultural soils in the Ethiopian highlands. )e highland part of the Jama district is one of which Vertisols have huge coverage and are underutilized due to waterlogging. Such potential Vertisol areas need to be put under wise cultivation. )us, a study was conducted to investigate the effects of soil drainage methods on surface runoff, soil loss, and yield of wheat crop as indicators of productivity improvement of typical Vertisol in the Jama district of Amhara Region, Ethiopia, during the rainy season of 2017/18. )e treatment comprised three soil drainage methods (BBF120, BBF80, and BBF40) arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications on standard runoff plots. Statistical Analysis System, version 9.0, was used to perform analysis of variance and mean separation of the collected data on yield, soil loss, and runoff. )e result indicated that the effect of BBF120 brought significantly (P< 0.05) higher difference on surface runoff, ...
Interim : Interdisciplinary Journal, 2013
To assess and predict runoff and soil loss on different tillage methods coupled with alternative cropping systems in the central highland vertisols of Ethiopia, a study was carried out at Ginchi, Agricultural Research Sub-Center during 1996. The experiment was conducted on runoff plots of 4 meter wide by 22 meter long, on surface slopes that range between 0.1% and 2.3%. The data collected was analyzed using regression models and an empirical formula developed by the Soil Conservation Service of America (SCS, 1964; 1972), known as curve number (CN). Both the regression model and the SCS simulated the mean daily runoff reasonably well with R2 93% and 83%, respectively. The overall results obtained explain that the improved tillage practice, BBF could drain the excess surface water safely.
A Review on Waterlogging, Salinization and Drainage in Ethiopian Irrigated Agriculture
Ethiopia's agricultural production has been challenged by severe waterlogging and salinity problems which has resulted in substantially lower yields than the potential. Waterlogging is the main drainage problem in the small scale irrigation schemes in the Vertisols dominated highland areas while salinity and salinization is a common phenomenon in the large and medium scale irrigation schemes located in the lowlands of the country's major river basins with predominantly salt affected soils. The lack of functional drainage system and poor water management practices have also significantly contributed to the frequent occurrence of waterlogging and salt build-up in irrigation fields. This paper reviews important technical issues related to drainage problems in Ethiopia, notably waterlogging and salinization, and their consequences on the productivity of irrigated agriculture. It also briefly discusses the land reclamation techniques practiced by the farmers, the government and NGOs and their effectiveness in controlling waterlogging and salinity.
Hydrology
To investigate the response of soil management and cropping practice on infiltration, a field experiment was conducted under natural environment on Nitisol of Pawi area. Eight treatments combining two soil management methods (Zero tillage and conventional tillage) and four crop covers (continuous maize, continuous soya bean, rotated maize, and maize soya bean intercrop) were laid out on permanent plots in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results showed that soil management and crop cover significantly affect both the capacity and rate of infiltration. Relative to conventionally tilled continuous maize, zero tilled maize soya bean intercrop improved infiltration rate and infiltration by 164.6% and 148%, respectively. While maize rotation with zero tillage, maize soya bean intercropping with conventional tillage and maize with zero tillage methods improve infiltration rate by 117.8%, 105.8%, 108%, respectively. The soil management and crop cover practices such as maize with zero tillage, maize soya bean intercrop with zero tillage, rotated maize with conventional tillage, maize soya bean intercrop with conventional tillage, soya bean with zero tillage and rotated maize with zero tillage increased soil water storage in the order of 65mm, 41mm, 41mm, 35mm, 15mm and 13mm. Generally, zero tillage with greater cover is an appropriate method to improve infiltration and soil water storage.
Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Structures on Crop Yield, Lemo Destrict, Southern Ethiopia
International Journal of Food Science and Agriculture, 2020, 4(4), 519-527, 0
The soil loss in Ethiopia in general and in southern Ethiopia in particular has becoming critical to be considered as burning issue in relation crop production. This research was conducted to investigate the effects of soil bund and fanya juu bund on crop yield of the farmers. Randomized complete block design (RBCD) with seven replication and three position, (lower, middle and upper) and wheat as a test crop were used for the investigation. Data on plant height, 1000 seed weight, number of seed per spike, grain yield and day to 50% spiking were taken. Considering the seven locations level fanya juu and level bund treated plots showed 50.9% and 43.2% greater yield than the control plot respectively. Correlation analysis result showed significant correlation with most of the agronomic characteristics on level bund and level fanya juu whereas; it showed insignificant correlation with control plot. The soil bund and fanya juu bund improved wheat crop yield in the study area. It appears important to suggest that further study should be conducted under different agro-ecological zones to attain more comprehensive results.
Soil and water conservation in ethiopia
Journal of Soils and Sediments, 2001
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Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Structures on Crop Yield, Lemo District, Southern Ethiopia
Hill publishing, 2020
The soil loss in Ethiopia in general and in southern Ethiopia in particular has becoming critical to be considered as burning issue. This research was carried out to investigate the effects of soil bund and fanyajuu bund on crop yield on the cropping pattern of the farmers on their fields. Randomized complete block design (RBCD) with seven replication and three position, (lower, middle and upper) and wheat as a test crop were used for the investigation. Data on plant height, 1,000 seed weight, number of seed per spike, grain yield and day to 50% spiking were taken. Considering the seven locations level fanyajuu and level bund treated plots showed 50.9% and 43.2% greater yield than the control plot, respectively. Correlation analysis showed significant correlation with most of soil physico-chemical properties and agronomic characteristics on level bund and level fanyajuu whereas it showed insignificant correlation with control plot. Finally it was suggested that further study should be conducted under different agro-ecological zones to attain more comprehensive results.
Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 2020
Water logging is a challenge to crop productivity under the rain fed system on Vertisols of central highlands of Ethiopia. Using appropriate drainage system and manipulating planting dates can reduce the effect of water logging and improve productivity of Vertisols of the area. The current field experiment was conducted to evaluate four different drainage systems (Dry planting, Ridge &Furrow (RF), Broad Bed Maker(BBM) and Flat bed) and five sowing dates (Mid may, Early June, Mid-late June, Mid July and Late August) in improving productivity of wheat crop on vertisol of central highlands of Ethiopia under rain fed condition during the main cropping season. The treatments of the experiment were the systematic combination of four drainage systems and five planting dates. The experiment was conducted at three locations (Ginchi on station, Sheno and Sodo dache on farm) on Vertisols of central highlands of Ethiopia. Analysis of variance indicated that some of wheat Yield related parameters (Plant height, spike length, biomass yield and grain yield) tasted were significantly (p<0.05) affected by different drainage systems and sowing dates. According to this research trial, Out of seven treatments tasted T 2 (Early June + Dry plating) provide the highest grain yield 2214.7Kg/ha, 2230kg/ha and 8253kg/ha was recorded at Ginchi, sodo dache and sheno sites respectively. As vertisols in Ethiopia exist in different agro-climatic conditions in the country and show a considerable variability the research should be repeated and be supported with the long term local weather and soil data in order to determine drainage systems and sowing dates for a specific locations of vertisol areas.
Physical Geography, 2013
Land degradation and recurrent drought are the major threats to rain-fed agriculture in the semiarid Ethiopian highlands. To reduce the risk of crop failure induced by moisture stress and to bring food self sufficiency through irrigation, water harvesting has become a priority in the Tigray region since the last two decades. However, the success of water harvesting scheme is very limited due to siltation, seepage, and inflow reduction. Catchment level installation of Soil and Water Conservation Techniques (SWCT) are major causes for inflow reduction. The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of typical land use types, slope gradient and different SWCT on runoff and soil loss at runoff plot scale. Six runoff measuring sites corresponding to gentle (5%), medium (12%) and steep(16%) slope gradients were established for cropland and rangeland at May Leiba catchment in central Tigray (Ethiopia). For each site on rangeland four runoff plots were installed in 2010 and treated with three SWCT, stone bunds, trenches and stone bunds with trenches, in addition to a control plot. Similarly, for each site on cropland three runoff plots were installed and treated with stone bunds, stone bunds with trenches plus a control plot. These 21 large runoff plots (length: 60 to 100 m; width: 10 m) were monitored for runoff production and soil loss during the main rainy season (July-September). The results showed that, seasonal runoff coefficient (RCs) and seasonal soil loss (SLs) were higher in rangeland compared to cropland. RCs for rangeland ranges from 0.4 to 0.5 while it ranges from 0.16 to 0.25 for cropland. SLs were 3 to 5 times larger on rangeland (30 to 50 ton ha-1) compared to cropland (6 to 19 ton ha-1). Introduction of SWCT strongly reduced runoff production and soil loss-on both land use types and slope gradients. Stone bunds with trenches were the most effective SWCT in reducing runoff and soil loss. With the same SWCT applied, RCs and SLs for both rangeland and cropland tend to decrease with increasing slope gradient mainly due to increased rock fragment cover. The effects of SWCT on runoff production and soil loss are very considerable, hence it is important to consider these effects for optimal design of water harvesting schemes in Ethiopian highlands.
Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and …, 2008
Vertisols are one of the agriculturally important soils in Delanta Dawunt, north central highlands of Ethiopia, for peasant farmers as almost all the cereal, soil and forage crops are grown on them. However, waterlogging during the growing season impedes the performances of cereal crops. It is crucial to seek for cost effective means to mitigate waterlogging for increased production. Hence, a field experiment was conducted to observe effectiveness of tillage on draining excess soil water. To this effect treatments, i.e., 'flat seedbed, 'traditional drainage system' (Shurube), 'broadbed and furrow with 100 cm (BBF-100 cm)' and 'broadbed and furrow with 80cm'(BBF 80 cm) were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications on 6 m by 4 m plot. The study revealed that BBF-100 cm, BBF-80 cm and traditional drainage system significantly increased the grain yield of wheat by 51.4 %, 41.6 % and 11.2 % compared to the control, respectively. Therefore, this study recommends 'BBF-100 cm followed by BBF-80 cm to fight against seasonal waterlogging and to boost wheat production in the North central highlands of Ethiopia.