Your search found 8 records
1 Erkossa, T.; Gizaw, A.; Stahr, K. 2004. Land preparation methods efficiency on the highland vertisols of Ethiopia. Irrigation and Drainage, 53(1):69-75.
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: PER Record No: H034488)
2 Hordofa, T.; Menkir, Michael; Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele; Erkossa, T.. 2008. Irrigation and rain-fed crop production system in Ethiopia. In Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele; Loulseged, Makonnen; Yilma, Aster Denekew (Comps.). Impact of irrigation on poverty and environment in Ethiopia: draft proceedings of the symposium and exhibition, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 27-29 November 2007. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). pp.27-36.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H044065)
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Crop production is a function of water, nutrient, climate and soil environment. Provided that all other requirement are satisfactorily for proper growth and production, rainfall rarely meets the time with required amount of water application for plant growth. As a result average yield of agricultural crops under rain-fed agriculture is low compared to irrigated agriculture. This study assesses irrigation and rain-fed agriculture system in connection to its potential productivity under existing practice. While the rain-fed areas considered in this study are the aggregate at the national level, five systematically selected Medium and large scale irrigation schemes were selected based on cropping patter, geographic and agro ecological representation These are Fincha’a, MAAE, Metehara, Sille, and UAAIE which are located at three river basins, viz, Nile (Abbay), Awash and the Rift valley basins. Data were collected using pre-formulated checklists, through series of interviews and discussions; and from published and unpublished documents. The result indicated that crop production was undulating under rain-fed agriculture and as a result the performance of rain-fed productivity remained low and stable for most crops. Although crops grown by smallholder private farmers are different, cereals occupy about 74 per cent followed by pulses and oil seeds with small proportion. During the last one decade, the maximum and minimum cultivated land by small-holder peasant farmers at the national level was 10.7 and 6.6 M ha, respectively. Increased cultivable area by private small-holder farmers could not seem to contribute to the increased production. Total irrigated land by private peasant farmers ranged between 66 and 147 thousand hectares for the last one decade. During the last decade the area under irrigation was steadily increasing for most of the large scale schemes. Particularly Fincha’a and Metehara farms are significantly increasing while MAAE farm has shown only a slight increase. At UAAIE farm, crop production shows a decreasing trend. Productivity of banana at Sille farm was decreasing despite its increasing in land area.
3 Erkossa, T.; Stahr, K.; Gaiser, T. 2004. Participatory soil quality assessment: the case of smallholder farmers in Ethiopian highlands. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 42(7):793-797. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1071/SR04021]
Soil management ; Soil quality ; Soil types ; Indicators ; Watersheds ; Highlands ; Farmers ; Crop production / Ethiopia / Gimbichu District / Caffee Doonsa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H044812)
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The study was conducted at Caffee Doonsa (08°88'N, 39°08'E; 2400 m asl), a small watershed in the central highlands of Ethiopia, in order to identify farmers’ goals of soil management and the indicators they use in selecting soils for a certain function, and to categorise the soils in different quality groups with respect to the major functions. Thirty-six male farmers of different age and wealth groups participated in a Participatory Rural Appraisal technique. They listed and prioritised 12 soil functions in the area and itemised the soil quality indicators (characteristics). Based on the indicators, the soils in the watershed were classified into 3 soil quality (SQ) groups (Abolse, Kooticha, and Carii). The SQ groups have been evaluated and ranked for the major soil functions. For crop production, Abolse was graded best, followed by Kooticha and Carii, respectively. The grain and straw yield data of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) taken from the SQ groups confirmed the farmers claim, in that Abolse gave the highest grain yield (4573 kg/ha), followed by 4411 and 3657 kg/ha for Kooticha and Carii, respectively. Local insights should be included in systematic soil quality assessment, and in planning and implementation of various soil management interventions.
4 Erkossa, T.; Itanna, F.; Stahr, K. 2006. Tillage effects on sediment enrichment, soil quality, and crop productivity in Ethiopian Highlands. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 44(8):753-758. [doi: https://doi.org/ 10.1071/SR06065]
Tillage ; Sediment ; Soil quality ; Crop production ; Highlands ; Vertisols ; Chemicophysical properties ; Indicators ; Erosion ; Field preparation / Ethiopia / Caffee Doonsa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H044813)
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The promotion and adoption of new tillage practices requires that their potential on-site, off-site, and economic effects are acceptable. Consequently, a field experiment was conducted at Caffee Doonsa (2400m a.s.l.; 08 57N, 39 06E) in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia for 6 years (1998–2003) to evaluate the effects of tillage practices on sustainable productivity and quality of the soil. Four tillage methods [broad bed and furrows (BBF), green manure (GM), ridge and furrows (RF), and reduced tillage (RT)]were arranged in a randomised complete block design with 3 replications on permanent plots (22m by 6 m). Three crops comprising durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.), lentil (Lens culinaries Medik), and tef (Eragrostis tef), were sown in rotation. Relative crop productivity index (RPI), financial profitability, the nutrient enrichment ratio (ER) of the eroded sediment, and soil quality index (SQI) were used as performance indicators. With its highest RPI, the use of BBF significantly increased the grain yield of lentils by 59% compared with the control, and RT resulted in the highest grain yield of wheat and tef. Economically, BBF was the most profitable option for lentils with 65% increase in gross margin, whereas RT resulted in 11% and 8% increase in that of wheat and tef, respectively. The ER indicated that the nutrient and organic matter content of the eroded sediment was always greater than that of surface soil, but there were no consistent effects associated with the treatments. The SQI showed a positive trend for GM, BBF, and RT, but differences were not statistically different at P=0.05. Overall, none of the tillage treatments was superior, but we encourage use of BBF and RT because of their positive productivity and economic trends. Further research is needed to tap the potential soil quality improvements anticipated for the GM treatment. To optimise the overall benefits, a complete system has to be developed, perhaps using BBF for lentils followed by RT for wheat and tef.
5 Erkossa, T.; Itanna, F.; Stahr, K. 2007. Indexing soil quality: a new paradigm in soil science research. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 45(2):129-137. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1071/SR06064]
Soil management ; Soil quality ; Soil analysis ; Tillage ; Indicators ; Field preparation ; Land management ; Highlands ; Vertisols ; Cropping systems / Ethiopia / Caffee Doonsa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H044814)
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Soil quality indexing is a new approach in spatial and temporal evaluation of land management systems effects on soils’ capacity to function. A field experiment was conducted at Caffee Doonsa (2400 m a.s.l., 08°57'N, 39°06'E) for 6 years (1998–2003) to compare the effects of land preparation methods on soil quality (SQ) and to test the use of the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) in assessing SQ under the Ethiopian Central Highlands conditions. Four methods of land preparation [broad bed and furrows (BBF), green manure (GM), ridge and furrows (RF), and reduced tillage (RT)] were arranged in a randomised complete block design with 3 replications on permanent plots (22 m by 6 m). Physical, chemical, and biological SQ indicators were determined and scored, and a soil quality index (SQI) was developed using the SMAF procedures. Seven SQ indicators including microbial biomass carbon (MBC), bulk density, aggregate stability (AGG), soil organic carbon (Corg), pH, available water capacity (AWC), and available phosphorus were selected as a minimum dataset. The scored values of the indicators ranged from 0.21 for AGG and 0.97 for pH, both under BBF. Compared with RF (control), all the alternatives (GM, BBF, and RT) increased the scores of Corg and MBC. Moreover, BBF and GM increased the score values of AWC and AGG, respectively. Consequently, there was a non-significant increase in SQI due to the use of GM, BBF, and RT compared with the control. As a result, the land preparation methods may be preferred in a decreasing order GM = BBF = RT = RF for the management goal of crop production. The study indicated that SMAF could be a robust tool to assess the performance of land management methods on soil quality in the study area, but some modifications may be required to fit to the prevailing cropping system and soil characteristics.
6 Erkossa, T.; Stahr, K.; Gaiser, T. 2005. Effect of different methods of land preparation on runoff, soil and nutrient losses from a Vertisol in the Ethiopian highlands. Soil Use and Management, 21(2):253-259. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2005.tb00132.x]
Field preparation ; Rain ; Runoff ; Soil management ; Erosion ; Nutrients ; Highlands ; Vertisols ; Waterlogging ; Crop yield ; Tillage ; Erosion / Ethiopia / Caffee Doonsaa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H044815)
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Vertisols are among the most common, high-potential soils in the central highlands of Ethiopia, where over 88% of human and 77% of the livestock population are located. Productivity from these soils is constrained by severe waterlogging due to their physical properties and intensive rainfall in summer. Traditionally, farmers plant late in the season to avoid the waterlogging, which results in harvest yields that are far below optimal. To bridge this yield gap, the broad-bed and furrow system for surface drainage has been introduced. Despite reported yields of various crops, little is known of the on-site and off-site impacts of this system. Consequently, four land preparation methods viz. (i) broad-bed and furrow (BBF), (ii) green manure (GM), (iii) the traditional system of ridge and furrow (RF) and (iv) reduced tillage (RT) were compared on standard runoff plots for 5 years (1998–2002) at Caffee Doonsaa in the central Highlands of Ethiopia. Runoff, sediment, organic carbon and nutrient (organic nitrogen and available phosphorus) losses were determined during the last two years (2001 and 2002). Over 50% of the seasonal rainfall was lost as runoff, regardless of the treatment, with significantly more of the excess water running off BBF and RT treatments in both years. The BBF system drained 67% and 54% of rainfall as runoff in 2001 and 2002, respectively, compared with 61% and 53% from the RT system during the measurement period. Although not statistically significant, the largest sediment and total nutrient losses tended to be from the BBF. The effect of the treatments on total nutrient loss and enrichment ratio was inconsistent. The nutrient concentration in the eroded sediment was greater than that of the originating surface soil but was strongly correlated. The effect of the land preparation methods was significant and varied with crops. Recommended options for best crop productivity are BBF for lentil and RT for wheat and tef.
7 Erkossa, T.; Ayele, G. 2003. Indigenous knowledge and practices for soil and water management in East Wollega, Ethiopia. Paper presented at the Annual Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural and Natural Resource Management (Tropentag) Conference on International Agricultural Research for Development, Gottingen, Germany, 8-10 October 2003. 15p.
Indigenous knowledge ; Soil management ; Soil fertility ; Water management ; Farmers ; Erosion ; Land degradation ; Nutrients ; Tillage ; Crops ; Highlands ; Land use ; Indicators / Ethiopia / Oromia region / Jimma Horro / Diggaa Leeqaa / East Wollega
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H044817)
http://www.tropentag.de/2003/abstracts/links/Erkossa_DiG4j4Tt.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H044817.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H044817.pdf
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The study was conducted in western Ethiopia in order to identify local soil and water management related knowledge and practices of the farmers in order to utilize the output in further research and development interventions in the area. The awareness about the existence and extent of land degradation and nutrient depletion; and its contributory factors are pre-requisite for farmers to undertake any effort to arrest the problem. Farmers in the study area recognized soil erosion and nutrient depletion, and established cause and effect relationship between factors. The major causes of land degradation and nutrient depletion are soil erosion, intensive Tillage, exhaustion of nutrients by crops and deforestation. Apparently, crop type and crop management were emphasized particularly with respect to soil erosion. Small cereals like tef (Eragrostis tef), which require highly intensive tillage and smooth seedbed are considered detrimental while legumes and oil crops contribute positively to the land quality. On the side of the solution to these over-riding problems, they have various options ranging from simple mechanical or agronomic to integrated; and from a field level to a watershed scale. Some of the indigenous soil and water management practices identified in the area are consistent with similar practices found in different parts of the country (AZENE, 1997; MILLION, 1996; KEBEDE et al., 1996), while some are unique to the area. Joro for soil conservation and nutrient management, and Ciicata, Kolaasaa and their integration with crop rotation for soil fertility maintenance and weed control are among the unique practices in the area. The practices are widely used in the study areas, and are appreciated by all the farmers. Detail description and rationale of every practice is discussed in this paper.
8 Erkossa, T.; Stahr, K.; Gaiser, T. 2006. Soil tillage and crop productivity on a Vertisol in Ethiopian highlands. Soil and Tillage Research, 85(1-2):200-211. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2005.01.009]
Soil management ; Tillage ; Field preparation ; Crop production ; Vertisols ; Highlands ; Furrows ; Green manures ; Agronomic characters ; Economic aspects / Ethiopia / Caffee Doonsa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H044818)
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Soil quality deterioration and consequent reduced productivity characterize the Vertisols in the highlands of Ethiopia. The problem is exacerbated by lack of appropriate land preparation alternatives for the major crops in the area. A field experiment was carried out for 6 years (1998–2003) at Caffee Doonsa in the central highlands of Ethiopia to evaluate alternative land preparation methods on the performance of wheat (Triticum durum Desf.), lentil (Lens culinaries Medik L) and tef (Eragrostis tef L) grown in rotation. Four methods of land preparation (broad bed and furrow, green manure, ridge and furrow and reduced tillage) were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications on permanent plots of 22 m by 6 m. Broad bed and furrow significantly increased the grain yield of lentils by 59% (from 1029 to 1632 kg ha1) as compared to the control. On the other hand, reduced tillage resulted in the highest grain yield of wheat (1862 kg ha1) and tef (1378 kg ha1) as compared to 1698 kg ha1 of wheat and 1274 kg ha1 of tef for the control although the increase was not statistically significant. A gross margin analysis showed that BBF is the most profitable option for lentil with 65% increase in total gross margin. On the other hand, RT resulted in 11 and 8% increase in gross margin of wheat and tef, respectively as compared to the control. Based on the agronomic and economic performances best combinations of crop and land preparation method were: lentil sown on broad bed and furrow, and wheat and tef sown after reduced tillage.
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