Your search found 4 records
1 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)
(0.28 MB)
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.
2 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)
(0.10 MB)
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.
3 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)
(0.14 MB)
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.
4 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)
(0.16 MB)
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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