A Geographic Information System Based Physical Land Suitability Evaluation to Cereal and Pulse Crops in Guang Watershed, Highlands of Ethiopia

Land suitability mapping and analysis is a prerequisite to achieving optimum utilization of the available land resources. The main objective of this study conducted in 2014 wasto spatially evaluate land suitability for barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), soyabean (Glycine max L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) crops in the Guang watershed, Ethiopia based on FAO guidelines. Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques were used to develop land suitability map of the study watershed. Land characteristics (LC) and crop requirements were used as criteria for crop suitability analysis were soil (depth, texture and pH), slope and temperature. The crop suitability map of the study watershed was made in an area of about 2500 ha by matching between reclassified LC of the watershed with crop requirements using GIS model builder. The land use suitability analysis indicated that the watershed was highly (S1), moderately (S2), marginally (S3) and not suitable (N) for barley, sorghum, soyabean and chickpea were in an area of 756.75 ha (30.27%), 1441.8 ha (57.67%), 1540.5 ha (61.62%) and 703.75 ha (28.15%), respectively. Keywords: physical land suitability evaluation; crop; GIS; Guang watershed; highlands Ethiopi

Soil Loss Estimation for Soil Conservation Planning using Geographic Information System in Guang Watershed, Blue Nile Basin

This research was carried out to spatially predict the soil loss rate of Guang watershed with a Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS). Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) adapted to Ethiopian conditions was used to estimate potential soil losses by utilizing information on  rainfall erosivity (R) using interpolation of rainfall data, soil erodibility (K) using soil map, vegetation cover (C) using satellite images, topography (LS) using Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and conservation practices (P ) using satellite images. Based on the analysis, the mean and total annual soil loss potential of the study watershed was 24.95 tons ha-1 year-1 and 8,732.5 tons ha-1 year-1, respectively. About 147.9 ha (64%) of the watershed was categorized none to slight class which under soil loss tolerance (SLT) values ranging from 5 to 11 tons ha-1 year-1 whereas moderate to high soil loss potential covered about 202.1 ha (36%) about several times the maximum tolerable soil loss (11 tons ha-1 year-1). The study demonstrates that the RUSLE using GIS and RS provides great advantage to spatially analyze multi-layer of data. The predicted amount of soil loss and its spatial distribution could facilitate sustainable land use and management. Keywords: soil erosion; RUSLE; GIS; Guang watershed; Ethiopi

Effects of different dose of nitrogen and lime on soil properties and maize (Zea mays L.) on acidic nitisols of Northwestern Ethiopia

This study was carried out on the nitisols of Burie district, Ethiopia to examine the effect of integrated use of lime and nitrogen on soil physicochemical properties and maize yield. Two levels of lime (0 and 0.5 t/ha) and five-level of nitrogen (0, 46, 92, 138 and 184 kg N/ ha) were laidout in randomized complete block design with three replications. The results indicated that among before planting, soil bulk density (BD), pH, soil organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), available P and CEC were 1.42 g/cm3, 5.2 (strongly acidic), 1.32% (very low), 0.12% (low), 8.86 mg /kg (very low), and 19.57 cmolc /kg  (medium), respectively.  The physicochemical properties except bulk density increased. The lowest soil BD (1.21 g/m3) was from plots treated with 0.5 t/ha lime and 184 kg N/ ha. The maximum soil pH (6.85) was obtained from plots treated with 184 kg N/ ha and 0.5 t/ha lime. The maximum soil CEC (35.38 (cmolc /kg) was obtained from plots treated with 184 kg N/ ha and 0.5 t/ha lime. Level of lime, nitrogen fertilizer, and interaction effects of lime and nitrogen fertilizer (L×N) significantly affected maize yield (p<0.001). Indeed yield of maize has positive correlations with most soil physicochemical properties but negative with BD (r= -0.543). The adjusted yield and net benefits was 6.4 t/ha and 1101.77$. Inherent physicochemical properties of the soil are changed either by sole or combined use of lime and N fertilizer. Soils tilled with 0.5 t/ha lime and 138 kg/ha  nitrogen were found in maximum net benefit. Residual long-term effects should be researched. Thus, liming should be given an emphasis on acidic soil amelioration. Moreover, the government may facilitate the supply of lime and nitrogen fertilizer to the farmers.

Soil physicochemical properties and their significance for sustainable sugarcane production in Kesem Allaideghe plains irrigation project area, Eastern Ethiopia

A feasibility study was carried out to assess the suitability of Allaideghe plains, located in middle awash valley, for the cultivation of sugarcane plantation. The project area, covering 38000 ha, lies between 9o 07’ to 9o 26’ N latitude and 40o 30’ to 40o 50’ E longitude. A detailed soil survey was carried out on 500 m x 500 m grid consisting 1520 auger holes and 76 soil profile observations. The soils of the entire project area were very deep (>200 cm). The textural classes included silty clay loam, clay and heavy clay which revealed that texture varied from fine to very fine with high clay content. Soil reaction (pH), electrical conductivity of saturated extract (ECe), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic carbon (OC), CaCO3 ranged between 7.7 to 8.2, 0.9 to 8.0 dS m-1, 9.9 to 42.7%, 40.6 to 61.7 cmol (+) kg-1, 0.3 to 1.2 g kg-1, and 8.3 to 18.3 %, respectively. Soluble cation contents of Na, Mg, Ca and K varied from 8.5 to 20.2, 0.2 to 2.6, 4.7 to 12.6, and 0.1 to 0.2 meq l-1, respectively. Major hydraulic properties influencing water availability and irrigation scheduling for sugarcane included infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity. Basic infiltration rate varied from 0.2 to 6.2 cm h-1 and in-situ hydraulic conductivity varied from 0.07 to 0.60 m d-1. Low hydraulic conductivity may cause waterlogging in the project area. In order to improve soil structure and water availability, addition of gypsum, plant residues and organic matter are recommended.Keywords: Soil survey, physical and chemical soil properties, infiltration rate, hydraulic conductivit

Socio-economic analysis of conditions for adoption of tractor hiring services among smallholder farmers, Northwestern Ethiopia

The objective of the study was to understand the socio-economic and cultural conditions of crop cultivation practices of farmers; the willingness of farmers towards tractor use and the factors that affect the start of tractor hiring services (THS). A total of 148 households were considered for the survey. Both purposive and stratified sampling techniques were employed disaggregated by sex, wealth status and soil types owned. Data collection techniques included structured interview and focused group discussion. Both descriptive and econometrics techniques were employed to analyze the data. The findings showed that labor shortage (69.7%), high rate of weed infestation (26.5%) and shortages of herbicides (27%) were the main challenges of weeding in the study area. Likewise, shortage of oxen (52%) and labor (43.3%) were found to be challenges related to ploughing practice. About 80% of the sampled farmers were willing to use THS if available in the study area. The econometric model result showed that being a model farmer, sex of a household, land holding, adult female labor endowment, oxen endowment and experience in use of herbicides were positively and significantly affecting farmers’ willingness to use THS. However, age of the head of a household negatively affected the willingness to use THS. From the results of the study it is possible to conclude that since oxen ownership and oxen ploughing practice are deeply rooted in Ethiopian tradition, awareness creation and close follow up are required at all levels for adoption of mechanization

Integrated use of compost and lime enhances soil properties and wheat (Triticum aestivum l.) yield in acidic soils of Northwestern Ethiopia

Purpose Soil acidity and nutrients deficiency are the major constraints causing low crop yield and food insecurity in the highlands of Ethiopia. A field experiment was conducted in northwestern Ethiopia during 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons to study effects of compost and lime application on soil properties and wheat yield. Method The treatments consisted of three compost levels (0, 3 and 6 t ha-1) and three lime rates (0, 1 and 2 t ha-1) arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Before planting and after harvest, soil samples were collected from each experimental plot to analyze soil properties.  Results Combination of lime and compost significantly (p<0.05) increased soil pH, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and exchangeable base cations. In contrast, exchangeable acidity and aluminum levels decreased substantially compared to individual application of amendments. Compared to the control, application of 2 t ha-1 lime, 6 t ha-1 compost alone and their combination increased wheat grain yield by 24.6%, 42% and 97.5%, respectively. Besides, the combined application of compost and lime provided the highest net benefit (1915.90 US$ha-1), which was noticeably greater than the control (1034.44 US$ ha-1).Conclusion The application of lime and compost in combination is an effective option to curb soil acidity while enhancing soil nutrients availability and crop yields at lower input costs.  However, to determine the application frequency, long-term effects of compost and lime in combination on acidic soil properties and crop yield need to be investigated through further research

Land Use/Land Cover Factor Values and Accuracy Assessment Using a GIS and Remote Sensing in the Case of the Quashay Watershed in Northwestern Ethiopia

Soil erosion by water is a complex process influenced by different factors. Most of these factors are steady over time, but land use/cover and land management practices are gradually altering. Analyzing land use/cover type and C-factor mapping using a Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing is the simplest way to identify vegetation coverage. GIS is a tool that is invaluable for conducting image classification through modeling. The present study was conducted in the Quashay watershed, Burie District, Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were to conduct land use/cover classification, to verify land use/cover factor values derived from LANDSAT images with actual identified types with respect to given values in Ethiopia from the literature. The remote sensing data used was from the LANDSAT 8 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) sensor, and were taken in 2017 for land use/cover mapping. Data were gathered through field observation and classification of land use/land cover type into homogenous land units. The inputs for the C-factor values were collected from literature review and in the field. Four land use/cover types were identified. The C-factor value of the study area ranged between 0.01 and 0.17. The overall accuracy of the image classification was 83.72 % and the Kappa coefficient was 0.7823. This means there was 78.23 % agreement for the classified image by chance alone. Therefore, this raster layer can be used as one input for soil loss analysis. It is concluded that analysis of LANDSAT images with accuracy assessment gives due attention for land resource managers to give priority to poor land cover areas with appropriate management plans. We recommend that, before assigning C-factor values to a classified image, accuracy assessment should be carried out and the computed C-factor raster layer of this study can be used as an input for soil loss estimation using GIS and RS