Review on successful soil conservation methods in Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia’s low agricultural productivity and loss of soil nutrients are primarily due to land degradation. By interfering with natural processes, it deteriorates soil properties and endangers agricultural production. Different soil and water conservation (SWC) practices have been implemented in many regions of Ethiopia to combat it. Reviewing successful soil conservation methods in Ethiopia and their impacts on soil properties, agricultural productivity, and technical soil conservation quality are the main goals of this paper. Data were gathered from a range of sources, including publications on soil conservation, conferences, thesis works, and periodicals. SWC practices had either a positive or negative impact on the soil’s physicochemical characteristics and crop productivity. Under both biological and integrated SWC practices, the mean values of pH, TN, AVP, OM, and CEC were higher on treated farmland than on untreated farmland. Under all SWC practices, the average bulk density was higher on acreage that had not been treated than it had been. By effectively using SWC technology and integrating physical and biological measures, the technique for repairing soil physicochemical properties, reducing soil erosion, and enhancing agricultural productivity would be improved. In order to improve technical quality, soil quality, crop yields, and society’s means of subsistence, it is therefore possible to advise that the layout of conservation measures, intensive capacity building about the layout of structures, and standard procedure be followed.