Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Practices and Slope Gradient on
Selected Soil Physico chemical Properties in Guna Watershed,
Northwestern Ethiopia
Abstract
Various soil and water conservation practices (SWCPs) have been
implemented in Ethiopia, but their sustainable utilization remains below
desired levels, leading to ongoing soil erosion issues. A study was
carried out in Guna Begemider district, within the Guna watershed in
North Western Ethiopia, to assess the impact of SWCPs and slope gradient
on specific soil physicochemical properties. Comparing land that has
been conserved using soil conservation practices to land that has not
been conserved on the same slope. The effects of SWCP were once again
studied on three different slope gradients: 5-10% for lower slope,
10-15% for middle slope, and 15-30% for upper slope, as well as two
soil depths. The study followed a Randomized Complete Block Design
(RCBD) with a total of 36 soil samples taken from 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm
depths, replicated three times. The physical and chemical properties
were examined at the laboratory services of Amhara Design and
Supervision Work Enterprise. The results of the study showed that soil
bulk density (BD), soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen
(N), available phosphorus (Av-P), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and
exchangeable cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, except Mg2+) were significantly
different (P < 0.05), with the land conserved by soil
conservation practices showing better conditions than the non-conserved
control under the three slope gradients and the two soil depths. No
significant difference was observed in terms of soil texture between the
conserved and non-conserved lands, but there were significant
differences among the slope gradient. The highest basic cations
concentration and pH were found at the bottom (lower) slope position.
Minimum organic matter was found in soils of lower sloping areas.
Biological conservation practices, especially root branched grass
species and nitrogen-fixing species, within the proper maintenance of
conservation measures should be maximized.