ARBAMINCH UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL

RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

SENIOR PROJECT RESEARCH ON:

THE ASSESSMENET OF SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT PRACTICE:

BY:

AREBU DEMSS

ADVISOR

YOHANNES; GOLIDA (MSc)

AMU ETHIOPIA

1
 ABSTRACT

This study, which worked to on the assessment of soil fertility management practice in order to assess
and quantity the type of soil fertility management practice. The study was conducted specific in
Arbaminch zuria wereda Shara Kebele, SNNPRS, Ethiopia.

The objectives of the study were to assess traditional and modern type of soil fertility management
practices and assess the challenges in the study area. In order to achieve those objectives simple random
sampling method was used. This was done to get respondent from each category of farmers with equal
probability so that different views were obtained for the study. The collected data were analyzed by
descriptive, percentage and statement. Result presented in the study area showed that the current level of
soil fertility management practice is medium depending on level of paritecaptions of the respondents and
the modern soil fertility management practice like terracing, Inorganic fertility, Fanyajuu to get high
productive from their land, Traditional soil fertility management practice like, fallowing, Crop rotation,
Tillage practice, Manure application and Soil/stone bund as well as there were the major challenges of
study area Those challenges were Shortage of land ,Use of crop residue for fodder and animal dung for
fuel, House hold size and Age of farmer. the challenges that were assessed are socioeconomic therefore:
there must be other in depth study regarding technological and institutional challenges of soil fertility
management practices.

2
1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background
The causes of land degradation in Ethiopia are cultivation on steep and fragile soil with
inadequate investment in soil conservation or vegetation cover. Erratic and erosive rainfall
patterns, declining use of fallow, limited recycling of dung and crop residues to the soil. Change
in land use and soil management can have a marked effect on the soil organic matter. Several
studies in the past have shown that deforestation and cultivation of virgin tropical soil often lead
to depletion of nutrient (N,P,&S) (Belay, 2003). Keeping grasses in the crop rotation, returning
all crop residues to the fields and cultivating no more than necessary for controlling erosion
using cover crop ,returning all measure to the soil organic matter are considered as important
source of plant nutrient and improvement of soil physical and chemical properties(Campbell et
al, 1996). The removal of vegetative cover or burning plant residues are practiced under the
traditional system of crop production (Mesfin, 1996). In traditional forming system, farmers use
crop rotation. Manure application and other organic nutrient sources to maintained soil fertility
(Mulogey and Merck 1993). On the other hand shortage of grass land has forced the farmer to
remove crop residue for animal feed. Cow dung is used mainly for fire wood rather than as
manure (Ellison, 1946).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Soil fertility is declining in many part of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (Stooruogesetal, 1993). One
of the major constraints to crop production faced by small holder farmers is the inadequate
supply of nutrient. Formers are either entirely abandoning the traditional practice of using natural
flow to restore soil fertility, or are an able to leave land for long enough for it to effective. The
use of mineral fertilizer is declining us they are increasingly beyond the means of most small-
scale farmers (Larson and Ferisuold, 1996).

In Ethiopia land degradation, low productivity and poverty are interring related in securities that
totally appear to feed of each other. Since the early 1980s the donors and the government have
supported large efforts to promote soil conservation and environmental rehabilitation in Ethiopia.

3
More recent past soil conservation measures relied largely on food for work (FFW) programs as
an incentive and emphasized on labor intensive conservation activates such as tracing, crop
rotation, manure application bunds and planting trees (Bekele and Holden, 1998). Lack of soil
fertility management leads to decrease the agricultural crop production. Planting trees and
gardens, farmers will be primary income and in many case, shortage food accord. This is
because, nutrients capital gradually depleted by crop harvest removal, leaching and soil erosion
once the soil is depleted or the soil fertility completely lost it’s difficult to new or reverse to
primes fertility(Rowell, 1994).

In the current study area, there is a poor way of soil fertility management like in the other part
of the country, Ethiopia. Thus, the high productive capacity of soil in the study area is becoming
reduced from time to time because of deforestation high which involves cause of rise
temperature and seasonal variability that finally results in the soil fertility. Therefore, this study
is intended to assess soil fertility management practices status in case of shara kebele arbaminch
zuria will beda

1.3 Objectives

1.3.1 General objective

The general objective of the study will be to assess soil fertility management practices in SharaKeble of
Arba minchi zuriya Woreda, SNNPRS, Ethiopia

1.3.2 Specific objectives

 To assess traditional soil fertility management practices of the Shara Kebele.
 To assess modern soil fertility management practices of the Shara Kebele.
 To assess challenges of soil fertility management practices of the Shara Kebele.

1.4 Research Questions

 What are the traditional and modern soil fertility management practices in the study area?
 What are the challenges that face farmers in regarding to exercise soil fertility
management practices in the study area?

4
1.5 Significance of the Study
The result of this study would contribute valuable information on the actual management
practices of agricultural land which enables farmers and policy makers to take corrective
measures on the problematic agricultural lands. In addition, it would provide knowledge on
appropriate soil fertility management practice. Moreover, it would be an input for future in-depth
studies in area of related issues.

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

The scope of the study would be one Keble association of distinct of the house hold level and to
understand the major problems and constraint of soil fertility management practices. The main
limitation of the study might be reluctance and lack of willingness of respondents to completed
questionnaire on time.

5
 2. Literarure review

2.1 the concept of soil fertility management

Soil fertility is a status of the soil with respect to its ability to supplement for plant growth with
toxic concentration of any element (olson and fried 1985).

Soil fertility is the ability of soil to serves as suitable substrate on which plants can be grow and
developed. Fertile soils have an adequate and balanced supply of elements essential to satisfy the
needs of plants scroth (1995).

2.2 integrated soil fertility and sustainable agriculture

Decades will to meet the words increase demand for food sustainable way deciding soil fertility
and management of plant parents have made this fast more difficult. The major increases in
productivity are unlike to attain without ensuring that plant have an adequate and balanced
supply nutrients are used. Sustainable farming or according to getachew (2005), the challenge for
agriculture over coming sustainable agriculture helps the farmers innovate and employ recycling
methods, this apart from the conventional parks of farming. Avery good example of recycling in
sustainable farming would be the crop west or animal manure. The some come be transformed in
to fertilizers that can helps enrich the soil. Another method that can be employed is crop rotation.
This helps the soil maintain its nutrients and keeps the soil rich and potent. Collection of
rainwater via changing and then its utilization for irrigation is also a good example of sustainable
farming (scroth and sinclasr, 2003).

2.3 causes of soil fertility degradation

2.3.1 soil erosion

Soil erosion is the removal of soil from its original. In most cases the soil particles at the surface
adhere to body of soil, therefore they must be first being separated from it before they can be
removed. Consequently, more specific definition would be soil erosion is a process of
detachment and transportation of soil materials by erosion agents dutey (2001).

According to ellison (1946) indicated detachment has to precede transportation but transportation
does not always follow detachment.

6
2.3.2 wind erosion
Wind erosion is accelerated when wind are strong. When wind is dry, weakly aggregated and
base winds segregate dry hums, clay and silt and sand the least dens are carried the further. Even
moderate wind velocity can keep small particles of hums, clay and silt (chepilt, 1995). Wind
erosion is up one third of the land surface of the world, excluding polar deserts. Arid and semi-
arid lands are especially susceptible to wind erosion because of these land have less vegetation
and there for less water, less clay and therefore less aggregation, less soil moisture and there for
lighter weight soil (batel, 1995)

Although wind erosion in desert area is especially sever, the social impact of wind erosion is
greeter in semi-arid because more people live form in these region (shapiro and sandars, 1998).

2.3.3 water erosion

Soil erosion by water can be taken on variety of farms. The most wind spread and probably the
most damaging form is sheet erosion. This is essentially uniform removal of a thin layer or sheet
of soil from given area of land. Normally, soil is detached by the impact of felling rain drops not
by the following water of sheet flow very run of remove some soil. The frequent impact of the
rain drops on bare soil is the will behing of soil particle input the crock bend pores of the soil
(chepil, 1984).

2.4 soil fertility management

The soil fertility management is one of the key importances in agricultural sector. Lack of soil
fertility causes decreased yield and many plants diseases are also related to poor soil fertility. If
soil fertility is not good, crops are not in optimal condition and are thus more disease and pest
(schrowth, 2003).

According to (david, 1988), soil fertility is very crucial to the achievement of sustainable
agriculture soil contain nutrients, water and rooting medium for plant growth. Consequently, the
major in which soil are manage has a major impact on productivity and sustainability. The
presence of organic matter is transformed into humus by soil organism. Humus is the result of
successive steps in the decomposition of organic matter. Because of the complex structure of
humic substance cannot be used by many micro-organisms as an energy sources and remains in

7
the soil for a relative long time. This means that first step in maintaining soil futility should
direct to maintain organic matte content (brown, 1992).

2.4.1 soil fertility management practices

2.4.1.1 green manure

Green manure is fresh plant materials which are ploughed into the soil with onion to incorporate
organic matter and nutrients to the soil. The main purpose of green maturing is to maintain and
improve the organic matter status of soil as well as to conceive nutrient in it (mangi, 1993).

2.4.1.2 mulching
Organic mulches such as recycled ground wood pullets and composted yard west are widely used
to support wood and improve plant health (ellison, 1946). Mulching treatment had significant
effect on organic matter content, soil respiration microbial biomass, soil pit and concentration of
essential plant nutrients. Mulching considered as key soil management practice to conserve soil
moderate, soil temperature and to suppress plants disease, however the effect of this management
practices did not addressed and mulching used to material in land scope industry has
considerable in recent years as results of effect to divert solid west from landfills (sinduir, 2003).

8
2.4.1.3 compost
Compost is a process in which plants and animals remain and broken by microorganism to
produce compost which is used as organic sources of fertilizer. Compost is made up of alternate
lager of form manure, vegetable. Compost host both advantages like lighter to transport
minimizes the need of fertilizers use, and disadvantage like too labor intensive, needs special
tools and needs moisture fast decomposition (ellison, 2001).

2.4.1.4 hedgerow inter cropping

hedgerow intercropping or ally cropping will be popularized in 1980 but adoption by farmer has
been poor. It involves growing leguminous tree shrubs in narrow strip across the slope, then
shrubs are looped and materials are used as green mulching (scroth, 2003).

hedgerow inter cropping protects soil from erosion. The method involves either seventies
cropping, growing two or more crop a year. Inter cropping is improving soil stricture and
increasing futility by recycling and providing biological fixed nitrogen (dutey, 2001).

2.4.1.5 crop rotation

crop rotation is addition of soil fertility restoration and soil conservation is popular traditional
practice for controlling disease, pest and used infestation and the problem of holds for weeds.
Crop rotation contribute s to increase yield through improve soil nutrition. By requiring planting
and harvesting of different crops at different times, more land can be formed with the same
amount of machinery and labor. Also crop rotation is a tried and tested method used since
ancient farming practices proven to keep the soil health and nutritious wischmess (1997)

2.5 advantage of organic source of fertilizer

Advantages of organic source of fertilizer such as minimizing use of fertilizer slightly to
transport; importee’s soil fracture keeps soil face moist and increase lift and thickness of soil.
Unlike chemical fertilizer, which affects environmental cases, the organic fertilizer helps the
community in such a ways minimizing environmental pollution. Generally, organic fertilizer
helps the community in such a way that it early applied and its simplicity for farmers.
Furthermore the accessibility of organic fertilizer more around home stand benefits the
community both in economic and environmental (ellison, 1946). Mulongey, k and r.merck
(1993) indicated that use of organic fertilizer enhance the community to increase their yield,

9
economy, life standard and also enhances the rap to have good root development and for early
maturity.

2.6 advantage of inorganic source of fertilizer

the advantage of inorganic fertilizer contains beneficial chemical and mineral deposits and
supplies the nutrients necessary to grow plants. This type of fertilizer can be bought at most
gardening supply stores troeh and thompson (1993).

Inorganic fertilizer, which is often reasonably priced, consists of mineral-based nutrients

manufactured for immediate application on crops. Unlike the organic variety, inorganic fertilizer
does not need to decompose over time to supply nutrients to plants. Most inorganic fertilizers
contain balanced amounts of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous to feed plants and to foster
growth. These substances often derive from chemical processes such as urea, ammonium sulfate,
and calcium nitrate. Mined deposits of potash, phosphate rock, and lime can also be processed as
inorganic fertilizer (tisdale et al 1993).

10
3. Materials and methods

3.1 description of the study area

3.1.1 location

The study area shara is one of the 29 keble’s that, particularly found in gamo zone, arba minch
zuriya woreda in snnpr. This area is situated about 495 km south of addis ababa and 12 km from
north of gamo zone. It consists of 2155 households and total area of kebele is 5800 ha. The
elevation of the study area is1230 m up to 2200 m m.s.l (shara kebele, agricultural office, 2019).

3.1.2. Population
The total population of the study area is 10,690, from this 5238 is male and 5452 is females. The
density of population estimated to 164perkm2 and 2155 households, from these 275 females and
1880 males land use types in (shara kebele, agricultural office, 2019).

3.1.3. Climate

The mean annual rain fall of the study area is 700 mm. It has bimodal rain fall distribution which
experiences two rainy seasons, the minor in spring and the major in summer. The maximum rain
fall of the area is 900 mm and the minimum is 800 mm.the average maximum and minimum
temperature of the study area are 25.8o cand 23oc respectively. Its agro climatic zone is divided in
to three, namely kola (75%), woina dega (20%), and dega (5%) (shara keble,agricultural office
2019 )

3.1.4. Farming system

Agriculture is dominant activities and practices by farmers. Totally farming is dominant type of
land use totally from 5800 ha of land. 990ha is used for agricultural some people also earn their
income from secondary sources such as poultry business etc. In general the majority of the
people are depending on agricultural production with main cash crop are banana and mango
which are the most dominant in the area. The detailed information regarding area under different
farming system is as below: (shara keble, agricultural office, 2019)

11
No- Land use types Area in hectares Percentage (%)

1 Forest 2600 44.82

2 Settlement 793 13.67
3 Agricultural land 1335 23.01
4 Grazing land 342 5.89
5 Bush and shrub land 230 3.97
6 Bare land 400 6.89
7 Marsh land 100 1.724
Total area 5800 100
Table- 2: farming system (shara keble, agricultural office, 2019)

3.1.5. Topography
The study areas will be characterized by medium a slope which is 5-7% and also characterized
by mostly under low land with attitude 1230-2200 above sea level. The feature of the area is
characterized by 85% flat land and 15% undulated or ridge area, (shara keble, agricultural office,
2019

3.1.6. Soil type

The major soil type found in the study area is dominantly there are two predominant type of soil
namely clay and sandy. The fertility status of the soil ranges from high to low, but has limitation
due to susceptibility to water erosion. The study area will be characterized by medium a slope
which is 5-7% and also characterized by mostly under low land with attitude 1230-2200 above
sea level. The feature of the area is characterized by 85% flat land and 15% undulated or ridge
area (shara keble agricultural office, 2019)

3.1.7. Vegetation and crops

Due to population pressure in present time, most forest areas changed into agricultural lands that
are both indigenous and exotic species of trees. The crop type in the study area includes the
main species are maize, mango, moringa , cordia africana, , egyptica, croton, castors,
eucalyptus, terminalia browney, robusta, oliphera, avocado, papaya, coffee, and the like. More
over maize, teff, barley, pea, cotton, mango, and banana are more dominant in the area (shara
kebele, agricultural office, 2019).

12
3.2 source of data
There would be primary and secondary data sources considered for this study. Primary data
source would be farmer’s respondents, agricultural development workers, agriculture officials
and experts and personal field observation. The secondary data sources would be books, internet
and different documents which provide enough information.

3.3 sample size and sampling techniques

The study area has 653 total households. 5% of the total households would be taken, that is
5/100*653=32. Therefore, 32 households will be selected by using simple random sampling
technique.

3.4 data collection methods

For this study purpose, the data collected methods such as open and closed structured
questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussion and observation would be employed.

3.5 data analysis

The collected data would be subjected to descriptive analysis method and will be summarized by
using percentage.would be presented in table.

13
 4. WORK PLAN

Table.4 work plan

TIME FRAME

S/ Activities October November December Januar

N y
1 Project area reconnaissance X
2 Problem identification X
3 Title Selection X
4 Formulating research Objectives X
5 Consulting advisor X
6 Literature Reviewing X
7 Developing Literature X
8 Revising the Literature X
9 Questionnaire Preparation X
10 Data collection X
11 Data Analysis X
12 Organizing the Result X
13 Typing the Result X
14 First Draft Submitting X
15 Correcting Comments X
16 Second draft submission X
17 Revising all activities X
18 Final research submission X

14
5. LOGISTIC/BUDGET

Table- 5 logistic /budget

S/N Items Unit Quantity Unit price Total

15
 1 Transport Days/trip 5 30*5 150

2 Paper Number 120 60 60

3 Print Number 2 28*1.5=84 84

4 Photocopy Number 1 28*0.5=14 14

5 Binder Number 2 2*10=20 20

6 Pen Number 3 5 15

7 Mobil card Number 7 7*15=105 105

8 CD Number 1 35 40

9 Flash Number 1 190 200

10 Bag Number 1 135 135

11 Typing 56 56*5=280 280

12 Note book Number1 45 45

13 Ruler Number 1 15 15

Rulerrr
15 Internet accesses --------- ------------- 157

16 Allowance to data -----------------------

collect -------------- --------------- 245

17 Allowance to data ------------------------

processing -------------- ------------- 250

18 Total 800

6. REFERENCES

Batel Tomass 1995, wind erosion and land degradation long man group, UK.PP 150-160

Bekele and Holden, S. 1998. Resources degradation and adaption of land conservation
technologies in the Ethiopian high lands; a case study in and tid, north shea, agricultural
economy 18(3).
Belay Mulugeta 2003. Integrated watershed management approach to sustainable and land
management (experience of SAROP) in East Gojjam and South wello.

Brady, Weil (1984). The Nature and Properties of Soils (9th ed.). USA: Macmillan Publishing
Co. pp. 4–7.

16
Brown, 1992. Soil testing: sampling correlation, Collaboration, and interpretation special
publication no 21 Madison wise: soil science society of America

Campbell, C, Mc conkey R and Zenter 1996. Long term effects of tillage and crop rotation on
soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in a clay soil in South-western Saskatchewan. Can .J soil
sci?

Chepil, 1995. Soil and water conservation, ecological and plant diversity, India pp (167-177).
David, 1988. Soil fertility management on Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Plant and soil 36;
209-222.

Dutey, 2001. Soil erosion and conservation mega publishing enter price AddiceAbeba, Ethiopia
soil biology 30; 157-168.

Ellison, 2001. Farmer perception on soil fertility changes and manages, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.
Fertilizer researcher 26; 299-310.

Getachew Ayenew, 2005. Environmental policy abnormal perspective to twenty-first century

prentice-Ital. New Jersey, USA. pp `155-158.

Larson B.A. Frisvold G.B, 1996. Fertilizers to support agricultural development in sub-Saharan
Africa. What is needed and why? Food policy 2; 509-525.

Mangi, 1993. On the farm integrated soil fertility management what on into soil of central
highland Ethiopia of natural resource. Pp 159-172.

Mesfin, A. 1996. Food security and the impact of agriculture development in eastern Ethiopia.
Alemaya University of agriculture, Ethiopia. pp 21-26.

Mulongey, K and R.Merck 1993. Soil organic matter dynamics and sustainability of tropical
agriculture. John wiley and sone, Inc Newyork, 3929.

Olson and Fried 1985. Estimation of Available phosphors in soils by extinction with sodium
bicarbonate united stated department of agriculture Washington D.C America.

17
Rowell, 1994. Soil science method and application. Longman group UK. pp 130-135

Scroth, 2003. Trees, crop and soil fertility concept and research method.pp143-146.

Scroth and sinclor, 2003. Tree, crop, and soil fertility concept and research method cabin
publishing UK.PP 14-104

Shapiro, B and Sandars J 1998. Fertility use in semi-arid West Africa; profitability and
supporting policy agricsyst 56; 467-482.

Stoor vogel J. Smaling. And Janussen B 1993. Calculating soil nutrient and effect of mulching
crop with soil nutrient and moisture supply, soil biota and weed biomass, African crop science
Journal 9;499-506.

Sinduir, 2003. Loss nutrient: ecological and plant diversity, India. pp 225-236.

Tisdale, S.L., W.L. Nelson, J.D. Beaton, and J.L. Havlin. 1993. Soil fertility and fertilizers. 5th
edition. Macmillan Publishing Co., NY. 634 p.

Troeh, F.R., and L.M. Thompson. 1993. Soils and soil fertility. 5th edition. Oxford Univ. Press,
NY. 462p. Singer, M.J., and D.N. Munns. 1991. Soils, an introduction. 2nd edition. Macmillan
Publishing Co., NY. 473p.

Wischmess, 1997. Soil erosion and conservation management UK.PP 149-157.

18