Conservation Agriculture for Crop Productivity in Derashe and Arba Minch Zuriya District, Southwestern Ethiopia
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Date
2023-07-20
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The majority of smallholders in Ethiopia still use conventional tillage (CT) in conjunction with a limited range of soil management practices. Land degradation occurs as a result of soil erosion and soil moisture stress, resulting in crop production declines and food insecurity. As a result of rainwater stress and soil erosion, food insecurity was prolonged in the Derashe Valley. To overcome this challenge, smallholders developed CA with Targa-na-Potayta mulching system. However, the benefits of CA for soil quality, crop productivity, household income, and adoption determinants were not yet well-understood. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the benefits of CA and CT in the Derashe and Arba Minch Zuriya districts. Four study Kebeles, two from each district, were purposively selected based on proximity and accessibility. 160 nonadopters and 232 CA adopters were selected using proportional sampling. The household survey, key informant interview, transect walk, and soil laboratory test were used to collect primary data. The soil samples were collected at a depth of 30 cm using a zigzag pattern. To complement the data a total of four key informant interviews were conducted in the selected study Kebeles. An independent sample t-test was applied to compare soil physicochemical properties, production, and income from annual + perennial crops. A logistic regression model was employed to identify farmers' CA adoption decision determinants. The results showed, in CA, clay content was 54.4 ± 2.58%, FC 47.8 ± 1.09%, AWHC 15.2 ± 0.37%, pH 8.02 ± 0.07, SOC 1.8 ± 0.02%, and Sum of cations 68.2 ± 1.66 meq/100g. CA values in the tested parameters were statistically significant (P< 0.05). In Belg 2020 maize and teff production under CA was 1.38 and 1.28 times higher than CT. During meher 2020/21 maize production was 24.62 and 16.36 Q ha-1 under CA and CT, in comparison. Maize income was 39,397.63 ETB and 26,176.64 ETB under CA and CT, respectively. In the same season, teff production and income were 1.66 times higher under CA than in CT. In meher 2020/21 production and income from banana fruit was 82.11 Q ha-1 and 93,063.42ETB. The production and income of Moringa stenopetala leaves reached 1.9Q ha-1 and 2889.24ETB respectively. Moreover, the study identified that age, education, total livestock holding, income from annual + perennial plants, extension service, and lack of access to small-scale irrigation were strong determinants limiting CA practice decisions. The results suggested appropriate policies and extension programs to scale out CA with Targa-na-Potayta mulching for sustainable soil management and crop production to areas with similar agroecology.
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Keywords
Conservation Agriculture; Conventional Tillage; Indigenous Knowledge; Targa-naPotayta; Soil Management; Physicochemical; Crop production; Household Income; Adoption,