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Effects of land management practices and land cover types on soil loss and crop productivity in Ethiopia: A review

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Relation http://oar.icrisat.org/11809/
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2021.04.008
doi:10.1016/j.iswcr.2021.04.008
 
Title Effects of land management practices and land cover types on soil loss and crop productivity in Ethiopia: A review
 
Creator Desta, G
Tamene, L
Abera, W
Amede, T
Whitbread, A M
 
Subject Crop Yield
Soil Science
Ethiopia
 
Description Identifying land management practices (LMPs) that enhance on-site sediment management and crop
productivity is crucial for the prevention, reduction, and restoration of land degradation and contributing
to achieving land degradation neutrality (LDN). We reviewed studies in Ethiopia to assess the effects of
LMPs on soil loss (84 studies) and crop productivity (34 studies) relative to control practice. Yield
variability on conserved lands was assessed using 12,796 fixed plot data. Effects of LMP on soil loss were
0.5e55 t ha-11y-11 compared to control practices yielding 50 to 140 t ha-11y-1. More than 55% of soil loss
records revealed soil loss less than the tolerable rate (10 t ha-1). Area closure, perennial vegetation cover,
agronomic practices, mechanical erosion control practices, annual cropland cover, and drainage groups of
practices led to 74.0 ± 18.3%, 69.0 ± 24.6%, 66.2 ± 30.5%, 66.1 ± 18.0%, 63.5 ± 20.0%, and 40 ± 11,1% soil
loss reduction, respectively. A yield increase of 25.2 ± 15.0%, 37.5 ± 28.0%, and 75.4 ± 85.0% was found
from drainage, agronomy, and mechanical erosion control practices, respectively. The average yield loss
by erosion on fields without appropriate land management practice and on conserved fields was
26.5 ± 26.0% and 25 ± 3.7%, respectively. The findings suggest that practices that entail a continuous
presence of soil cover during the rainy season, perennial vegetation, retention of moisture, and barriers
for sediment transport were most effective at decreasing soil loss and increasing productivity. This review
provides evidence to identify the best LMP practices for wider adoption and inform decisionmaking
on LMP investments towards achieving sustainable solutions to reverse land degradation.
 
Publisher Keai Publishing Ltd
 
Date 2021-04
 
Type Article
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
Identifier http://oar.icrisat.org/11809/1/1-s2.0-S2095633921000423-main.pdf
Desta, G and Tamene, L and Abera, W and Amede, T and Whitbread, A M (2021) Effects of land management practices and land cover types on soil loss and crop productivity in Ethiopia: A review. International Soil and Water Conservation Research (TSI). ISSN 2095-6339