Bio-Physical and Socio-Economic Impact of Integrated Watershed Management in Ojoje, Doyogena District Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted in Ojoje watershed of southern Ethiopia with the objective of evaluating biophysical and socio-economic impact of soil and water conservation (SWC) technological options in crop-livestock mixed farming systems. Three watersheds were assessed using formal interview and focus group discussions using stratified sampling procedure. The before and after intervention effects was assessed using t-test. The results indicated that land use improved from 68% before intervention to 88% after intervention. 91.3% of the participants perceived that land degradation was a serious problem before while the percentage decreased to 30.5% after interventions. 93.5% of the participants perceived that soil fertility decreased crop yield. There was 6% stone bund, 39% soil bund and 9% fanya-Juu before intervention but after intervention soil band increased to 80%, fanya-Juu to 12.5% and infiltration pits to 3.6%. Improved soil and water conservation (SWC) structures and live barriers have contributed for the reduced soil degradation. 88.7% of the sources of SWC structures such as stabilizers were from governmental organization. Soil bunds were covered with 92.3% grasses and 3.8% without any stabilizer. The results indicated that using live soil stabilizers improved soil fertility, reduced soil degradation and improved crop yield, implying soil and water conservation is crucial for improving soil fertility and overall crop productivity other than changing the microenvironment.

Keywords: Crop yield, Soil bunds; soil erosion; Stabilizers; soil and water conservation