Assessment of Traditional Soil Fertility Classification and its Management Practices in the Five Districts, Northwestern Highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted to classify soil fertility status locally in three slope classes of 0-2, 2-5 and 5-8% of Dera, Achefer, Mecha, Burie wemberma and Jabi Tehnan districts, Northwestern Ethiopia. From each slope class about 65 farmers who had good knowledge of soils were selected and primary data were collected through interviews and group discussions. Based on the analysis, soil color, texture, water holding capacity, fertilizer requirement, slope, the soils’ depth and workability were identified as local criteria to classify soil fertility status. The criteria for this classification were the soils’ potential to produce crops. Farmers preferred black and clay soils to white and sandy soils due to their high water holding capacity and inherent fertility. Farmers’ soil classification assessment was found to be more holistic than that of researchers. The study concludes that in making interventions in soil management, there should be active participation of local stakeholders, primarily the farmers. There is a need to relate farmers' soil fertility classification and management practices with scientific ones used in research and extension for efficient dissemination.

Keywords: Soil fertility, management practices, Ethiopia