Abstract:
Assessment and understanding of soil qualities (SQ) and the inherent Land use land
cover changes are important physical indicators for sustainable land management
strategies. On the other hand, soil erosion and adoption knowledge of farmers is
fundamental social dimension. Land use land cover (LULC) changes are inherently
spatial and dynamic with high spatiotemporal variability resulted from complex
human-environmental interactions. The objectives of this study were (i) to assess the
effects of land uses and soil and water conservation measures on soil quality
indicators; (ii) to investigate farmers’ perception of soil erosion, participation and
adoption of soil conservation technologies (SWC) in the Geshy sub-catchment of
Gojeb river catchment, Ethiopia; (iii) to assess LULC changes and its drivers; and
(iv) to examine the effects of climatic variability (rainfall) on NDVI for the periods
1982-2015in the Gojeb River Catchment, Omo-Gibe Basin, Ethiopia. A total of 54
soil samples (three LU types x three slope classes (blocks) x three replications x two
soil depths) were collected with an “X” plot design. Moreover, A total of 54 soil
samples (two treatments-farmlands with and without SWC measures*three slope
classes*three terrace positions*three replications) were collected at a depth of 20
cm for data analysis. Statistical differences in SQ indicators were analyzed among
LU types, conservation measures, slope classes and soil depths and tested using
univariate analysis of variance and Pearson’s correlation coefficient following the
general linear model procedure of SPSS Version 20.0 for Windows. Additionally,
Farmers’ perception of soil erosion, participation and adoption of soil conservation
technologies was investigated based on a detailed survey of 77 households using
descriptive and chi-square statistics of SPSS version 20 for windows. Means that
exhibited significant differences were compared using Tukey’s Honest Significance
Difference at a 5% probability level. The results showed that a number of SQ
indicators were significantly influenced by LU changes, conservation measures and
soil depths. The sand, dry soil bulk density (
