Assessing effect of physical erosion controlling measures on soil properties of cultivated land

Physical soil and water conservation (SWC) measures such as soil bunds and Fanya juu are widely implemented to control soil erosion. Empirical information on the effect of introduced physical erosion controlling measures on soil properties can support sustainable land management. This study was designed to evaluate effect of soil bunds and Fanya juu on soil properties. From farm fields with and without physical SWC measures (soil bunds and Fanya juu), 111 soil samples were collected at 0–20 cm depth, and analyzed in lab for soil properties such as texture, pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorous (Pava), and available potassium (Kava). Results revealed that, except available P and K, which were significantly (p < 0.1) greater in field with physical SWC measure than without, significant effects on the majority of soil properties were not detected. This could be due to far spacing of the physical SWC measures, inadequate management, and low age (~ 5 years) of the physical SWC measures. In fields with physical SWC measures, in between consecutive SWC measures, 13–40% greater SOC and nutrients were observed at low slope position compared to up location even though, in many cases, the differences were statistically non-significant. The greater SOC and nutrients in low location implied the sediment trapping role of the physical SWC measures. We conclude that, in the studied area, within five years of construction, effects of physical SWC measures on soil properties are small, highlighting the need for improved design, and integrating soil fertility management practices to enhance soil quality.