Effect Of Soil And Water Conservation Technologies On Soil Properties In Maziba Sub Catchment, Kabale__Uganda

Abstract

Soil and water resources are important for sustaining life on earth since they are the main

components of sub catchment, however they are under threat of deterioration due to human

activities (NEMA, 2011). Maziba sub catchment have high population pressure which have led

to deforestation, over cultivation and wetland encroachment leading to soil erosion problems

causing severe tension on soil and water resources while little attention is paid to their effects

(NEMA, 2011). The purpose of the study was to analyze the effect of soil and water conservation

technologies on soil properties in Maziba sub catchment of Kabale District, Uganda. The specific

objectives of the study were to: (i) Identify soil and water conservation technologies used at

different landscape positions by farmers in Maziba sub catchment, (ii) Evaluate the effects of

selected soil and water conservation technologies on saturated hydraulic conductivity, organic

matter and bulk density and (iii) Determine the factors influencing farmers’ use of soil and water

conservation technologies in Maziba sub catchment. The study employed both descriptive and

analytical research designs utilizing mixed methodologies. Probability sampling technique was

used to select 99 respondents, who were selected to obtain predominantly used soil and water

conservation technologies and socio-economic data using semi-structured questionnaire. Thirty

six soil samples were collected from mulched and trenched plots at 0-5 cm depth using soil core

to analyze BD and OM from the laboratory and sat K was measured in situ using inversed augur

hole technique. Statistical analysis of the data collected was done using statistical packages for

social scientists (SPSS 16.0) and Microsoft Excel 2007. The results obtained from treatment

(mulched plots) were compared to those of control (none mulched plots) from the same sub

catchment and conclusions regarding the soil properties were drawn based on internationally

acceptable standards. Descriptive statistics were used to describe soil and water conservation

technologies practiced in the study area. Chi-square tests were used to test the association

between socio-economic data and soil and water conservation technologies used by farmers. The

study revealed that terracing (36.4%), mulching (21.2%) and trenching (13.1%) were the

predominant soil and water conservation technologies reported. The study results indicated that

plots under mulching and trenching (treatment) significantly affects the soil OM (4.45 %), Soil

BD (1.32 g /cm3) and sat K (6.1310-2 cm/s) compared to results obtained from control plots

OM (3.31%), BD (1.45 g/cm3) and sat K (11.9210-2 cm/s) which was all within acceptable

range. The study further revealed that marital status of respondents, age of respondents, level of

education, fertility of the soil, farmland slope, size of land and land tenure influenced farmers’

use of soil and water conservation technologies. The study recommends extensive use of

mulching and trenching since they were proved to be effective in improvingOM , BD and sat K

in the study area.