The Role of Soil Conservation Practices in Improving Soil Fertility a Case Study of Nsambya Sue County, Kyankwanzi District, Uganda.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

APPROVAL ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS v

LIST OF TABLES ix

LIST OF ACRONOMYS

OPERATIONAL TERMS xi

ABSTRACT xii

CHAPTER ONE 1

INTRODUCTION 1

1.O.Background of the study 1

1.1 .Stateméi~t of the problem 2

1.2.Objectives of the study 3

1.3.1 General objective 3

I.3.2.Specific objectives 3

1 .4.Research questions 3

1.5.Scope of the study 3

1.6.Significance of the study 3

CHAPTER TWO 5

LITERATURE REVIEW 5

2.1 Introduction 5

V

2.2 Soil conservation practices .5

2.2.1 Compositing 5

2.2.2 Green manure 6

2.2.3 Crop rotation 7

2.2.4 Intercropping 8

2.2.5 Agro-forestry 8

2.2.6 Conservation tillage systems 9

2.2.7 Mulching 9

2.2.8 Contour farming practices 10

2.2.9 Integration of livestock 10

2.2.10 Bush fallowing 11

2.2.11 Windbreaks 11

2.3 Proper soil conservation practices for different terrains 12

2.3.1 Conserving slope areas 12

2.3.2 Conserving dry land areas 13

2.3.3 Conserving river bank areas! waterways! floodplains 13

2.3.4 Conserving plain! flat areas 13

2.3.5 Conserving the rangelands! pasture lands 13

CHAPTER THREE 14

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 14

3.1 Introduction 14

3.2 Description of the study area 14

3.3 Research design 14

3.4 Sample size and sampling techniques 14

vi

3.4.1 Sample size .14

3.4.2 Sampling techniques 14

3.5 Data collection instruments 15

3.5.1 Questiomrnires 15

3.5.2 Interview guide 15

3.5.3 Observation schedule 15

3.6 Data analysis and presentation 15

CHAPTER FOUR 16

PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS 16

4.1 Introduction 16

4.2 Socio-demographic information 16

4.2.1 Age of respondents 16

4.2.2 Sex of respondents 17

4.2.3 Level of education 17

4.2.4 The occupation of respondents 18

4.3: The available soil conservation practices 19

4.4 The effectiveness of the available soil conservation practices in improving soil fertility 23

4.5 Suitable soil conservation practices for managing soils in different terrains within Nsambya

Sub county 30

4.5.1 Managing hilly terrains, gentle and steep slope areas 31

4.5.2 Managing lowlands and plain terrains 32

4.5.3 Managing swampy areas 33

4.5.4 Managing rocky places 34

vii

CHAPTER FIVE .35

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMEN]~ATION 35

5.1 Conclusions 35

5.2 Recommendations 35

REFERRENCES 36

APPENDICES 39

APPENDIX A QUESTIONNAIRE 39

APPENDIX B INTERVIEW GUIDE 44