Department of Agriculture

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    EFFECT OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGIES ON SOIL PROPERTIES IN MAZIBA SUB CATCHMENT, KABALE__UGANDA
    (Kenyata University, 2018) Ndemere, Julius
    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.