Assessment of Soil Fertility Management Practices Employed by Farmers in Selected Villages of Jimma Zone, South Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil fertility is one of the most important constraints of crop production in Ethiopia. There is a need to understand soil fertility management practices of farmers and the influence of socioeconomic factors on soil fertility management decisions. The study was conducted during 2014/2015 growing season. This study was conducted to document soil fertility management practices employed by farmers in Gera, Omo Nada and LimuSeka districts of Jimma zone, south western Ethiopia. Data was collected through questionnaire survey, focus group discussion and key informants at village level. Farmers’ main strategies to maintain soil fertility include application of kosii (household refuse or waste) along with farm yard manure, mineral fertilizer applications and different agronomic practices. The rate of mineral fertilizer applied varied across households. The mean fertilizer application to maize is 88.2 kg DAP and 86.5kg urea per hectare in Gera, 91.1 kg DAP and 90.7 kg urea per hectare in Omo Nada, and 108 kg DAP and 105.7 kg urea per hectare in Limu Seka. Whereas, the mean fertilizer application to tef is 72.4 kg DAP and 17.4 kg urea per hectare in Gera, 70.5 kg of DAP and 13 in Omo Nada, and 75kg DAP and 13.4 urea per hectare in Limu Seka. The application rate to maize is roughly close to the nationally issued blanket recommendation rate of 100 kg DAP and 100 kg urea per hectare whereas to tef is far below it.

Keywords: Nutrient depletion, soil erosion, crop rotation, mineral fertilizers, soil fertility management practices