Participatory evaluation and demonstration of Fanya Juu with grass strips as soil and water conservation measures for rehabilitation of degraded Farmlands in Kamba District, Southern Ethiopia

Land degradation due to soil erosion and soil fertility depletion is a significant threat to the agricultural system, that limiting food security and sustainable agricultural production. This study demonstrated and evaluated Fanya juu with elephant grass strips as soil and water conservation measures for rehabilitation of degraded lands in Kamba district Gamo Zone South Ethiopia. The study used Three treatments namely; Fanya juu with Elephant grass, Fanya juu only and control plots without interventions. The treatments were laid on Randomized Complete Block Design on Six trial farmers field which used as a replication. The size of each experimental plot was 20 m x 20 m and used 1 m space between the plots. The selected physicochemical properties of soil parameters, yield and yield components of maize were analyzed using SAS computer software. The study reveals the selected physicochemical properties of soil, yield and yield components of maize had significantly affected by the treatments. The highest clay fraction, soil moisture content, soil pH, OC, TN, AvP, and AvK were found in the plots having Fanya juu with Elephant grass treatment than only Fanya juu and control plots. The study also confirms, cob number, biomass and grain yields of maize were significantly highest under Fanya juu with elephant grass treatments. Based on the result, the study concluded that demonstrated Fanya juu with Elephant grass strips had affected the physicochemical soil properties while, consequently used as rehabilitating degraded lands. Additionally, the study also concluded implementing Fanya juu and Elephant grasses were significantly increasing yield and yield components of maize. Based on the findings, it is better to demonstrate Fanya juu with Elephant grass to conserved soil and water and thereby maximize grain yield of maize for the study area and similar agro ecology.