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

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 Limu Seka districts of Jimma zone, south western Ethiopia. Data was collected through questionnaire survey, focus group discussion and key informants at kebele level. The majority of farmers reported that crop yields are declining primarily due to declining of soil fertility along with low and erratic rainfalls. Weed infestation, pest and disease damage were also rated as the top most important agronomic factors that cause declining in crop yield. Continuous cropping, soil erosion and low fertilizer applications were the most important factors that are believed to have caused declining of soil fertility. Farmers’ main strategies to maintain soil fertility include application of kosii (household refuse or waste) along with farm yard manure and mineral fertilizer applications. 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. House demographic characteristics (labour supply), annual income and livestock ownership have significantly affected farmers’ soil fertility management decisions. Construction of physical soil and water conservation is negatively correlated with headship of the household (male vs female), age, and model vs non-model farmers. On the other hand, household wealth status, family size, education level and farm size positively and significantly affected physical soil and water conservation. Wealth category and extension status of the farmers were negatively and significantly associated to vetiver or row of any other grasses, whereas farm land size and educational status associated positively and significantly. Crop residue management is influenced negatively and significantly by age, wealth category, and extension status, whereas educational status is associated positively and significant. Most commonly, male head households, richer farmers and model farmers are better of in maintaining soil fertility levels of their fields. The opposite is true for female headed, poor and nonmodel households