Abstract:
This study investigated the effect of different farmer cropping and soil conservation practices on runoff, soil and nutrient loss in Bududa district, Uganda. Gerlach troughs measuring 0.6m length, 0.4 m width and 0.5 m high were installed on runoff plots (15 m x 2 m) on farmer’s fields under banana sole, banana-arabica coffee or annual crops, with or without soil conservation structures. Soil loss was significantly (P<0.05) higher on annuals than on banana or banana-coffee (38.5 vs 6.6 vs 0.87 t ha-1yr-1), with values much higher for fields without conservation structures compared to those where there were structures. The total monetary value for NPK lost through erosion was US $ 16,663, 4,404 and 442 ha-1yr-1 for annuals, banana and banana-coffee fields respectively; with values much higher for fields without conservation structures compared to those with structures (US $ 15,451 vs 6,058). Soil loss values were much higher than the tolerable limit for Uganda which is 5 t ha-1yr-1 and calls for immediate action to scale up sustainable land management practices.
