Effects of Graded Stone Bunds on Selected Soil Properties

This research was conducted in the Haro-Werke micro watershed, West Showa, Ethiopia to assess effect of graded stone bunds on selected soil properties on six-year graded stone bunded and non-conserved farm plots. A total of 48 surface soil samples were collected and analyzed for soil bulk density, soil moisture content, organic matter, total nitrogen, pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Results showed that soil bulk density, soil moisture content, soil organic matter, total N, and CEC showed significant differences (p=0.05) between terraced and non-terraced as well as slope gradients. The non-terraced plots had the lowest soil organic matter, total N and CEC. The organic matter content of the plots were positively correlated to soil MC (R2=0.86), TN (R2=0.73), CEC (R2=0.65) and inversely correlated to soil BD (R2= 0.68).The contribution of graded stone bunds to improve majority of the soil properties is significant in the study site