RESULTS OF SOIL CONSERVATION EXPERIMENTS AND THE SCOPE FOR IMPLEMENTATION: THE CASE OF CHERCHER HIGHLANDS

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Soil conservation measures consisting of six plots were
eKamined in a typical watershed of the intensively cultivated Cflercfler
Highlands to see the perlormance of individual measures. The results
showed that the plots with level measures had distinctly fower fUnoff
and soil losses and higher crop yields than the control plot and those
with graded structures. The level measures are, therefore, found to be
the best option for most of the study area, Preference among the level
measures, however, was obse~ed depending on economic
attractiveness and, more importantly, social acceptance. Moreover, the
graded structures are found to be preferable to the level meaSUfBS on
gentle slopes with waterlogging problems and on steep slopes with
shallow soils. The scope for implementing these 9Kperimentafly
evaluated measures is found to be wide. Nevertheless, there afB msny
cn'tical but often neglected socia-economic issues (ha} require careful
attention at the implementation and management phases if the
measures are to attain widespread adoption and live up to
expectations