Effect of different Grass Species on Soil Loss, and Runoff at Assosa, Benishangul Gumuz, Ethiopia

Abstract

Land degradation is a severe environmental problem across sub-Saharan Africa, and Ethiopia is among the most affected countries. This study aimed to know the potential of different grasses for soil and water conservation. Three different grasses were used to evaluate their potential for conserving the soil and water on the farmland, with three replications each for 2 consecutive years. Vetiver, Desho, and elephant grass had deposited 10 and 7 ton/he of soil relative to a plot without any grass control. Furthermore, they had increased the soil water by 22.6% as compared to a plot without any grass. Thus, the study revealed the best potential of Vetiver, and Desho grass to conserve both the soil and water. Therefore, the study revealed the best and most promising potential for treating degraded land with biological measures.