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The Effect of Climate-Smart Agriculture on Soil Fertility, Crop Yield, and Soil Carbon in Southern Ethiopia

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  • Meron Tadesse

    (CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security (CCAFS), East Africa. International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia
    Center for Environment and Development, College of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia)

  • Belay Simane

    (Center for Environment and Development, College of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia)

  • Wuletawu Abera

    (International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia)

  • Lulseged Tamene

    (International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia)

  • Gebermedihin Ambaw

    (CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security (CCAFS), East Africa. International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia)

  • John W. Recha

    (CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security (CCAFS), East Africa. International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia)

  • Kindu Mekonnen

    (International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia)

  • Getamesay Demeke

    (Inter Aide Ethiopia, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 100.231, Ethiopia)

  • Abebe Nigussie

    (Department of Natural Resource Management, Jimma University, Jimma P.O. Box 307, Ethiopia)

  • Dawit Solomon

    (CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security (CCAFS), East Africa. International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia)

Abstract

It is critical to develop technologies that simultaneously improve agricultural production, offset impacts of climate change, and ensure food security in a changing climate. Within this context, considerable attention has been given to climate-smart agricultural practices (CSA). This study was conducted to investigate the effects of integrating different CSA practices on crop production, soil fertility, and carbon sequestration after being practiced continuously for up to 10 years. The CSA practices include use of soil and water conservation (SWC) structures combined with biological measures, hedgerow planting, crop residue management, grazing management, crop rotation, and perennial crop-based agroforestry systems. The landscapes with CSA interventions were compared to farmers’ business-as-usual practices (i.e., control). Wheat ( Triticum sp.) yield was quantified from 245 households. The results demonstrated that yield was 30–45% higher under CSA practices than the control ( p < 0.05). The total carbon stored at a soil depth of 1 m was three- to seven-fold higher under CSA landscapes than the control. CSA interventions slightly increased the soil pH and exhibited 2.2–2.6 and 1.7–2.7 times more total nitrogen and plant-available phosphorus content, respectively, than the control. The time series Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) revealed higher soil moisture content under CSA. The findings illustrated the substantial opportunity of integrating CSA practices to build climate change resilience of resource-poor farmers through improving crop yield, reducing nutrient depletion, and mitigating GHG emissions through soil carbon sequestration.

Suggested Citation

  • Meron Tadesse & Belay Simane & Wuletawu Abera & Lulseged Tamene & Gebermedihin Ambaw & John W. Recha & Kindu Mekonnen & Getamesay Demeke & Abebe Nigussie & Dawit Solomon, 2021. "The Effect of Climate-Smart Agriculture on Soil Fertility, Crop Yield, and Soil Carbon in Southern Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:8:p:4515-:d:538749
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Adgo, Enyew & Teshome, Akalu & Mati, Bancy, 2013. "Impacts of long-term soil and water conservation on agricultural productivity: The case of Anjenie watershed, Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 55-61.
    2. Kosmowski, Frédéric, 2018. "Soil water management practices (terraces) helped to mitigate the 2015 drought in Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 11-16.
    3. Corey Lesk & Pedram Rowhani & Navin Ramankutty, 2016. "Influence of extreme weather disasters on global crop production," Nature, Nature, vol. 529(7584), pages 84-87, January.
    4. Thomas, Timothy S. & Dorosh, Paul A. & Robertson, Richard D., 2019. "Climate change impacts on crop yields in Ethiopia," ESSP working papers 130, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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    Cited by:

    1. Kinga Biró & Mária Szalmáné Csete & Bálint Németh, 2021. "Climate-Smart Agriculture: Sleeping Beauty of the Hungarian Agribusiness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Mulatu Fekadu Zerihun, 2021. "Agroforestry Practices in Livelihood Improvement in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Bamlaku Ayenew Kassa & Abera Tilahun Abdi, 2022. "Factors Influencing the Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practice by Small-Scale Farming Households in Wondo Genet, Southern Ethiopia," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, September.
    4. John Walker Recha & Gebermedihin Ambaw & Abebe Nigussie & Maren Radeny & Dawit Solomon, 2022. "Soil Nutrient Contents in East African Climate-Smart Villages: Effects of Climate-Smart Agriculture Interventions," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Theodrose Sisay & Kindie Tesfaye & Mengistu Ketema & Nigussie Dechassa & Mezegebu Getnet, 2023. "Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies and Determinants of Farmers’ Adoption Decisions in the Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-12, February.
    6. Abrham Belay & Alisher Mirzabaev & John W. Recha & Christopher Oludhe & Philip M. Osano & Zerihun Berhane & Lydia A. Olaka & Yitagesu T. Tegegne & Teferi Demissie & Chrispinus Mutsami & Dawit Solomon, 2024. "Does climate-smart agriculture improve household income and food security? Evidence from Southern Ethiopia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(7), pages 16711-16738, July.
    7. Taejun Mo & Hojune Lee & Sungeunsally Oh & Hyunji Lee & Brian H. S. Kim, 2022. "Economic Efficiency of Climate Smart Agriculture Technology: Case of Agrophotovoltaics," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-20, December.

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