Abstract:
Soil fertility is one of the most important constraints of crop production in Ethiopia. There is a need
to understand soil fertility management practices of farmers and the influence of socioeconomic
factors on soil fertility management decisions. The study was conducted during 2014/2015 growing
season. This study was conducted to document soil fertility management practices employed by
farmers in Gera, Omo Nada and Limu Seka districts of Jimma zone, south western Ethiopia. Data
was collected through questionnaire survey, focus group discussion and key informants at kebele
level. The majority of farmers reported that crop yields are declining primarily due to declining of
soil fertility along with low and erratic rainfalls. Weed infestation, pest and disease damage were
also rated as the top most important agronomic factors that cause declining in crop yield.
Continuous cropping, soil erosion and low fertilizer applications were the most important factors
that are believed to have caused declining of soil fertility. Farmers’ main strategies to maintain soil
fertility include application of kosii (household refuse or waste) along with farm yard manure and
mineral fertilizer applications. The rate of mineral fertilizer applied varied across households. The
mean fertilizer application to maize is 88.2 kg DAP and 86.5kg urea per hectare in Gera, 91.1 kg
DAP and 90.7 kg urea per hectare in Omo Nada, and 108 kg DAP and 105.7 kg urea per hectare in
Limu Seka. Whereas, the mean fertilizer application to tef is 72.4 kg DAP and 17.4 kg urea per
hectare in Gera, 70.5 kg of DAP and 13 in Omo Nada, and 75kg DAP and 13.4 urea per hectare in
Limu Seka. The application rate to maize is roughly close to the nationally issued blanket
recommendation rate of 100 kg DAP and 100 kg urea per hectare whereas to tef is far below. House
demographic characteristics (labour supply), annual income and livestock ownership have
significantly affected farmers’ soil fertility management decisions. Construction of physical soil and
water conservation is negatively correlated with headship of the household (male vs female), age,
and model vs non-model farmers. On the other hand, household wealth status, family size, education
level and farm size positively and significantly affected physical soil and water conservation. Wealth
category and extension status of the farmers were negatively and significantly associated to vetiver
or row of any other grasses, whereas farm land size and educational status associated positively and
significantly. Crop residue management is influenced negatively and significantly by age, wealth
category, and extension status, whereas educational status is associated positively and significant.
Most commonly, male head households, richer farmers and model farmers are better of in
maintaining soil fertility levels of their fields. The opposite is true for female headed, poor and nonmodel households
