Perception and Management of Soil Fertility by Farmers: A case study in BechoWoreda, OromiaRegional State

A study was conducted to understand and document farmers knowledge and perceptions, classification, mapping and management of soils in two kebeles of Bechoworeda,OromiyaRegional State. The study involved key ifnromant interview, focused group discussions, participatory soil mapping and focused questionnaire on soil fertility management practices currently being employed by farmers. Soil chemical properties were analysed in order to see the matches and mismatches between scientific methods and farmer charactersiation of soils. The results revealed that farmershave well-developed knowledge of soil characterization, classification and fertility management based on morphological properties (e.g., colour, texture, workability, etc) and local indicators of change. They use various morphological properties suchas soilcolour, soil texture, and workabaility to classifiy their soils. The locally identified soil types are mapped showing their extenst and distribution at the kebele level. Soil fertilitymanagement practices are dominated by applicationof chemical fertilizers but the rates of applications have varided significantly across wealth groups (i.e., among rich, medium and poor). Ownership of oxen, farm income and total farm size are among the socil-economic factors that dictated farmers capacity to purchase and apply recommended rates of fertilizer. Locally available soil fertility inputs include crop residue return but the use of these practice is rater limited and widely varied across households and locations. Legume rotation is largely based on chick pea after cereals (wheat, teff) but it is rarely practiced . The study concludes that proper understanding of farmers knowledge of soils and management practices can serve greatly as basis for detailed scientific soil characterization and classification according to World reference Base (WRB) and for mapping the variability of soil-landscape resources