The Effects of Level Soil Bund Structure on Selected Soil Properties at Menentela Watershed, Habru Woreda, North Wello, Amhara, Regional, National, State, Ethiopia

Different soil and water conservation (SWC) measures have been constructed on farmlands to control runoff surface water, erosion, sedimentation and conserve soil and water on agricultural fields. This study was entitled with: the effects of level soil bund structure on selected soil properties at Menentela watershed, Habru District North Wello Amhara Regional National State, Ethiopia. Objectives of the study includes: to assess the status of selected soil physico-chemical properties under the two adjacent treatments: treated with LSB (Deko) and none-treated (Doba), to observe the persons correlations between the studied soil properties and further to examine their variations with soil depth. The total of 48 composite soil samples (2 treatments * 3 replications*4 sample plots*2 depth layers: 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm) were collected and analyzed for soil (%STF), soil MC %, soil BD g/cm<sup>3</sup>, soil pH (1:2.5 soil: water ratio), SOC %) and CEC meq/100g. Also the total of 48 soil samples were separately collected for the determination of soil bulk density and soil moisture contents. Results had showed that sand, clay, MC and BD were significantly varied with treatments (P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001 and P=0.018, respectively). These parameters also showed significant differences with soil depth. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) had showed differences with soil depth (P=0.005), but not with treatment (P=0.63). Sand%, silt% and bulk density (BD g/cm<sup>3</sup>) were the higher in the non-treated farmlands (35.85±0.32, 33.35±0.25 and 1.13±0.02, respectively) than under LSB treated farmlands, while clay, and MC were lower in non-treated farmlands. Silt and clay were declined with soil depth, while, sand, soil MC and soil BD were increased with soil depth. The mean value of soil pH, SOC and CEC were the higher under LSB than none-treated farmlands. Moreover, soil pH, SOC and CEC were the higher (6.72±0.04, 0.58±0.04 and 34.59±1.18) in the top of 0-15 cm of the layers than in the lower of 15-30 cm of the layers. The differences in these selected soils physico-chemical properties were in general resulted from the soil and water conservation practices (LSB) implemented in the study watershed which has reduced runoff water, conserve soil and moisture, provide the better infiltration rate and reduce the removal of soil organic matter and soil colloidal. In general the studied soil properties had showed that well improves due to the farmlands treated with LSB while none treated farmlands had showed that decline of the soil properties.