Integrated gully rehabilitation measures enhance soil chemical properties and macrofauna recovery in a Lixisol

Abstract Gully erosion may cause serious degradation of soils and disruption of key ecological functions in drylands. This study evaluated manual grading of gullies into bench terraces and their restoration using vegetation treatments to investigate their impact on soil and macrofauna recovery. Plots of 9.75 m in length and 3 m in width were created from three benches of 39 m in length and 3 m in width. The selection of the treatments was based on attributes, drought tolerance, utilization, and maturity period. Pigeon pea ( Cajanus cajan ) intercropped with Dolichos ( Lablab purpureus ) and S. sesban intercropped with Super Napier grass ( Cenchrus purpureus × Cenchrus glaucum ), Brachiaria grass ( Brachiaria brizantha) and Mombasa grass ( Panicum maximum Jacq.) were among the treatments. We sampled soil and macrofauna before and after rehabilitation during the dry and wet seasons. The soil's physicochemical properties included pH, electrical conductivity, carbon fractions, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases, cation exchange capacity, and bulk density. We hand-sorted the soil macrofauna for identification from monoliths measuring 25 × 25 × 30 cm. The spiders, centipedes, crickets, stick insects, assassin bugs, pot worms, and tiger beetles were recorded as a result of treatment rehabilitation. S. sesban + B. brizantha treatment had a significant treatment effect on scarab beetle abundance during the wet season. A positive relationship between macrofauna and carbon fractions was noticed, while the soil's physicochemical properties had no significant treatment effect. Gully rehabilitation with suitable vegetation treatment improves soil and ecosystems.