JOURNAL OF DEGRADED AND MINING LANDS MANAGEMENT ISSN: 2339-076X (p); 2502-2458 (e), Volume 5, Number 3 (April 2018): 1191-1205 DOI:10.15243/jdmlm.2018.053.1191 www.jdmlm.ub.ac.id 1191 Research Article Effect of soil and water conservation on rehabilitation of degraded lands and crop productivity in Maego watershed, North Ethiopia Gebremariam Yaebiyo Dimtsu * , Mulubrehan Kifle, Girmay Darcha 1 Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, P.O.Box 492, Mekelle, Ethiopia * corresponding author: gyaebiyo@gmail.com Received 13 January 2018, Accepted 28 Februay 2018 Abstract : Many soil and water conservation (SWC) measures have been carried out to solve land degradation problems in Ethiopia. However, evaluation of their performance is essential to understand their success or failure and readjusting accordingly in the future planning. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate effectiveness of SWC measures in rehabilitation of degraded watershed and increase crop productivity in Maego watershed, Ethiopia. Seventy six sample plots were randomly taken from treated and untreated sub-watersheds for woody species and soil sampling. Crops yield was measured on top side (accumulation zone), middle zone and below side of SWC structures. There were significantly higher woody species density and diversity, total nitrogen (TN), soil organic matter (SOM) and soil moisture in the treated uncultivated land than the untreated one. The highest tree and sapling species density and diversity, TN and SOM were recorded on the exclosure part of the treated sub- watershed. Landscape position affected soil fertility, but has no effect on woody species density and diversity. The highest barley and wheat yield was measured on top side of SWC structures. Therefore, physical SWC structures should be integrated with exclosure to enhance rehabilitation of degraded watersheds/landscapes. Integration of biological SWC measures that improve soil fertility are essential on the cultivated land of the watershed. Most of the existing SWC structures, especially the old ones are filled with accumulated sediment, so maintenance is needed for their sustainable effectiveness. Keywords: crops productivity, Maego watershed, soil and water conservation To cite this article: Dimtsu, G.Y., Kifle, M. and Darcha, G. 2018. Effect of soil and water conservation on rehabilitation of degraded lands and crop productivity in Maego watershed, North Ethiopia. J. Degrade. Min. Land Manage. 5(3): 1191-1205, DOI: 10.15243/jdmlm. 2018.053.1191. Introduction Land degradation is a major cause of poverty in rural areas of developing countries (Nyssen et al., 2007). Land degradation, which includes degradation of vegetation cover, soil and nutrient depletion, is a major ecological and economic problem in Ethiopia (Haileslassie et al., 2005). Even though agriculture is the major source of livelihood in Ethiopia, land degradation in the form of soil erosion has hindered its productivity (Hengsdijk et al., 2005; Balana et al., 2010). Soil erosion due to high runoff, results in sizeable loss of soil and nutrient and, is primarily responsible for low productivity and poor economic status of the farmers in the rain fed areas (Nyssen et al., 2010; Adimassu et al., 2014). Several studies reported severity of soil loss has been observed in different parts of the country. The soil erosion loss ranges from 42 t/ha/yr (Hurni, 1993) to 179 t/ha/yr (Shiferaw and Holden, 1999). Abera (2003) also confirmed from the range of 12 t/ha/yr/ to 300 t/ha/yr that differs on slope and vegetation cover. Soil erosion, low agricultural productivity and poverty are critical and closely related problems in the Ethiopian highlands (Hurni et al., 2005; Pender and Gebremedhin, 2007; Yitbarek et al., 2012). Especially, the Tigray region, which is in the northern part of Ethiopia, suffers from extreme land degradation since steep slopes have been cultivated for many centuries and are subjected to serious soil erosion