JOURNAL OF DEGRADED AND MINING LANDS MANAGEMENT ISSN: 2339-076X (p); 2502-2458 (e), Volume 8, Number 1 (October 2020): 2491-2502 DOI:10.15243/jdmlm.2020.081.2491 www.jdmlm.ub.ac.id 2491 Research Article Evaluation of the effectiveness of level soil bund and soil bund age on selected soil physicochemical properties in Somodo Watershed, Jimma Zone, SouthWestern Ethiopia Leta Hailu 1* , Fantaw Yimer 2 , Teklu Erkossa 3 1 Jimma Agricultural Research Center, P.O.Box 192, Jimma, Ethiopia 2 Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resource, Hawassa University, Ethiopia 3 International Water Management Institute, P.O.Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia * corresponding author: latahailu@gmail.com Received 10 August 2020, Accepted 16 September 2020 Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of level soil bund stabilized with Vetiver grass and soil bund age on selected soil physicochemical properties on Somodo watershed, Jimma Zone, South-western, Ethiopia. A reconnaissance survey was conducted to identify a representative sampling site. From the selected sampling site croplands with level soil bund aged three years, six years and adjacent untreated cropland were identified. A total of 108 composite soil samples (3 treatments * 6 replications * 2 depths * 3 zones) were collected. Soil samples were analyzed following standard laboratory analysis. Ages of level soil bund (LSB) significantly affected SMC (soil moisture content) (p<0.01), BD (bulk density) (p<0.01), and SOC (soil organic carbon) (p<0.01). Zones showed significant difference in sand content (p<0.05), SMC (p<0.01), BD (p<0.05) and SOC (p<0.01). Moreover, the soil depths also significantly influenced silt content (p<.05), SMC (p<.01), BD (p<0.01), SOC (p<0.01), TN (total nitrogen) (p<0.01), Av.-P (available phosphorous) (p<0.01) and CEC (p<0.05). The interaction effect of the age of LSB with zone was significant for SOC (P<0.05). To sum up, the effect of the constructed level soil bund had a positive impact on selected soil physicochemical properties of the site. Therefore, the study suggests that it is essential to maintain the structure to sustain the effectiveness and scale up the technology to other watersheds with similar agroecology of the country. Further study is encouraged to understand more about the effect of the slope and Vetiver grass bund stabilization role independently on selected soil properties. Keywords: age of soil bund, inter bund zones, soil properties, Vetiver grass To cite this article: Hailu, L., Yimer, F. and Erkossa, T. 2020. Evaluation of the effectiveness of level soil bund and soil bund age on selected soil physicochemical properties in Somodo Watershed, Jimma Zone, SouthWestern Ethiopia. J. Degrade. Min. Land Manage. 8(1): 2491-2502, DOI: 10.15243/jdmlm. 2020.081.2491. Introduction Soil erosion is the main environmental problems challenging human society and each year about 10 million hectares of cropland are lost due to soil erosion affecting ecosystem productivity and reduction of the arable land available for food production (Boardman et al., 2009; Pimentel and Burgess, 2013; Montanarella et al., 2016). It has been severe throughout the highlands generally and particular on cultivated land. In a single rain, about 1 mm of soil, easily lost. Still, this loss of soil over a hectare of cropland accounts for 15 t/ha (Pimentel and Burgess, 2013). Furthermore, the rate of soil loss by erosion from cultivated land is about 10 to 40 times more rapidly than the rate of soil formation and putting into risk the food security (Pimentel and Burgess, 2013). This soil is no more available to support crops; that threatens food production (Gebreselassie et al., 2009; Hurni et al., 2010; Pimentel and Burgess, 2013; Jaleta et al., 2016). In Ethiopia, the economy depends mainly on agricultural activities (MoFED, 2010; CSA, 2012). However, the sector is threatening by loss of