Impact of farm exclosure, tillage practices, and cropping patterns on soil and teff grain nutrient status in Semiarid Ethiopia

Land degradation is a critical issue globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Agroecological practices in northern Ethiopia have been implemented to address this, but the combined effects of these practices on soil and grain nutrient status remain underexplored. This study examines the impact of farmland management, cropping patterns, and tillage systems on soil properties and the availability of soil and grain micronutrients in teff-growing areas of semiarid regions in Ethiopia. This study examined the impact of two farmland management systems (farm exclosure vs. unmanaged), two cropping patterns (mono-cropping of teff vs. rotation with legumes), and three tillage frequencies (2-3, 4-5, 6-7 plows) on soil and grain nutrients in teff-growing sites. A Randomized Complete Block Design was employed across 10 sites, resulting in 360 observations. Results showed that management, cropping pattern, and tillage frequency significantly affected bulk density, pH, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, soil organic carbon, spore density, root colonization, and soil and grain micronutrient content (P