Assessing the Effect of Soil and Water Conservation Technologies on Climbing Bean Growth and Yield in Lake Mulehe Sub Catchment, Kisoro District, Uganda

The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of soil and water conservation technologies on soil properties and crop yields in Lake Mulehe Sub-catchment, Kisoro District, Uganda. The specific objective of the study was to determine the effect of four most practised soil and water conservation technologies practised by farmers on selected soil physicochemical properties (PH, OM, BD, TN and AvP) in Lake Mulehe sub-catchment. The study employed a quantitative research design that utilised an experimental strategy with four conservation techniques: land terracing, trenching, mulching, and cover cropping, compared to a control on similar topography cropland at the same altitude. Five treatments were replicated four times (20 plots of 4m × 4m) in a randomised complete block design over 0.079 acres. Soil samples (0–15 cm) were collected using a soil auger, composited per treatment, and analysed at Makerere University’s Soil Research Center. Samples were prepared and analysed for pH, particle size, OC, TN, and available P using standard procedures, including Bouyoucos hydrometer, Walkley-Black, Kjeldahl, and Olsen methods. 100 farmers were randomly selected to identify the predominant soil and water conservation technologies using an observation checklist. The study employed one-way ANOVA to examine differences in soil physicochemical properties between conserved and non-conserved plots, and two-way ANOVA to assess interaction effects of soil and conservation treatments, complemented by bivariate correlation analysis to explore relationships among soil parameters. Statistical analysis utilized SPSS 20 and Microsoft Excel 2016. The findings indicate that soil pH improved across all conservation techniques, ranging between 5.7 and 6.5, which is suitable for crop production. The results reveal that organic matter content increased in all conserved plots, ranging from 2% to 5%, while the control plot showed very low levels. The findings indicated mixed effects on soil nutrients and physical properties. It is recommended that farmers adopt mulching, stabilised trenches, grass bands, and terraces to maintain pH levels suitable for crop production. The recommendation is that organic matter accumulation enhances soil fertility and structure. It is recommended that conservation techniques that trap organic debris and promote microbial activity be widely applied. It is recommended that mulching, trenches, and grass bands be prioritised to reduce bulk density and improve nutrient retention, while terraces be managed carefully to avoid minor increases in soil compaction.