According to FGD and KII revealed contour farming, stone bund, stone-faced soil bund, soil bund, and waterways were common physical SWC whereas, crop rotation, plantation on the bund, mulching, and mixed cropping were common biological SWC practices.
Farmers were applied more than one SWC practice from their land. Therefore, compared to the other physical SWC practice in the area stone-faced soil bund was highly implemented. It is effective because stones and soils are much available in farmlands, and it reduces soil erosion and water wastage more compared to the others. Soil and stone bund also were the other common SWC practice in the area. Farmers use stone bund only when their farm is near to sufficient stone in their farmland, and it is high labor demand. Stone bunds are required 125 PD ha-1 (Teshome et al., 2013). It is also consistent with (Aklilu Amsalu, 2006 ). Soil bunds are less permanent and less durable structures mostly applied on rain-fed flat and gentle slopes in the study areas. The proportion of soil bund is low because coverage of land by soil is very shallow, and requires less labor input compared to stone bund because the excavated material from the ditch is thrown downwards, and easily ploughs by ox were the other possible reason moderately required. It is effective in controlling soil loss, retaining moisture, and ultimately enhancing the productivity of the land. It is consistent with (Anley et al., 2006). In addition, the combination of cutoff drains and waterways together was implemented in the area. It is very important for the success of soil and water conservation where there is high rainfall and run-off.
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All of the sampled household heads (100%) practiced crop rotations on their fields for annual crops with common rotation sequences. It is a long-year farmer experience in which legume crops were rotating with other non-leguminous crops for soil fertility improvement in the study areas. Similarly, USDA (1997) stated that contour plowing can increase crop yields from 10 to 50%. Crop rotation practice is used to improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. Moreover, they explained that rotation was used to control pests and diseases infestation. This finding also in line with Kwesiga et al.,(1999) revealed crop rotation increases organic matter in the soil, reduces pests and diseases, improves soil structure, reduces soil degradation. Mixed cropping is common and it is a mixture of legumes and cereals or tuber crops, including complimentary use of growth factors, such as soil nutrients, light, and water; reduced pest and disease incidence, reduced soil erosion, more yield stability, and more household food security. Crop residuemulching are also applied in the area but farmers harvesting crop residues for livestock fodder and cash purpose. This finding is found to agree with the report of FAO (1995). The plantation is very useful for protecting soil erosion (Sanders, 2004). However, only 26.32% of the sampled respondents participated in the planting of trees. Gesho and saspaniya were mostly applied try-on-level bunds.
Moreover, in table 6 from the total participation level, the highest sampled respondents were involved in shared decision-making participation level, and the participation of respondents in the high range of participation becomes low while it affects the willingness of respondents to participate in SWC practices. It is indicated that about 7.24% of sampled households were participating by self-initiation. To mean that only a few of the sampled HHs were participate in SWC practices by their owned initiatives which indicate to be done works on the farmers to increase their willingness to participate in soil and water conservation practices. This level of part is in agreement with done by Mengistu Hone (2019). And only 9.21 % were highly willing to participate in SWC practice at the planning and evaluation phase respectively. This shows that most soil and water conservation measures are designed, evaluate, and planned by development experts of each district. This is consistent with Abrham Mulu et al., (2016) that almost three fourth of farmers participated in the implementation phase of SWC practice.
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