Enset farming in Ethiopia. I. Soil nutrient status in Shoa and Sidamo regions

Soil samples were collected from farms in two enset (Ensete ventricosum) growing regions of Ethiopia and analyzed for plant nutrients. For comparative reasons, soil samples were taken both from fields where enset had been continuously cultivated for several decades and from other fields: annual cropping, grazing, or uncultivated. The results reveal that the enset fields studied had higher soil organic matter contents and better nutritional status than fields used otherwise, not only in the topsoil but also in the subsoil. This indicates more sustainable cultivation with maintained fertility in the enset fields. Possible explanations of this are discussed.