Impact of agroforestry tree canopies on soil properties and wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield in southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Farmers in southern Ethiopia integrate versatile trees with annual crops; yet, scientific data on their impacts on soil properties and crop yields remain limited. This research evaluated the impact of Croton macrostachyus (Hochst. Ex Delile) and Erythrina brucei (Schweinf) canopies on soil properties and wheat yield across different radial distances from the tree trunks, in Gamo, southern Ethiopia. The randomized complete block design (RCBD) experiment was applied, incorporating two tree species replicated four times for each and four radial distance treatments. Soil and wheat data were analysed using two-way ANOVA. The findings demonstrated significant enhancements in soil properties and wheat yields under both tree canopies, with peak yields observed at two-thirds of the crown radius. Since this study was conducted over a single season and focused on just one crop, future research should incorporate multi-seasonal and regional data, as well as variations in soil depth.