Aw. Tensaye et al., ENSET FARMING IN ETHIOPIA - I - SOIL NUTRIENT STATUS IN SHOA AND SIDAMO REGIONS, Communications in soil science and plant analysis, 29(1-2), 1998, pp. 193-210
Soil samples were collected from farms in two enset (Ensete ventricosu
m) growing regions of Ethiopia and analyzed for plant nutrients. For c
omparative reasons, soil samples were taken both from fields where ens
et 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 ex
planations of this are discussed.