Conducted by VSU
Completed on 2025
Ongoing
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Soil degradation in the hilly upland is one of the issues worldwide due to mismanagement and inappropriate soil erosion control measures. In these particular fragile upland ecosystems, information on the nutrient balance and its resilience to extreme weather conditions is very important. Likewise, understanding the different climate-smart agriculture (CSA) approaches for a more resilient, sustainable, and productive area is also necessary in rehabilitating degraded upland. In this project, assessment studies were conducted on the soil erodibility of different double hedgerows and their respective combinations of vitever grass (Vetiveria zizanioides), madre de cacao (Gliricidia sepium), and madre de agua (Trichanthera gigantea) following the Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) approach. Likewise, application of bio-organic fertilizers (BOF) such as IMO6, vermicast, and EM weredone for possible improvement of the different soil physico-chemical properties using Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) as test crop. Plots without hedgerows experienced continuous soil loss, highlighting the crucial role of vegetative barriers in mitigating erosion. Overall, vetiver-based hedgerows offer a sustainable and efficient strategy for soil conservation in sloping agricultural areas. Phosphorous (P) uptake of the test plant was influenced by BOF application. Thus, this study implies that degraded upland with declining soil fertility can be improved and rehabilitated through a climate-smart agriculture (SA) approach.