Accepted 5^th February, 2018

Ethiopia is regarded as the roof of eastern Africa and is considered water tower of the region. Indigenous knowledge of soil and water conservation practices are common in many parts of the country. It is common to see slope lands brought into cultivation where land pressures are high. In many instances in the past, SWC mechanisms were built without proper design. Thus, it is common to see different forms of soil and water conservation practices across the country. Hence, many area of the country’s top soil is under severing condition of erosion; however, the East Hararghe people have indigenous SWC mechanisms which enable them to save the soil from erosion. The objectives of this study were to identify indigenous SWC practices physically and socio-economically to harness and promote its use and to characterize indigenous soil and water conservation practices of the study area for further improvement. In this study, both primary and secondary data collection techniques were used. This includes physical SWC structure parameters: (Land Slope (LS), Vertical Interval (VI), Horizontal Interval (HI), Length of the structure (L)), interview, focal group discussion, observation, document analysis and other data source. The finding of the study shows that the indigenous SWC mechanisms in the community are developed over a very long period of time. The overriding solutions to soil erosion problems include options ranging from single mechanical or agronomic practice to watershed scale. Some of the common indigenous SWC practices identified in the study area were: Mechanical SWC practices (soil bund, stone bund, terrace, micro-basin and tied ridge) and biological SWC practices (grass for structure stabilization and tree plantation). Agroforestry practices (algae check dam, sifting cultivation) consistent with similar practices found in different parts of the country. Bunds and terraces are widely used in the study areas and appreciated by all the farmers. Bunds and terraces constructed by farmers were measured for comparison with scientific value, the measured and calculated parametric value were different from each other; these indicated that, farmers construct these structures without any scientific calculation, which leads to farm land fragmentation and labor intensive. Therefore, these indigenous practices need governmental or non-governmental organizations attention for further improvement.

Key words: Indigenous knowledge, characterization, identification, soil and water conservation practice.