Effect of community-based soil and water conservation practices on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi types, spore densities, root colonization, and soil nutrients in the northern highlands of Ethiopia

Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture

Table 1 Characteristics of the community-based soil and water conservation measures

SWC measures	Characteristics
Non-conserved communal grazing land	Low vegetation cover High proportion of bare soil Coarse fragment (57%) Sheet, rill, and gully erosion very common Relatively low organic carbon (1.9%) Moisture content (8.6%) Bulk density (1290 kg m⁻³) Area (11–34.96 ha)
Stone terraces	Relatively more stable and durable than other physical SWC measures Soil organic carbon (2.5%) Moisture content (9.6%) Bulk density (1260 kg m⁻³) Coarse fragment (53%) High sediment deposit Area (13.87–24.42 ha)
Exclosure + terrace	Closed from the interference of humans and livestock Enrichment planting common Supported with terraces High organic carbon (2.9%) Sheet, rill, and gully formation are less common Moisture content (10.06%) Bulk density (1240 kg m⁻³) Coarse fragment (46%) Area (12.74–51.80 ha)
Exclosures alone	Closed from humans and livestock interference No enrichment planting No physical SWC measures High organic carbon (2.8%) Moisture content (8.7%) Bulk density (1220 kg m⁻³) Coarse fragment (51%) Sheet, rill, and gully formation are less common Area (14.02–34.7 ha)