Station Overview

Location

40°59’E /9°07’N. Region: Harerge;

20 km southeast of Asbe Teferi

Altitudinal

1963 – 2315 m asl

Catchment size

Hydrological catchment: 236.4 ha

Topographical catchment: 235.7 ha

Climate

According to Thornthwaite: sub-humid

Mean temperature: 18.3° C

Mean annual rainfall: 860 mm

Length of growing period: 135 days

Geology

Mainly tertiary basalts and tuffs, small

parts are covered with Mesozoic

limestones

Soils

Vertisols, Cambisols, Fluvisols

Soil degradation status

Medium to high degradation, Generally

moderate to good soil fertility

Agro-ecological classification

Dry to moist Weyna Dega

Farming system

Rainfed, maize and sorghum based

crop-system combined with

smallholder mixed system, ox-plough farming

Main crops

Maize and sorghum

Climax vegetation

Acacia abyssinica, Cordia abyssinica

Population density (PA)

n.a.

Mean size of landholdings (PA)

n.a.

Livestock holdings (catchment)

1983/84: mean herd size per family:

6 animals, thereof: 0.7 oxen

1987: mean herd size per family:

3 animals, thereof: 0.6 oxen

Station established in

May 1982