ABSTRACT Land uses and soil and water conservation (SWC) structures affect topsoil moisture and carbon stocks, particularly in the water deficit semi-arid environment of the northern Ethiopian highlands. This study was undertaken to assess the effects of land use and SWC structures on topsoil moisture, biomass, and soil carbon. Soil moisture was measured manually using gravimetric methods and theta probes with data loggers. Vegetation was inventoried and soil samples collected to assess carbon stocks of biomass and soils of different land uses. Merebmiti catchment had higher average gravimetric soil moisture content (GSMC; 24%) in wetlands, with the lowest (13%) in exclosures, whereas Mayleba catchment had relatively higher GSMC (14%) in exclosures and the lowest (8%) in rangelands. In both catchments, GSMC was higher at sampling locations closer to SWC structures than farther away. Merebmiti had significantly more biomass carbon (28.9 Mg ha−1) than Mayleba (6.32 Mg C ha−1). Higher soil organic carbon stocks were found in exclosures (46.1 ± 2.20 Mg ha−1) and wetlands (62.1 ± 2.9 Mg ha−1) than in frequently cultivated croplands (24.3 ± 1.4 Mg ha−1). Effective management of land use and implementation of SWC structures remarkably improves topsoil moisture content and carbon stocks in these catchments.

中文翻译：

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埃塞俄比亚半干旱高地土地利用和水土保持结构对表土水分和碳储量空间变异的比较研究

摘要 土地利用和水土保持 (SWC) 结构影响表土水分和碳储量，特别是在埃塞俄比亚北部高地缺水的半干旱环境中。本研究旨在评估土地利用和 SWC 结构对表土水分、生物量和土壤碳的影响。土壤水分是使用重量法和带有数据记录器的 theta 探头手动测量的。对植被进行清查并收集土壤样品以评估不同土地用途的生物量和土壤的碳储量。Merebmiti 流域在湿地中具有较高的平均重力土壤含水量 (GSMC；24%)，在围场中最低 (13%)，而 Mayleba 流域在围场中具有相对较高的 GSMC (14%)，在牧场中最低 (8%) . 在两个流域，GSMC 在靠近 SWC 结构的采样位置高于更远的采样位置。Merebmiti 的生物量碳（28.9 Mg ha-1）明显高于 Mayleba（6.32 Mg C ha-1）。在围场 (46.1 ± 2.20 Mg ha-1) 和湿地 (62.1 ± 2.9 Mg ha-1) 中发现的土壤有机碳储量高于经常耕种的农田 (24.3 ± 1.4 Mg ha-1)。土地利用的有效管理和 SWC 结构的实施显着提高了这些流域的表土水分含量和碳储量。