Station Overview

Location

37°31’E / 10°40’N. Region: Gojam;

65 km NNW of Debre Markos, 15 km

north of Dembecha

Altitudinal

2407 - 2507 m asl

Catchment size

Hydrological catchment: 113.4 ha;

Topographical catchment: 108.2 ha

Climate

According to Thornthwaite: sub-humid

Mean annual temperature: 16 °C

Mean annual rainfall: 1690 mm

Length of growing period: 242 days

Geology

Tertiary olivine basalt and tuff

Soils

Mainly Alisols, Nitosols and Cambisols

Soil degradation status

Medium to high degradation. Generally

moderate soil fertility

Agro-ecological classification

Wet Weyna Dega

Farming system

Rainfed, cereal-based mixed uplandsystem,

smallholder, ox-plough farming

Main crops

Barley, wheat and tef, various beans

and oil crops

Climax vegetation

Broadleaf Arundaria forest (original

potential)

Population density (PA)

193 inhabitants per km2 in 1991

Mean size of landholdings (PA):

1986: 2.2 ha;

1991: 1.9 ha per household

Livestock holdings (catchment, 1991)

Cattle: 5 (thereof 2 (1.86) oxen);

horses, donkeys and mules: 1;

sheep and goats: 4

Station established in

March 1984