Station Overview

Location

35°36’E / 8°22’N. Region: Illubabor;

5 km north of Metu

Altitudinal

1565 - 1789 m asl

Catchment size

Hydrological catchment: 672.7 ha;

Topographical catchment: 669.3 ha

Climate

According to Thornthwaite: humid

Mean annual temperature: 21 °C

Mean annual rainfall: 1512 mm

Length of growing period: 245 days

Geology

Precambrian Gneiss

Soils

Mainly Lixisols, few Fluvisols and

Cambisols

Soil degradation status

Low to medium degradation. Soil

fertility restricted by phosphorus

deficiency

Agro-ecological classification

Wet Weyna Dega

Farming system

Rainfed, subsistence-oriented farming

system with ox-ploughing. Coffee as

cash crop. Uncontrolled grazing

practice

Main crops

Maize, tef, sorghum. Coffee as cash

crop

Climax vegetation

Broadleaf Baphia forest. Evergreen rain

forest

Population density (PA)

80 inhabitants per km2 in 1990

Mean size of landholdings (PA):

1990: 2.6 ha per household

Livestock holdings (catchment, 1991)

1991: Mean total herd size per family:

5.6 animals, thereof 1.4 oxen

Station established in

May 1988