Station Overview

Location

39°40’ E / 11°00’ N. Region: South

Wello; 14 km SSE of Desse

Altitudinal

2530 – 2858 m asl

Catchment size

Hydrological catchment: 112.8 ha

Topographical catchment: 114.04 ha

Climate

According to Thornthwaite: sub-humid

Mean annual temperature: 16.4 °C

Mean annual rainfall: 1211 mm

Length of growing period: 175 days

Geology

Volcanic Trapp series with alkaliolivine

basalts

Soils

Mainly Phaeozems and Lithosols,

Gleysols in the lower part of the

catchment

Soil degradation status

The soils of the steeper part of the

catchment are highly eroded, the soils

of the flood plain profit from soil

accumulation. Soil fertility is defined

through the soil depth (nutrient

storage capacity)

Agro-ecological classification

Upper moist Weyna Dega to lower

moist Dega

Farming system

Rainfed, subsistence-oriented farming

system with ox-ploughing

Main crops

Cereals and maize

Climax vegetation

Coniferous forest with Juniperus

procera and Podocarpus gracilior

Population density (catchment)

188 inhabitants per km2

Mean size of landholdings (catchment)

1981: 7.4 animals per household,

thereof: 1.2 oxen

1982: 8.1 animals per household,

thereof: 1.1 oxen

1983: 9.8 animals per household,

thereof: 1.2 oxen

1987: 12.1 animals per hosuehold,

thereof: 1.4 oxen

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

June 1981