Station Overview
Location 39°43’E / 9°48’N. Region: Shewa;180 ENE of Addis Abeba
Altitudinal range: 3040 – 3548 m asl
Catchment size Hydrological catchment: 477.3 ha;Topographical catchment: 477.5 ha
Climate According to Thornthwaite: humid Mean annual temperature: 12.6 °C Mean annual rainfall: 1417 mm Length of growing period: 175 days
Geology Volcanic rocks: rhyolites, trachites,tuffs and basalts
Soils Humic and ochric Andosols, Fluvisols,Regosols and Lithosols
Soil degradation status High degradation status, specially in the lower part of the catchment. Soil fertility is limited through low pH and N- and P- deficiency
Agro-ecological classification Wet Dega / Wet high Dega
Farming system Smallholder mixed farming system with grain oriented roduction

(barley), ox-plough farming with uncontrolled grazing practices
Main crops Barley
Climax vegetation (catchment) 1986: 41 % of the households: less than 2 ha; 55 % of the households: 2 – 5 ha 4 % of the households: more than 5 ha
Livestock holdings (catchment) 1983: 17.8 animals per household, in

1995: 15.4 animals,

thereof 64 % sheep and goats
Station established in July 1982