Berken plow and intercropping with pigeon pea ameliorate degraded soils with a hardpan in the Ethiopian highlands

• Use of Berken plow and intercropping with pigeon pea improves soil characteristics. Root penetration resistance increased maize roots penetrating 1.2–1.5 times deeper. had the greatest available storage 56 cm smallest runoff in both years. Increases infiltration resulted moisture retention up to 60 depth. productivity a positive net benefit. Closing yield gap enhancing efficiency rainfed production systems Ethiopia requires urgent action increasing degraded agricultural land. The degradation land through continuous compaction decline organic matter has wide-spread formation hardpan that restricts deep percolation, prevents plant root development, and, ultimately can lead erosion. Studies exploring practical low-cost solutions break are limited Ethiopia. main objective was evaluate mechanical (i.e. modified or plow) biological intervention pea) effectiveness enhance water management crop whilst reducing erosion runoff. Five farm fields, each including four plots different tillage treatments, were monitored during two rainy seasons 2016 2017. treatments were: (i) farmers practice under conventional (CT) tillage; tilled three using an oxen driven local Maresha , (ii) no-till (NT), (iii) (BT), pulled plow, (iv) (CT + Bio), tap-rooted intercropped on conventionally tilled. Results showed mean depth significantly deeper BT (28 cm) treatment compared CT Bio (18 treatments. Measured decreased 40 reached 1.5 measured treatment. Under BT, estimated zone at 556 mm, 1.86 higher CT, 3.11 NT 0.89 Bio. effects development average increase grain 15%, 0.95 t ha −1 ) residual above ground biomass (0.3%, 6.4 leading benefit 138 USD for negative obtained CT+Bio mainly related high labor cost plowing, weeding, planting, fertilizer application this lower yields. treatment, some extent show great potential smallholder where soils hardpans variability rainfall prevail.