Assessing the Physicochemical Properties of Soil under Different Land Use Types

Meseret Muche Addis Kokeb,Eyayu Molla

doi:10.4172/2161-0525.1000309

Abstract

The economies for most developing countries primarily depend on agriculture. Studying the physicochemical properties of soil is important for sustainable management of the agricultural resources and economic growth. Soil acidity is one of the main reasons for nutrient depletion as well as causes of fertility decline that affects crop production. The main objective of this investigation is to assess the acidity status and physicochemical properties of soil in different land use types in Alket Wonzi Watershed, Farta district, Northwest Ethiopia. Soil samples were taken at 0-25 cm depth, on four land use types viz., natural forest, cultivated land, plantation forest and grazing land. The result soils in the natural forest had significantly (p<0.05) higher soil pH and lower exchangeable acidity (p<0.01). Similarly, significantly higher (p<0.01) exchangeable bases (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+), total nitrogen, organic matter, available potassium, cation exchange capacity and clay content was also registered from soil of the natural forest compared to the other land use types. The study further revealed that there was significant (p<0.05) difference in available phosphorus among the different land use types. However, there was no significant difference in silt fraction, sand, bulk density and exchangeable sodium under soils of different land uses. The results obtained from the study indicated that soils of grazing, cultivated land and plantation forest are strongly acidic (pH<5.5). Therefore, appropriate reclamation method should be lunched to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability of the study area.

Highlights

IntroductionThe economy is primarily based on agricultural production [1]
In most developing countries, the economy is primarily based on agricultural production [1]
The average bulk density (BD) values of the soils under different land use types are found in the acceptable range for plant growth, relatively the highest (1.2 gm/cm3) average value of BD was obtained under the grazing land Table 1

Summary

Introduction

The economy is primarily based on agricultural production [1]. Sustainable management of the agricultural resources such as soil provides the long-term benefits required for environmental health [2] as well as for economic growth For this reason, recent interest in evaluating the quality of soil resources has been inspired in Ethiopia [3]. One of the major constraints to retaining soil fertility in Ethiopia is the failure to return crop residues and animal manure to the soil [8]. These in turn reduce Ethiopia’s agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) by 7% [1]

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion