Abstract
Eucalyptus species are blamed for negatively affecting the soil and inhibiting growth of other plants though it is extensively planted in Ethiopia. This study investigated the effect of Eucalyptus plantations on selected soil physical and chemical properties at Entoto Mountain, in the Northern part of the capital, Addis Ababa. Three land-uses/covers (monoculture Eucalyptus plantations, cropland, and natural forests) with a plot size of 100x100m (1ha) each were used for comparison. Each experimental plot was sub-divided into three sub-plots of 100x33m for soil sampling. Sampling was done to 30cm depth with soil auger. A study of people’s perception on impacts of Eucalyptus was also undertaken to supplement the soil investigation. The soil samples were dried and analyzed while following standard procedures. One way ANOVA test result indicated that Eucalyptus plantations have significantly different effect on soil parameters such as texture (sand 35 %, silt 29 % and clay 27.11 %), soil bulk density (1.43gcm -3 ), pH level(5.32), total nitrogen (2.36 %), organic carbon (4.07 %), Available potassium (127.23 ppm) and phosphors (8.23 ppm) from the other land-uses/covers. However, the three land uses/covers did not significantly differ from each other in influencing the soil exchangeable Mg, Ca, Na and C/N ratio. The people in the study area perceived that Eucalyptus plantations have negative effects on crop yield and soil moisture; this perception correlated with and supported by the results of this study on soil texture and bulk density where Eucalyptus plantations increased the bulk density of the soil which in turn indicates compactness and low moisture holding capacity. Keywords : Eucalyptus species, Monoculture, Experimental plot DOI : 10.7176/JEES/9-6-05 Publication date :June 30 th 2019
Highlights
Eucalyptus has become the most planted genus of trees in the world given to its large number of species, i.e. more than five hundred species (Bekele, 2015)
In Ethiopia Eucalyptus species were introduced during the reign of Emperor Menelik II in order to use it as a potential solution to the fuel wood and timber shortage that has been facing the country
Eucalyptus was introduced in Ethiopia with the purpose of providing multipurpose use and rescues the remaining indigenous forests from being destroyed(Abebe and Tadesse, 2014).They reported that the profit derived from Eucalyptus is considerably higher than cultivating crops because they are a source of various uses for rural and urban people such as firewood, construction material, medicinal value (Eucalyptus leaves have been used in the treatment of colds), source of income by selling tree biomass such as stem for construction and twigs, leaves and bark for fire wood purpose
Summary
Eucalyptus has become the most planted genus of trees in the world given to its large number of species, i.e. more than five hundred species (Bekele, 2015). Eucalyptus was introduced in Ethiopia with the purpose of providing multipurpose use and rescues the remaining indigenous forests from being destroyed(Abebe and Tadesse, 2014).They reported that the profit derived from Eucalyptus is considerably higher than cultivating crops because they are a source of various uses for rural and urban people such as firewood, construction material, medicinal value (Eucalyptus leaves have been used in the treatment of colds), source of income by selling tree biomass such as stem for construction and twigs, leaves and bark for fire wood purpose. Mensah (2016) recommended that riverine vegetation and farm crops should be 15m and 6m away from Eucalyptus plantation respectively so as to minimize the negative impact
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