Land Use Changes and Their Effects on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties in Abol woreda Gambella Regional State

Abstract

In Abol woreda continuous cultivation, intensive grazing and investment are the major practiced in the woreda soil without out intensive care was decline in soil chemical, biological and physical properties. The current research, therefore, is intended to determine Land use Changes and consequence on Soil Physicio-Chemical Properties in Abol woreda Gambella Regional State. General visual field observation and survey were carried out and the research site was portioned in to three major land uses (cropped grazing and forest land use types). Accordingly, a total of three major land uses (cultivated grazing and forest land use types) were identified in field based on soil texture and land use systems. Finally three major land use system were identified, and from each major site, composite soil samples were taken from thirteen soil sub-samples (spots) within one depths of 0-20cm using soil auger. The physico-chemical of soils was analyzed in the standardized soil laboratory procedure through the analysis of soil samples augured from three major land use systems. The results obtained from this study explore that the kebele soil did not showed the textural class difference in three land use system all showed clay loam, texture. The value of soil bulk density was increase in cropped land followed by grazing land and low in forest or reserved area land use system it ranges from 1.37, 1.24 and 1.13 g/cm 3 respectively. The percent of total porosity soils under the cultivated land was recorded average of 48.3, grazing land use also 53.2% and land use forest 57.3%. All of the soil chemical properties of the present research site were numerical influenced by land use system and soil textural class. For example, the highest value was recorded in basic cations Ca (10.02 cmol/kg), Exch-base of Mg (5.46cmol (+) /kg),Exch-base K (5.45cmol (+) /kg)and CEC (28.17 cmol (+) /kg) were observed under the forestland as compared to the lowest values (5.64, 2.05and 1.97cmol/kg), respectively, in the cultivated land. The present study showed that soil fertility status decrease as land use type goes to from forest to pasture and farming lands. Hence, it is possible to infer that continuous and intensive cultivation degrade plant essential nutrients highly which urge to take action for modifying its fertility status of the agricultural soils of in the Abol district. Keywords : -land use effect, change, physical, chemical, properties DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/75-01 Publication date: May 31 st 2021