Abstract
A study was conducted between 2009 and 2011 on two wetlands located in two agroecological zones of Lesotho (Ha-Matela in the foothills and Thaba-putsoa in the mountains of Maseru). The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of morphological properties and nutrient soil changes in selected physicochemical properties in these wetlands. Soil data were analyzed using standard procedures. Subsequently, data collected were subjected to statistical analysis (summary statistics and analysis of variance). Results showed that both wetlands still maintain their morphological properties, which is typical of wetland soils. The mean soil properties varied widely across sites and years and the coefficient of variation of these properties showed that they varied from moderate to high. Significant differences were observed only in total sand, silt/clay ratio, and soil organic carbon in both soils, Available P (AvP) and bulk density in Ha-Matela, and bulk density, pH-KCl, and AvP in Thaba-putsoa. Notably, in the Ha-Matela wetland, the soil properties of sand, silt/clay ratio, bulk density, AvP, carbon pool, and Soil Organic Matter/Silt+Clay Ratio (SSCR) had absolute increases of between +0.08 (6.34%) (BD) to +86.9 (625.2%), while others declined. In Thaba-ptusoa, however, the soil properties of clay, bulk density, pH-water, pH-KCl, carbon pool, and soil organic matter had absolute increases of between +0.07 (1.64%) (pH-KCl) to +725.5 (5219.43%) (carbon pool), while other soil properties declined. From the study, it is therefore recommended that the Ha-Matela wetland should be protected from excessive utilization. Also, the government should enforce legislation to protect natural resources in order to preserve them for future generations. In addition, the holistic management of the wetlands is advised; this should include expertise such as ecologists, hydrologists, watershed managers, local researchers, and decision makers who would work together in managing the wetland ecosystem.
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