Abstract
Understanding soil fertility status is a prerequisite to implement appropriate soil management practices for sustainable agricultural production and productivity. In view of this, a study was conducted at Kejo and Ongobo farmers’ fields, located at GobuSeyo District of East Wollega Zone of Oromia region in 2011. To investigate soil characteristics, Soil samples were collected from the profiles of the genetic horizons for the analyzing the selected physicochemical properties. The results of the study revealed that the soils had strong coarse sub angular blocky structure at Ap horizon, whereas to angular blocky structures at the B horizon. The soil textural class of both profiles was clayey with the clay fractions being the highest and increased consistently with depth. The bulk density values ranging from 1.25 g cm-3 at the Ap horizon to 1.40 g cm-3 at the Bt4 horizon. The pH-H2O were strongly acidic ranging from 5.27 at the Ap horizon to 5.83 at Bt2 horizon. The soil organic matter (SOM) contents of the soils ranging from 0.62% at the Bt2 horizon to 3.78% at the surface horizon, whereas total N ranging from 0.03 to 0.19%, available P from 0.62 to 4.0 mg kg-1 and CEC from 11.84 to 22.47 cmolckg-1 soil.Available Fe ranging from 7.24 to 33.68 mg kg-1, Mn from 2.37 to 83.91 mg kg-1, Zn from 0.013 to 0.314 mg kg-1 and Cu from 0.16 to 2.32 mg kg-1 in the soil and showed decreasing trend with profile depth. The result of the study showed that the soils of the study sites had poor chemical fertility and integrated soil fertility management practices can improve the current situation.
Highlights
Agriculture is the predominant economic sector in the majority of the developing countries in the world [1]
The study was conducted at Kejo and Ongobo peasant associations of GobuSeyo District in East Wollega Zone of Oromia National Regional State, western Ethiopia
The moist soil color of subsurface horizons ranging from dark reddish brown(2.5YR3/2) to dusky red (10YR3/3 to 10YR3/4) at the Bt2
Summary
Agriculture is the predominant economic sector in the majority of the developing countries in the world [1]. Crop yields in the developed world are high and agricultural soils have high fertility status due to intensive use of fertilizers [3]. This implies that using chemical fertilizer plays significant role in increasing food production to meet the demand of the growing world population. Sub Saharan Africa is characterized by diverse agricultural systems that are typically low input based subsistence farming systems [4] These soils have been sustaining agricultural production for centuries; as a result, their native fertility has been extremely low [5]. Been singled out as the necessary, but not sufficient condition for sustainable development in Africa [6]
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