Effects of Different Land Use Types on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties in Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Soils are obviously inconstant and their properties are changing across land use types. Essential soil physico-chemical assets impact the performance of soil and, therefore, information on soil property is important. The objective of the study was to determine effects of different land use systems on soil physico-chemical properties in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia. Soil samples were collected from three different land uses, enset (Ensete ventricosum), tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) and grass lands. Each replicated three times and the composite sample was taken. All the properties are significantly different and determined using appropriate methods. Soil pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, texture, organic matter and phosphate in soil were determined experimentally to study the effects of land use on them. Changes in soil properties in dissimilar land usage forms at two pits (0-15 and 15-30 cm) were detected on various soil properties significant to crop growth. Enset fields had higher pH (5.80), electrical conductivity (EC (0.14 dS/m)), available P (35.25%) and Zn (8.64 mg/kg), exchangeable K (3.12 Cmol(+Kg) which is ascribed due to the input of dung, while tef fields had lowest average K (1.38 cmol (+kg) and Mg (1.89 cmol(+kg), cation exchange capacity (CEC (20.21 cmol(+kg)), total N (0.13%) and OC (1.76%). Most of the physico-chemical properties of the study region were significantly influenced by the different land uses. The evidence derived from the current study will support in mounting maintainable and environmentally constant land use management strategies for the

Spatial variability of soil fertility under different land use Types in Assosa District, Western Ethiopia

“…This might be attributed to the high OM content and anion released from OM competing with P for fixation by Al 3+ and H + cations and release of P through mineralization of OM in the forest land. However, in the forest, P is more or less circulated within the area and not removed from there, and in grazing land, the dung of animals has an impact on available P. In line with this Weldemariam et al (2020); Ekero et al (2022) and most recently Abadeye et al (2023) reported relatively higher and lower available P under forest and cultivated land respectively. Available S was also significantly affected by the difference in land use types.…”

“…On the other hand, the lowest exchangeable Ca 2+ (2.7 cmol+ kg −1 ) and Mg 2+ (1.8 cmol+ kg −1 ) was recorded in cultivated land due to its continuous removal through crop harvest with no or little organic matter input into the soil and high leaching losses when soil is disturbed with intensive cultivation. Dereje (2020); Ekero et al (2022) and most recently Asmare et al (2023) reported that relatively the highest and lowest level of exchangeable Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ was found under natural forest and cultivated land, respectively. Exchangeable K + and Na + content was significantly affected by land use type.…”

“…Soils in the cultivated land are more acidic when compared with adjacent forest and grazing lands, which might increase the toxicity of manganese and aluminum, and slower microbial conversion of NH4 + to nitrate (Assefa et al, 2023). Ekero et al (2022) suggested that cultivated land had lower pH and minimum OC than adjacent grazing and forest land. The expansion of cultivated lands depleted soil organic carbon and total nitrogen, restricting crop growth and decreasing crop yield (Mengistu and Dereje, 2021).…”

Soil pH mapping as a function of land use, elevation, and rainfall in the lake tana basin, northwestern of ethiopia

“…The other can be continuous cropping (Ma et al., 2022; Sainju & Alasinrin, 2020) and increased use of inorganic fertilizers (Ge et al., 2018; Sainju & Alasinrin, 2020). High tillage rates (Gu et al., 2021), high rates of inorganic fertilizer applications (particularly ammonium fertilizers), and low levels of organic matter may contribute to low arable land pH levels due to erosion or aluminum toxicity (Desta Ekero et al., 2022). This can be due to erosion, use of ammonium fertilizers, or inappropriate plowing techniques (Negasa, 2020).…”

Influences of NPSB and Vermicompost Application Rates on Yields of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) at Jimma Ganati Research Site of Wallaga University, Western Ethiopia

“…Prior to the administration of the treatments, experimental feld soils were assessed for a number of physicochemical characteristics using the approach described in [28] (Table 3). Te experimental site's mean soil pH was 4.99, which was strongly acidic [29] and ideal for the growth of various vegetable crops.…”