Variation in soil properties under different cropping and other land-use systems in Dura catchment, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

There are limited reports about the impacts of long-term cropping and land-use systems (CLUS) on soil properties and nutrient stocks under smallholder farmers' conditions in developing countries. The objective of this research was to examine variation in soil properties and OC and TN stocks across the different CLUS in Dura sub-catchment, northern Ethiopia. Surveys and discussions on field history were used to identify nine CLUS, namely, tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc) Trot)) mono-cropping (TM), maize (Zea mays L.) mono-cropping (MM), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)-maize intercropping (IC1), red beet (Beta Vulgaris)-maize intercropping (IC2), cauliflower-tef-maize rotation (R1), onion (Allium cepa L.)-maize-onion rotation (R2), tr eated gully (TG), untreated gully (UTG), and natural forest system (NF). A total of 27 composite soil samples were randomly collected from the CLUS for soil analysis. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance and PCA. The lowest and highest bulk density was determined from NF (1.19 Mg m-3) and UTG (1.77 Mg m-3), respectively. Soil pH, EC and CEC varied significantly among the CLUS. The highest CEC (50.3 cmol c kg-1) was reported under TG followed by NF. The highest soil OC stock (175.3 Mg C ha −1) and TN stock (13.6 Mg C ha −1) were found from NF. The PCA chosen soil properties explained 87% of the soil quality variability among the CLUS. Such soil properties and nutrient stocks variability among the CLUS suggested that introduction of suitable management practices that sustain the soil system of the CLUS with poor soil properties and nutrient stocks are crucial for the study area conditions.

Assessing Soil Nutrients Variability and Adequacy for the Cultivation of Maize, Cassava, and Sorghum in Selected Agroecological Zones of Cameroon

“…e small percentages of moderately available P in samples in Adamawa and the high and very high available P content in samples in the Far North and North regions might be due to fertilizer residues in the fields as a result of high P application [46]. is is consistent with other reports stating that soil International Journal of Agronomy available P variability is related to land-use type and soil management practices [3,47]. e results also pointed out the need to consider application of liming materials to bring soil pH up to ideal levels (pH 6-7) as P is generally available to crops at this pH range [47].…”

“…Environmental degradation is a worldwide problem caused by inappropriate cropping system and land-use and soil management practices and has attracted attention in sustainable agricultural production systems [1][2][3]. Soil quality degradation is among the top development challenges that demand urgent remedial actions [3,4]. In Cameroon, the rapid rise in population has led to increase pressure on available arable land.…”

Farmers’ perception on soil erosion in Ghana: Implication for developing sustainable soil management strategy

“…The implication is that soil degradation can be assessed through a number of scientific methodologies. These included: satellite remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) that analyze changes in land use and land cover effects on erosion [31][32][33][34], ecological assessment models [35][36][37][38], and measurement of soil properties [36,39,40]. Previous reports have also appreciated that the two approaches of scientific and local knowledge can integrate to complement to each other to provide holistic assessment of soil erosion [38,39,41].…”

Impact of irrigated and non-irrigated cropping systems on soil physicochemical properties in a small-scale irrigation farming system in Eastern Uganda

“…Nataliya and Andrew (2018) compared the soil quality of fertilised and unfertilised cropping systems on different soil types in South-Central Uganda. Tesfahunegn and Gebru (2020) examined variation in soil properties across different cropping systems and land-use systems in northern Ethiopia. Tesfahunegn and Gebru (2019) also examined variation in soil properties in the long term irrigated and non-irrigated cropping and land-use systems in Ethiopia.…”