Fertility Status of Soils under Different Land uses at Wujiraba Watershed, North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia

Habtamu A.; Heluf G.; Bobe B.; Enyew A.

doi:doi:10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24

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Fertility Status of Soils under Different Land uses at Wujiraba Watershed, North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia

Habtamu A., Heluf G., Bobe B., Enyew A.

Published in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Volume 3, Issue 5)

Received: 21 October 2014 Accepted: 4 November 2014 Published: 10 November 2014

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Abstract

In Ethiopian highlands, land use changes, mainly, from natural vegetation to cultivated lands brought about rapid nutrient depletion. Intensive and continuous cultivation of land without proper management resulted in decline in soil physical, chemical and biological properties which aggravate crop yield reduction and food shortage. The present study, therefore, is designed to investigate the effects of different land uses on soil fertility status in the Nitisols of Wujiraba watershed. Twenty seven soil samples were collected randomly depth wise (0 - 15, 15- 30 and 30 - 45 cm) from the cultivated, forest and grazing lands. Data were analyzed using the two ways ANOVA in RCBD with three replications. Land use and soil depth showed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect on soil physicochemical properties. The highest f (57.8%), OC (4.6%), total N (0.28%), available S (11.1 ppm), CEC (42.2 cmol+ kg-1), exchangeable bases (Ca (22.2), K (0.76) and Na (0.58 cmol+ kg-1)) and available micronutrients ( Fe (14.2), Mn (24.1) and Zn (2.9 ppm)) were recorded on the surface layer of the forest land while lowest pH/KCl(5.03) and highest available P (5.5 ppm) on the surface layer of cultivated land. The results revealed that soil fertility declines as land use changed from forest to grazing and cultivated lands. Hence, it is possible to infer that continuous and intensive cultivation depletes plant nutrients greatly which urge to take measures for maintaining its fertility status of the cultivated soils in the study area.

Published in	Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Volume 3, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24
Page(s)	410-419
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Cultivated Land, Forest Land, Grazing Land, Land Use, Nutrient Depletion, Soil Fertility

References

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APA Style

Habtamu A., Heluf G., Bobe B., Enyew A. (2014). Fertility Status of Soils under Different Land uses at Wujiraba Watershed, North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 3(5), 410-419. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24

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ACS Style

Habtamu A.; Heluf G.; Bobe B.; Enyew A. Fertility Status of Soils under Different Land uses at Wujiraba Watershed, North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia. Agric. For. Fish. 2014, 3(5), 410-419. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24

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Habtamu A., Heluf G., Bobe B., Enyew A. Fertility Status of Soils under Different Land uses at Wujiraba Watershed, North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia. Agric For Fish. 2014;3(5):410-419. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24

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@article{10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24,
  author = {Habtamu A. and Heluf G. and Bobe B. and Enyew A.},
  title = {Fertility Status of Soils under Different Land uses at Wujiraba Watershed, North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia},
  journal = {Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {410-419},
  doi = {10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aff.20140305.24},
  abstract = {In Ethiopian highlands, land use changes, mainly, from natural vegetation to cultivated lands brought about rapid nutrient depletion. Intensive and continuous cultivation of land without proper management resulted in decline in soil physical, chemical and biological properties which aggravate crop yield reduction and food shortage. The present study, therefore, is designed to investigate the effects of different land uses on soil fertility status in the Nitisols of Wujiraba watershed. Twenty seven soil samples were collected randomly depth wise (0 - 15, 15- 30 and 30 - 45 cm) from the cultivated, forest and grazing lands. Data were analyzed using the two ways ANOVA in RCBD with three replications. Land use and soil depth showed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect on soil physicochemical properties. The highest f (57.8%), OC (4.6%), total N (0.28%), available S (11.1 ppm), CEC (42.2 cmol+ kg-1), exchangeable bases (Ca (22.2), K (0.76) and Na (0.58 cmol+ kg-1)) and available micronutrients ( Fe (14.2), Mn (24.1) and Zn (2.9 ppm)) were recorded on the surface layer of the  forest land while lowest pH/KCl(5.03) and highest available P (5.5 ppm) on the surface layer of cultivated land. The results revealed that soil fertility declines as land use changed from forest to grazing and cultivated lands. Hence, it is possible to infer that continuous and intensive cultivation depletes plant nutrients greatly which urge to take measures for maintaining its fertility status of the cultivated soils in the study area.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Fertility Status of Soils under Different Land uses at Wujiraba Watershed, North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia
AU  - Habtamu A.
AU  - Heluf G.
AU  - Bobe B.
AU  - Enyew A.
Y1  - 2014/11/10
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24
DO  - 10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24
T2  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
JF  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
JO  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
SP  - 410
EP  - 419
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5648
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24
AB  - In Ethiopian highlands, land use changes, mainly, from natural vegetation to cultivated lands brought about rapid nutrient depletion. Intensive and continuous cultivation of land without proper management resulted in decline in soil physical, chemical and biological properties which aggravate crop yield reduction and food shortage. The present study, therefore, is designed to investigate the effects of different land uses on soil fertility status in the Nitisols of Wujiraba watershed. Twenty seven soil samples were collected randomly depth wise (0 - 15, 15- 30 and 30 - 45 cm) from the cultivated, forest and grazing lands. Data were analyzed using the two ways ANOVA in RCBD with three replications. Land use and soil depth showed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect on soil physicochemical properties. The highest f (57.8%), OC (4.6%), total N (0.28%), available S (11.1 ppm), CEC (42.2 cmol+ kg-1), exchangeable bases (Ca (22.2), K (0.76) and Na (0.58 cmol+ kg-1)) and available micronutrients ( Fe (14.2), Mn (24.1) and Zn (2.9 ppm)) were recorded on the surface layer of the  forest land while lowest pH/KCl(5.03) and highest available P (5.5 ppm) on the surface layer of cultivated land. The results revealed that soil fertility declines as land use changed from forest to grazing and cultivated lands. Hence, it is possible to infer that continuous and intensive cultivation depletes plant nutrients greatly which urge to take measures for maintaining its fertility status of the cultivated soils in the study area.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

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Author Information

Habtamu A.

Haramaya University, School of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences, Ethiopia
Heluf G.

Haramaya University, School of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences, Ethiopia
Bobe B.

Haramaya University, School of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences, Ethiopia
Enyew A.

Bahir Dar University, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

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Habtamu A., Heluf G., Bobe B., Enyew A. (2014). Fertility Status of Soils under Different Land uses at Wujiraba Watershed, North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 3(5), 410-419. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24

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Habtamu A.; Heluf G.; Bobe B.; Enyew A. Fertility Status of Soils under Different Land uses at Wujiraba Watershed, North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia. Agric. For. Fish. 2014, 3(5), 410-419. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24

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Habtamu A., Heluf G., Bobe B., Enyew A. Fertility Status of Soils under Different Land uses at Wujiraba Watershed, North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia. Agric For Fish. 2014;3(5):410-419. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24

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@article{10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24,
  author = {Habtamu A. and Heluf G. and Bobe B. and Enyew A.},
  title = {Fertility Status of Soils under Different Land uses at Wujiraba Watershed, North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia},
  journal = {Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {410-419},
  doi = {10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aff.20140305.24},
  abstract = {In Ethiopian highlands, land use changes, mainly, from natural vegetation to cultivated lands brought about rapid nutrient depletion. Intensive and continuous cultivation of land without proper management resulted in decline in soil physical, chemical and biological properties which aggravate crop yield reduction and food shortage. The present study, therefore, is designed to investigate the effects of different land uses on soil fertility status in the Nitisols of Wujiraba watershed. Twenty seven soil samples were collected randomly depth wise (0 - 15, 15- 30 and 30 - 45 cm) from the cultivated, forest and grazing lands. Data were analyzed using the two ways ANOVA in RCBD with three replications. Land use and soil depth showed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect on soil physicochemical properties. The highest f (57.8%), OC (4.6%), total N (0.28%), available S (11.1 ppm), CEC (42.2 cmol+ kg-1), exchangeable bases (Ca (22.2), K (0.76) and Na (0.58 cmol+ kg-1)) and available micronutrients ( Fe (14.2), Mn (24.1) and Zn (2.9 ppm)) were recorded on the surface layer of the  forest land while lowest pH/KCl(5.03) and highest available P (5.5 ppm) on the surface layer of cultivated land. The results revealed that soil fertility declines as land use changed from forest to grazing and cultivated lands. Hence, it is possible to infer that continuous and intensive cultivation depletes plant nutrients greatly which urge to take measures for maintaining its fertility status of the cultivated soils in the study area.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Fertility Status of Soils under Different Land uses at Wujiraba Watershed, North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia
AU  - Habtamu A.
AU  - Heluf G.
AU  - Bobe B.
AU  - Enyew A.
Y1  - 2014/11/10
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24
DO  - 10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24
T2  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
JF  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
JO  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
SP  - 410
EP  - 419
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5648
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140305.24
AB  - In Ethiopian highlands, land use changes, mainly, from natural vegetation to cultivated lands brought about rapid nutrient depletion. Intensive and continuous cultivation of land without proper management resulted in decline in soil physical, chemical and biological properties which aggravate crop yield reduction and food shortage. The present study, therefore, is designed to investigate the effects of different land uses on soil fertility status in the Nitisols of Wujiraba watershed. Twenty seven soil samples were collected randomly depth wise (0 - 15, 15- 30 and 30 - 45 cm) from the cultivated, forest and grazing lands. Data were analyzed using the two ways ANOVA in RCBD with three replications. Land use and soil depth showed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect on soil physicochemical properties. The highest f (57.8%), OC (4.6%), total N (0.28%), available S (11.1 ppm), CEC (42.2 cmol+ kg-1), exchangeable bases (Ca (22.2), K (0.76) and Na (0.58 cmol+ kg-1)) and available micronutrients ( Fe (14.2), Mn (24.1) and Zn (2.9 ppm)) were recorded on the surface layer of the  forest land while lowest pH/KCl(5.03) and highest available P (5.5 ppm) on the surface layer of cultivated land. The results revealed that soil fertility declines as land use changed from forest to grazing and cultivated lands. Hence, it is possible to infer that continuous and intensive cultivation depletes plant nutrients greatly which urge to take measures for maintaining its fertility status of the cultivated soils in the study area.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

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