Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Measures on Soil Quality Indicators: The Case of Geshy Subcatchment, Gojeb River Catchment, Ethiopia

Land degradation is a global negative environmental process that causes the decline in the productivity of land resources’ capacity to perform their functions. Though soil and water conservation (SWC) technologies have been adopted in Geshy subcatchment, their effects on soil quality were limitedly studied. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects SWC measures on soil quality indicators in Geshy subcatchment, Gojeb River Catchment, Ethiopia. A total of 54 soil samples (two treatments–farmlands with and without SWC measures ∗ three slope classes ∗ three terrace positions ∗ three replications) were collected at a depth of 20 cm. Statistical differences in soil quality indicators were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) following the general linear model procedure of SPSS Version 20.0 for Windows. Means that exhibited significant differences were compared using Tukey’s honest significance difference at 5% probability level. The studied soils are characterized by low bulk density, slightly acidic with clay and clay loam texture. The results revealed that farmlands with SWC measures had significantly improved soil physical (silt and clay fractions, and volumetric soil water content (VSWC)) and chemical (pH, SOC, TN, C : N ratio, and Av. phosphorus) quality indicators as compared with farmlands without SWC measures. The significantly higher VSWC, clay, SOC, TN, C : N ratio, and Av. P at the bottom slope classes and terrace positions could be attributed to the erosion reduction and deposition effects of SWC measures. Generally, the status of the studied soils is low in SOC contents, TN, C : N ratio, and Av. P (deficient). Thus, integral use of both physical and biological SWC options and agronomic interventions would have paramount importance in improving soil quality for better agricultural production and productivity.

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Assessment of soil quality indicators and phosphorus status of the land resources on both sides of Sohag-Safaga highway, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Archives of Agriculture Sciences Journal ◽

10.21608/aasj.2021.55921.1048 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

pp. 123-134

Author(s):

Reham Gomaa ◽

M. Gameh ◽

M. Roshdy ◽

A. Amin

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Eastern Desert ◽

Land Resources ◽

Soil Quality Indicators ◽

Phosphorus Status

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Impact of land use changes on soil quality and species diversity in the Vindhyan dry tropical region of India

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467419000385 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 72-79

Author(s):

Rajani Srivastava ◽

Monalisha Mohapatra ◽

Ashish Latare

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Species Diversity ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Land Use Changes ◽

Tropical Region ◽

Land Resources ◽

Soil Quality Indicators ◽

Total N ◽

The Relationship

AbstractConversion of forest land into different land use types is the primary cause of degradation of land resources, which in turn alters nutrient and carbon cycles, land productivity and diversity of species. There is scarcity of information about land-use changes (LUC) and their effect on relationship of soil quality and species diversity at landscape level in the Vindhyan dry tropical region. We evaluated the impact of land-use changes on soil physicochemical quality and the influence of these qualities on species diversity and organic matter accumulation. We also established the relationship between soil quality indicators and species diversity parameters. To examine impact of LUC, we did a detailed field survey and analysed selected soil quality indicators by standard methods. We examined species diversity parameters and established the relationship between soil quality and species diversity. We found that there is a marked decline in soil porosity, water-holding capacity and soil moisture due to LUC. Conversion from forest land (FL) to savanna land (SL) resulted in soil organic carbon decreasing by ∼40–50%. The decrease was more pronounced in cultivated land (CL) and degraded land (DL) (65–70% and 83–85%, respectively). In the case of total N, maximum decrease in total N of 83–87% was noted in DL as compared with FL. The poor soil quality indicators in degraded and agricultural land can be explained by the interaction between the soil organic carbon and nitrogen loss with diversity loss. This study recommends that for management/restoration of land resources, planning strategies should consider the current landscape structure, with land-use planning.

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Path coefficient analysis, a different approach to identify soil quality indicators

Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental ◽

10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v23n7p545-551 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 (7) ◽

pp. 545-551 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Júlio C. Ramos ◽

Ildegardis Bertol ◽

Douglas H. Bandeira ◽

Fabrício T. Barbosa ◽

Fernanda Zangiski

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Total Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Water Erosion ◽

Path Coefficient ◽

Soil Quality Indicators ◽

Path Coefficient Analysis ◽

Water Losses ◽

Soil And Water

ABSTRACT Soil quality indicators related to water erosion reduction can assist with correct soil management. The objective of this research was to identify some variables that could be used as soil quality indicators with the aid of path coefficient analysis in order to reduce water erosion. The research was carried out in the field between May 2011 and April 2013 in southern Brazil on an Inceptisol. The following treatments were studied under simulated rainfall conditions: 1) no-tilled, cultivated and covered by cultural residue of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) (HCR); 2) no-tilled, cultivated and covered by crop residue of vetch (Vicia sativa) (HCV); 3) cultivated and scarified soil containing ryegrass roots (HRR); 4) cultivated and scarified soil containing vetch roots (HRV); and 5) bare and chiselled soil (BHR). Eight simulated rainfalls were applied in each treatment. Flow velocity, soil and water losses as well as variables or soil attributes influenced by management were quantified. Path coefficient analysis verified that the coverage, surface roughness, water infiltration rate and total organic carbon have the greatest direct or indirect relationships with soil and water losses or runoff velocity. These variables were indicative of soil quality, particularly its resistance to water erosion. In a rough soil, the total organic carbon, root mass and macroporosity of the soil are more important as indicators for soil resistance to water erosion.

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