scholarly journals Effects of Land Use Types on Selected Soil Properties in Central Highlands of Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Daniel Jaleta Negasa

Rapid land use changes have been observed in recent years in central Ethiopia. The shift from natural ecosystem to artificial ecosystem is the main direction of change. Therefore, this study was initiated to assess the effects of land use types on selected soil properties in Meja watershed, central highlands of Ethiopia. The randomized complete block design, including three adjacent land use types as treatments with three replications and two soil depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm), was applied in this study. There were significant differences in some soil properties among the three land use types. Lower soil pH and electric conductivity were observed in cultivated land soils than Eucalyptus woodlots soils. This has indicated the worsening soil conditions due to the shift from Eucalyptus woodlots to cultivated land. Less decomposition rate of the Eucalyptus leaves and debris collection for fuel could result in lowest soil organic carbon at the upper layer of Eucalyptus woodlot soils. However, the highest soil organic carbon at the lower layer was observed in Eucalyptus woodlot soils. The presence of highest soil potassium, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable potassium in cultivated land soil was related to application of artificial fertilizers. Grassland soils have highest exchangeable sodium at the lower layer while highest soil carbon and sum cations at the upper layer, which can be related to the grass root biomass return and less surface runoff on grassland. There was the highest exchangeable sodium percentage on Eucalyptus woodlot soils at the upper layer; it can be due to the less surface nutrient movement and growth characteristics of the tree. The soils in cultivated land was shifted to more acidic and less electric conductivity.This shift can lead to soil quality deterioration that affects the productivity of the soils in the future.Nutrient leaching, application of artificial fertilizer, soil erosion, and continuous farming have affected the soil properties in cultivated land. The presence of highest exchangeable sodium percentage and lowest sum of cations at the upper layer of soil in Eucalyptus woodlot should be noted for management and decision makers. The previous negative speculations on Eucalyptus woodlots which can be related with the soil texture, soil moisture, bulk density, total nitrogen, exchangeable magnesium, calcium, and available sulfur should be avoided because there were no significant differences observed among the three land use types in the study area. The study recommends further studies on the effects of Eucalyptus on soil properties by comparing among different ages and species of Eucalyptus. Finally, planting of Eucalyptus on central highlands of Ethiopia should be supported by land use management decision.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Belayneh Bufebo ◽  
Eyasu Elias ◽  
Getachew Agegnehu

Abstract Background Understanding the effects of landscape positions on soil physicochemical properties is crucial for improving the soil productivity and to ensure the environmental sustainability. Three land use types forest land, grazing land and cultivated land all within upper, middle and lower landscape positions were selected to determine the effects of landscape positions, land use types and their interaction effects on soil physicochemical properties. Twenty seven soil samples were collected from lower landscape, middle landscape and upper landscape positions at the depth of 0–20 cm in nine replications. In addition, undisturbed soil samples were taken using core sampler from each land use type under upper, middle and lower landscape positions for the ascertainment of bulk density and water retentive capacity. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to determine variations in soil parameters among landscape positions and land use types. A Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) analysis was conducted to determine the influence of independent (fixed) factors, on the soil properties (response variables). Treatment means comparison was determined using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 0.05 level of significances. Results The result indicated that among the soil properties sand (p < 0.001), silt (p < 0.001), clay (p < 0.001), bulk density (p < 0.01), water holding capacity at FC (p < 0.001), water retention at PWP (p < 0.01), Available water content (AWC) (p < 0.01), soil reaction (pH) (p < 0.05), Soil organic carbon (SOC%) (p < 0.01), Total nitrogen (TN%) (p < 0.01), available phosphorus (p < 0.05) and CEC (p < 0.001) have shown a significant variation among the landscape categories. Similarly, variation of sand (p < 0.001), silt (p < 0.001), clay (p < 0.001), bulk density (p < 0.01), water holding capacity at FC (p < 0.001), water retention at PWP (p < 0.001), Available water content (AWC) (p < 0.01), soil reaction (pH) (p < 0.01), SOC (p < 0.01), TN (p < 0.001) available phosphorus (AP) (p < 0.001) and CEC (p < 0.001) were also statistically significant among the land use types. Moreover, lower landscape position and forest land had high mean value of SOC, TN, AP, CEC, EB (exchangeable bases), and available micronutrients, whereas upper landscape position and intensively cultivated land had low mean value of SOC, TN, AP, CEC, EB (exchangeable bases), and available micronutrients. Conclusion Landscape positions, land use types and interaction effects of landscape position and land use types (LSP * LU) significantly affected soil properties. Soil with best quality was found in lower landscape position and forest land, while less quality of soil was found in upper landscape position and cultivated land. Thus, efforts should be made to improve the quality of soil under upper landscape position and cultivated land using biological and physical soil conservation measures.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-79
Author(s):  
ADEBAYO, W. O. ◽  
OLOFIN, E. O.

The aim of this research is to examine the response of some soil properties to the changes in land cover/land use in Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Land use changes as a result of human activities have been identified as one of the greatest pressures to soil and forest resources. The change from natural vegetation land use to built-up and agricultural land uses is becoming rampant in Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of land use change on the some soil properties. Two major land use types which include forest lands and residential lands uses were explored. Soil samples were collected at the depth of 0 on 30cm through the use of soil auger from ten different locations in each of the two land use types in the study area making twenty soil samples. The use of t-test statistical tool was implored on the laboratory results in order to test for the differences between the soil in forest and residential land use types. Results revealed that the soil physico-chemical properties differed significantly between the sites. Chemical properties of the soil were found to be generally low in residential land use while they were high in vegetation land use. Bulk density was high in residential land use while it was low in forest land use.


Soil Research ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng-Tao Guo ◽  
Wei Wu ◽  
Hong-Bin Liu ◽  
Mao-Fen Li

Knowledge about soil properties associated with land use and topographical attributes is vital for modelling soil–landscape relationships and establishing sustainable on-field management practices. Our study focuses on an arable area in south-western China, where paddy fields and vegetable growing are dominant land uses. These are representative of millions of hectares of farmland in south-western China. Samples from 120 sites were collected according to a gridded sampling scheme and analysed. Land-use map units were delineated at a scale of 1 : 2000 from field survey. Topographical indicators (elevation, aspect, slope) were extracted from a digital elevation model with a resolution of 2 m. One-way and two-way analyses of variance and Pearson correlations were adopted to investigate the effects of land use and topographical variables on the selected soil properties: pH, organic matter (OM), ammonium-nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), available potassium (K), exchangeable calcium (Ca), and exchangeable magnesium (Mg). Statistically significant differences were found for OM, P, Ca, Mg, and pH between the land-use types and elevation gradient as well as slope classes. Mean contents of OM and P in paddy fields (lower and flat locations) were lower than in vegetable lands (higher and steep places) (P < 0.05). Mean values of Ca, Mg, and pH in paddy fields were higher than in vegetable lands (P < 0.05). Further analysis combining with management practice demonstrated that the redistribution of pH, OM, N, P, Ca, and Mg was mainly controlled by the interactive effects of topography and land use. Therefore, interactions between topography and land-use types need to be considered in regional soil properties inventory assessments.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1406-1420
Author(s):  
Jianwei Wang ◽  
Kun Wang ◽  
Tianling Qin ◽  
Hanjiang Nie ◽  
Zhenyu Lv ◽  
...  

AbstractLand use/cover change plays an important role in human development and environmental health and stability. Markov chain and a future land use simulation model were used to predict future change and simulate the spatial distribution of land use in the Huang-Huai-Hai river basin. The results show that cultivated land and grassland are the main land-use types in the basin, accounting for about 40% and 30%, respectively. The area of cultivated land decreased and artificial surfaces increased from 1980 to 2010. The degree of dynamic change of land use after the 1990s was greater than that before the 1990s. There is a high probability of exchange among cultivate land, forest and grassland. The area of forest decreased before 2000 and increased after 2000. Under the three emission scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5) of IPSL-CM5A-LR climate model, the area of cultivated land will decrease and that of grassland will increase in the upstream area while it will decrease in the downstream area. The above methods and rules will be of great help to future land use planning.


1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-146
Author(s):  
THERON G. SOMMERFELDT

The effects of soil and solution pH and Na:Ca ratio in solution on the exchangeable Na, Ca, and (Na + Ca) of a Na-saturated Dark Brown Chernozemic soil were studied. At soil pH 9.0, the exchangeable Na, Ca, and (Na + Ca) were 14.5, 25.4, and 21.8% greater than at soil pH 6.0. Solution pH (6.0–9.0) had small but statistically significant effects on the amount of Na and Ca adsorbed by the soil. The logarithm of exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) was related to the Na fraction in the solution by a polynomial equation, log ESP = 0.93 [Na/(Na + Ca)]2 + 0.16 [Na/(Na + Ca)] + 0.82. Not only is replacement of exchangeable Na with Ca important in the reclamation of this soil, should it become sodic and have a high pH, but also lowering of its surface charge, through lowering of its pH, would be an important factor in its reclamation. It appears impractical to reduce soil pH by applying acidified irrigation water. Acidic amendments such as gypsum and sulfur may be more suitable. Key words: Cation exchange, solution pH, soil pH


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