scholarly journals Effect of land-use practices on species diversity and selected soil property in Somodo Watershed South-Western Ethiopia

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0252305
Author(s):  
Leta Hailu ◽  
Gizaw Tesfaye ◽  
Kalkidan Fikirie ◽  
Yalemtsehay Debebe

This study was conducted in Somodo Watershed to investigate the land-use practices and its effect on species diversity and selected soil properties. Field observation was carried out to identify existing land-use practices following a transect line. A total of 20 plots (10 × 10) m2 were sampled from plots exhibiting different land-use practices found in the watershed in order to evaluate species richness and diversity. Soil samples were also collected from each plot. The soil samples were analyzed following standard laboratory procedures. The result of the analysis showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in species diversity and richness among different land-use practices. Coffea arabica was dominant in homestead gardens and natural forests while Grevillea robusta showed had maximum richness in plantations and farm forests in the Watershed. Furthermore, home garden agroforestry practice was significantly (p<0.05) affected soil pH compared to other land-use systems (cultivated land, natural forest, and plantation forest. While Organic carbon (OC), Total nitrogen (TN), and Carbon to Nitrogen ratio (C: N) did not show significance difference among land-use systems in the watershed. The study has concluded that different land-use practices had a positive impact on sustaining species diversity, richness, and improve soil properties. Therefore, the study suggests that improving and expanding home garden agroforestry practices in the area are indispensable for environmental protection and soil fertility enhancement.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fentanesh Haile Buruso ◽  
Zenebe Admasu Teferi

Abstract BackgroundThe decrease in the area under natural vegetation and its conversion into other types of use has resulted in resource degradation including soil quality loss. Soil properties response to changes in land use/ cover has shown spatial and temporal variations. Hence this study was carried out to examine the influence of land use/ cover changes on physical and chemical properties of the soils in Rib watershed. Soil samples were taken over three selected land use/ covers (natural forest, grazing and cultivated lands) in two agro- ecological zones (Dega and High Dega). Multivariate analysis of variance (MNOVA) and Pearson’s correlation was computed. ResultsThe study revealed that land use/ cover and altitude have influenced physical and chemical properties of the soil in the study watershed. Significant difference in distribution of soil texture, BD, OC, TN and pH among land use/ covers have been observed. Natural forest had higher OC, OC stock and TN than grazing and cultivated lands. The mean OC stock ranged from 188.32 t/ha in natural forest to 72.75t/ha in cultivated lands. Soil pH was slightly higher for natural forests and lower in the soils of grazing and cultivated lands. Significant difference (P<0.05) among the two agro ecologies were also observed in OC, Ca2+, clay, and silt.. ConclusionTherefore, land use/ cover changes have affected the concentration of TN, OC, increase soil acidity and compaction that can affect productive of soils and production of crops.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Sujita Shrestha ◽  
Gandhiv Kafle

Different land use systems can have different soil properties. It is important to study the soil properties for wise use and sustainable management of land resources. This article reports the findings of a research conducted in Makwanpur district of Nepal, to determine and compare the selected physicochemical and hydrological properties of soil in forest, rainfed agriculture land, and grassland. These forest, agriculture land, and grassland represent tropical land use systems. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 30 cm depths of soil profile from nine randomly distributed pits dug in forest, grassland, and rainfed agriculture land in 2019. Soil samples were analyzed in the laboratory to determine the soil properties using standard methods. Bulk density, porosity, moisture content and infiltration, pH, total nitrogen, available potassium, and available phosphorus were quantified from the soils samples. It was found that the highest BD was found in the grassland (1.29 g/cm³) followed by the forest (1.23 g/cm³) and rainfed agriculture land (1.18 g/cm³). The highest porosity was found in rainfed agriculture land (55.50%) followed by the forest (53.74%) and grassland (51.63%). The highest MC was found in the grassland (26.94%) followed by the forest (10.17%) and rainfed agriculture land (9.92%). The mean cumulative infiltration amount was highest in the rainfed agriculture land (39.27 cm) followed by the forest (33.47 cm) and grassland (8.4 cm). The highest soil pH was found in the grassland (7.91) and the lowest pH (5.70) in the forest. The highest level of total nitrogen was found in rainfed agriculture land (0.121%), followed by the forest (0.106%) and grassland (0.096%). The highest level of available phosphorous was found in rainfed agriculture land (84.94 ppm), followed by the forest (67.76 ppm) and grassland (6.69). The highest level of available potassium was found in rainfed agriculture land (154.24 ppm), followed by the forest (84.49 ppm) and the grassland (44.71 ppm). Bulk density, porosity, and total nitrogen were not found to be significantly different and other soil properties were found to be significantly different between different land use systems. The contribution of farmers in maintaining soil properties on the farmlands is clearly reflected in the results, so their knowledge on soil management needs to be explored and adapted for wise use and sustainable management of other land use systems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1398
Author(s):  
Tavjot Kaur ◽  
Simerpreet Kaur Sehgal ◽  
Satnam Singh ◽  
Sandeep Sharma ◽  
Salwinder Singh Dhaliwal ◽  
...  

The present study was conducted to investigate the seasonal effects of five land use systems (LUSs), i.e., wheat–rice (Triticum aestivum—Oryza sativa) system, sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), orange (Citrus sinensis) orchard, safeda (Eucalyptus globules) forest, and grassland, on soil quality and nutrient status in the lower Satluj basin of the Shiwalik foothills Himalaya, India. Samples were analyzed for assessment of physico-chemical properties at four soil depths, viz., 0–15, 15–30, 30–45, and 45–60 cm. A total of 120 soil samples were collected in both the seasons. Soil texture was found to be sandy loam and slightly alkaline in nature. The relative trend of soil organic carbon (SOC), macro- and micro-nutrient content for the five LUSs was forest > orchard > grassland > wheat–rice > sugarcane, in the pre- and post-monsoon seasons. SOC was highly correlated with macronutrients and micronutrients, whereas SOC was negatively correlated with soil pH (r = −0.818). The surface soil layer (0–15 cm) had a significantly higher content of SOC, and macro- and micro-nutrients compared to the sub-surface soil layers, due to the presence of more organic content in the soil surface layer. Tukey’s multiple comparison test was applied to assess significant difference (p < 0.05) among the five LUSs at four soil depths in both the seasons. Principle component analysis (PCA) identified that SOC and electrical conductivity (EC) were the most contributing soil indicators among the different land use systems, and that the post-monsoon season had better soil quality compared to the pre-monsoon season. These indicators helped in the assessment of soil health and fertility, and to monitor degraded agroecosystems for future soil conservation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-127
Author(s):  
Mahesh Kumar ◽  
N.R. Panwar ◽  
R.N. Kumawat ◽  
P. Santra

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Titut Yulistyarini ◽  
Abban Putri Fiqa ◽  
Sugeng Budiharta ◽  
Ridesti Rindyastuti

Abstract. Yulistyarini T, Fiqa AP, Budiharta S, Rindyastuti R. 2020. Distribution of Gyrinops versteegii in varying vegetation structures, soil properties, and microclimates in western part of Flores Island, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 1800-1808. Gyrinops versteegii is one of the agarwood-producing tropical plants that is distributed in the Lesser Sunda Islands to Sulawesi, Moluccas (Maluku), and Papua. The natural population of Gyrinops versteegii (Gilg.) Domke is widely exploited, making it being listed in CITES Appendix II. Despite largely exploited, information regarding the distribution of G. versteegii to reveal the habitat characteristics of its natural population is limited. The aims of the research were (i) to investigate the habitat characteristics of the distribution of G. versteegii in term of vegetation community, as well as soil and microclimate variables in its natural habitat in western part of Flores Island, and (ii) to study the relationship between its occurrence and ecological factors. The research was conducted in one community forest and three natural forests in the districts of Manggarai and West Manggarai, Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province. Data on vegetation, soil properties and microclimates were collected by establishing 73 observation plots across the four studied areas. Data were analyzed to reveal vegetation composition and structure where G. versteegii occurred, the dispersion pattern, and relationship between its occurrence and ecological factors. Our study revealed that G. versteegii populations at four studied areas in Flores Island were distributed in a broad range of habitat characteristics with varying vegetation compositions and structures, canopy covers as well as soil and microclimates variables. The local/metapopulations of G. versteegii in these areas can be dispersed in clumped or uniform pattern. Nonetheless, some ecological variables might be important for the abundance of this species including soil texture, soil pH, C organic and Soil Organic Matters (SOM). The results of this study suggest a promising opportunity for the conservation efforts of G. versteegii through the possibility of planting this species in various land management including planted in monoculture system, polyculture system (e.g. home garden and agroforestry) as well as reintroduced into species-rich natural forest.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               


2020 ◽  
pp. 6-12
Author(s):  
Tahsina Sharmin Hoque ◽  
Shafia Afrin ◽  
Israt Jahan ◽  
Md. Joinul Abedin Mian ◽  
Mohammad Anwar Hossain

Soil depth can significantly influence the availability of nutrients in soil. An experiment was conducted with seven soil samples from seven land use types to observe the effect of soil depth on soil properties under various land use systems. Soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter, available phosphorus (P), available sulphur (S) and different forms of potassium (K) such as water soluble, exchangeable and non-exchangeable were determined from the soil samples collected from four soil depths (viz. 0-10, 10-20, 20-30 and 30-40 cm). Soil pH varied from 6.30-7.39 irrespective of depths and land uses and it increased with increasing soil depth. Electrical conductivity of the soils ranged from 42-310 µS cm-1 and organic matter status of most of the soils was very low to medium in level. Both EC and organic matter content decreased with the increase of soil depth. Available P concentration showed no specific changing trend with soil depth whereas available S concentration under different land use systems decreased with increasing soil depth. The concentrations of water soluble, exchangeable and non-exchangeable K in soils varied from 12.30-39.60, 20.90-53.16 and 163.30-684.30 mg kg-1, respectively and showed no specific changing pattern with soil depth. Water soluble K content was higher in rice growing fertilizer and manure-treated soil but higher exchangeable and non-exchangeable K contents were observed in banana growing soil. In rice growing soils, nutrient concentration is mostly higher in nitrogen (N), P and K + farm yard manure (FYM) - treated plots compared to rice growing control plots.


1994 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert K. Dixon ◽  
Jack K. Winjum ◽  
Kenneth J. Andrasko ◽  
Jeffrey J. Lee ◽  
Paul E. Schroeder

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 1369-1375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-bin WU ◽  
Peng YANG ◽  
Hua-jun TANG ◽  
Luca Ongaro ◽  
Shibasaki Ryosuke

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