Effects of Land Use Land Cover and Slope Gradients on Soil Fertility at Kori Sub-Watershed, East Wollega, Ethiopia

BackgroundThe complex nature of the relationship and interaction between LULC and slope gradients resulted in the decline of soil fertility parameters, which aggravate the reduction of sustainable productivity in Ethiopia in general and the study area in particular. This study was aimed to determine the effects of land use land cover and slope gradients on the physicochemical properties of soil in study area A total of 27 composite soil samples were collected from 0-20cm depth under three dominant adjacent LULC across three slope with three replications. The collected soil samples were analyzed for selected soil physicochemical properties. Two-way ANOVA was used to test the mean differences of the soil fertility parameters. ResultThe mean values of soil physicochemical parameters showed that, SOC, TN, AvP, CEC, exchangeable bases (Ca2+ Mg2+, K+, and Na+), PBS, and percentage of clay contents of cultivated land and steep slope gradient (15-30%) were low and significantly different at (P≤0.05) than forest and grad grassland of the same slope gradient.. The gentle slope (3-8%) gradients of the forest lands had the lowest BD and high TP as compared to the others.ConclusionThe overall soil fertility status of the steep slope gradient (15-30%) of cultivated lands is lower than others and cultivating the steep slope is the cause for productivity loss in the study sub-watershed. Therefore, proper land-use planning and the use of integrated soil fertility management strategy give better production and keep the soil fertility status to a better level.

Correlation of Soil Characteristics and Citrus Leaf Nutrients Contents in Current Scenario of Layyah District

Soil with low fertility is a big problem for achieving citrus productivity. In this regard, the management of macro and micronutrients is essential. Macro and micronutrient deficiency decreased the yield and the quality of citrus fruit. It is the need of the hour to classify the soil fertility status under changing climatic scenarios. The current soil fertility survey was conducted to examine the macro and micronutrient status in the citrus production area. In soil, three depths (0–15, 15–30, and 30–45 cm) were taken for sampling. For leaves, 4–6-months-old non-bearing twigs were sampled from 20 trees per orchard at breast height. Results showed that soil pH (7.1–8.4) was slightly alkaline, electrical conductivity (EC) was non-saline (<4 dSm−1), soil organic matter (SOM) was deficient (<0.86%), and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was slight calcareous (<8%), at 0–15, 15–30, and 30–45 cm depths. The majority of soil samples were low in nitrogen (N) contents at all depths, i.e., (<0.043) 0–15 (85%), 15–30 (97%), and 30–45 (100%) cm depths. Phosphorus (P) was medium (7–15 mg kg−1) at 0–15 cm (60%) but low (<7 mg kg−1) at 15–30 (63%) and 30–45 cm (82%) depths. Potassium (K) was medium (80–180 mg kg−1) at 0–15 (69%), 15–30 (69%), and 30–45 cm (10%) depths. Boron (B) and manganese (Mn) were medium, and Cu was high in 0.15 cm, but all were low at 15–30 and 30–45 cm depths. Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) were low at depths of 0–15, 15–30, and 30–45 cm. Most citrus leaves were deficient in N (94%), Fe (76%), Zn (67%), and B (67%). In conclusion, soil fertilization is not sufficient for optimum citrus yield because of alkaline pH and slight calcareous soil conditions in this region. Foliar application of nutrients is suggested instead of only soil fertilization, for better nutrient management in citrus orchards.

Effect of Zinc Sources on Nutrient Content and Uptake in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril] under the Acidic Soil Conditions of Nagaland

Background: Soybean is an important legume as well as oil seed crop grown in a varied range of climate and soils. Zinc is an important micronutrient required for plants, animals and human. Its deficiency in soil is a worldwide concern for production of food crops. Therefore two years reseach in two locations were conducted in 2019 and 2020 to study the nutrient content and uptake of NPK and Zn in soybean with zinc fertilization. Methods: A two years research was conducted in two locations under the acidic soil conditions of Nagaland. Nutrient content and uptake of N, P, K and Zn were recorded at first, second year and pooled. The location, climate, altitude and soil fertility status were recorded in both the sites. Altogether there were 13 treatments and 3 replications.The experimental design used was simple RBD. The datas were recorded, analysed and computed statistically. Result: The nutrient uptake of N, K and Zn except P in soybean were significantly found to be increased @ 5 kg ha-1 ZnSO4 H2O + RDF (T9) followed by T8 and T10 as compared to control in both the years and pooled.

The Determinants of Agricultural Crop Productivity among Smallholder Households in Haramaya Distinct, Eastern Ethiopia

The agricultural crop is a backbone in Ethiopia since the country's economy is mainly dependent on agriculture, which is dominated by subsistence smallholder farmers who are partially integrated into the market. The objective of this study was to identify the determinants of crop productivity among smallholder farmers in Haramaya distinct, Eastern Ethiopia. A two-stage random sampling procedure was employed to detect a sample containing 260 smallholder households in the study area. Data was collected through semi-structured questionnaire schedules administered to the selected household farmers. The features of smallholder farmers were analyzed through descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression models. The results indicated that the length of farming experience of the household head, number of economically active members in family, amount of organic fertilizer applied, irrigated land area, and soil fertility status of farmland were the significant determinants of agricultural crop productivity. To increase the production and productivity of smallholder farms, the farmers were provided with land irrigation. Based on these findings, the study recommends the provision of organic fertilizer to farmers. Policies should also target supplying improved technology and improved seed to enhance agricultural crop production in Ethiopia.

GIS-based Fertility Assessment and Mapping for Agricultural Research Station, Tandur, Telangana, India

This study was conducted to determine the soil fertility status of the Agricultural Research Station, Tandur of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), Vikarabad District, Telangana. To identify the soil sampling points, GPS device was used and collected total of 60 soil samples on grid-based method at a depth of 0–15 cm. The collected samples were analyzed for pH, EC, OC, N, P2O5, K2O, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn status by following standard methods in the laboratory of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Palem, PJTSAU, Nagarkurnool District of Telangana, and Arc-GIS software was used further to prepare soil fertility maps. Around 37.5% of samples fall in neutral pH, whereas 62.5% samples were found as moderately alkaline reactions and entire farm soils were non-saline. Among the analyzed soil samples, 37.29% samples were in low organic carbon content, and rest of the samples i.e.,62.71% have medium organic carbon content and total samples were low in available N content (< 280 kg ha-1). The analyzed farm samples were medium to high in available phosphorus and potassium (28.67 & 71.33 % of P2O5 and 16.96 & 83.04 % of K2O respectively) content. In contrast, the micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe & Mn) exceeded their sufficiency level and suggested for amelioration measures to enhance research efficacy in the farm and to build future research strategies based on the determined soil fertility status.

Soil fertility status in tidal land of Tirtomarto reservoir, Central Java, Indonesia

Reservoir tidal land used for agriculture is generally done when the reservoir water level begins to shrink. This land is used as a moor in dryland or lowland rice fields in the wetland. The purpose of the study was to determine the soil fertility status of the tidal land of the Tirtomarto reservoir, Central Java. Parameters tested include cation exchange capacity (CEC); base saturation (BS); C-Organic; total soil P and K levels according to the technical instructions for evaluating soil fertility. Soil samples were taken from three location points by the purposive sampling method. The results showed that most of the soil samples contained low to very low nutrients, except for the total P content which had a high value. Therefore, the fertility status in the tidal land of the Tirtomarto reservoir, Central Java, can be categorized as low. The low fertility status of the soil at the study site was due to the limiting factors, namely the low C-organic content of the soil, low K total soil, and low cation exchange capacity and base saturation.

Evaluation of soil fertility: a case study in Aceh Besar district

Plant growth requires nutrients and their functions in plants cannot be replaced by other elements so that if there are not enough nutrients in the soil, plants cannot grow normally. The nutrient content in the soil and the ability of the soil to provide nutrients for plant growth is different. So that the type of fertilizer and the amount of fertilizer given to each type of soil will be different and it depends on the type of plant being cultivated. To determine the requirements of fertilizers and the types of fertilizers required for each type of soil, need some research about the evaluation study of soil fertility. The research was conducted in Aceh Besar with located between 5¼ 2 ‘-5¼ 8’ N and 95¼ 80 ‘-95¼ 88’E. Assessment of soil fertility status based on the criteria of several soil chemical properties, CEC (cation exchange capacity), alkaline saturation, C-Organic, P2O5 (HCL, 25%) mg / 100g, and K2O (HCL, 25%) mg / 100g. The analysis results obtained from 11 sample points show that Aceh Besar has soil fertility status from medium to low.