Characterization and classification of soils of Wolkite University research sites, Ethiopia

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to characterize and classify soils of Wolkite University research sites, Gurage zone, Ethiopia. In each five research sites, Wabe (RS1), Geche (RS2), Yefereze (RS3), Kotergedra (RS4) and Keratemo (RS5), representative pedons were opened and described. Almost all the pedons were deep (>150 cm) with argillic B horizons and had clay textural class. The pH of the surface soils ranged from strongly acidic (4.5) to moderately acidic (5.6). The soils had medium (2.60%) to high (3.84%) organic carbon content and very low (1.46 mg kg-1) to low (10.34 mg kg-1) available phosphorus. The status of cation exchange capacity (CEC) and base saturation were ranged from medium (23.15) to very high (66.32 cmolc kg-1) and low (33%) to high (99%), respectively. According to WRB classification, pedon RS1 was classified as Haplic Vertisols (Hypereutric) with USD equivalent of Typic Haplusterts. Pedons RS2 and RS3 were classified as Vertic Alisols (Hyperdysric), which is correlated with Ultisols (Typic Haplustults) in USDA classification. Pedon RS4 and RS5 classified as Vertic Luvisols (Hypereutric), which is correlated with Alfisols (Vertic Haplustalfs) in USDA classification. Generally, the soils of the research sites were acidic with low status of available phosphorus, which need amelioration of soil acidity and nutrient management.

Characterization and Classification of Soils of Zamra Irrigation Scheme, Northeastern Ethiopia

“…The lowest pH values were found in the surface soils at each sites, with higher pH values at depth. Similar results were observed and reported by Ali et al (2010), Sharu et al (2013), Assen and Yilma (2010), and Yitbarek et al (2018). This slight increase in pH with depth might be due to movement cations from surface soil to subsurface soil.…”

“…The trends showed a slight decrease with depth in Profiles 1 and 2, whereas in Profile 3 and 4 TN increased with increasing depth. The result of the two profiles is in agreement with the findings of Tegene (1997), Demiss and Beyene (2010), and Yitbarek et al (2018) who found that TN content decreased with increasing depth at their study sites. In general, the level of TN showed little variation throughout all profiles.…”

Characterization and Mapping of Soil-Landscape for Site-Specific Soil Management in Ayiba Watershed, Northern Highlands of Ethiopia

“…Te lowest pH reading was found in the upper horizon soils at each site, with higher pH values at depth which might be due to the movement of cations from surface soil to subsurface soil. Similar results were also observed and reported by others [76,77,92,104], who confrmed that an increment in soil pH down horizon might indicate the presence of vertical movements of exchangeable bases, which is caused by decreased in organic matter content with depth. All soil pH records documented at the study site are favorable for most crops per the pH scale stated by EthioSIS [63] and Hazelton and Murphy [82].…”

“…From A-horizon down to the bedrock R-horizon the structure changes from massive to crumbly structure with depth. All the six profles showed weak grade granular type soil structure in the A-horizon due to relatively high organic matter content, and the gravel content was observed to be higher in the parent material layer [75,76]. Te sticky to very sticky/plastic to very plastic consistency in surface and subsurface horizons indicated low organic matter content and hard to work with these soils.…”

Characterization and Study of Dominated Alluvial Soil Profile of Mirzapur in Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGPs) of India

“…The sediments deposited at the bed of the Tethys Sea was folded and warped due to the northward drift of peninsula (Khullar, 2005). This rolling upland, touching the Vindhya hills exhibits a complex and heterogeneous nature of topography with detached hills, flat-topped ridges, summit plains and entrenched narrow as well as broad valleys almost reaching the base level [32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40]. In t1e eastern part, the east-west trending Vindhayan range composed of shallow marine deposits of Proterozoic age, divides the Ganga plain in the north and vast Pedi plain exposing metamorphosed sequence of Archaean age in the south (NATMO, 2008).…”