Effects of land use changes on the dynamics of selected soil properties in northeast Wellega, Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract. Land use change can have negative or positive effects on soil quality. Our objective was to assess the effects of land uses changes on the dynamics of selected soil physical and chemical properties. Soil samples were collected from three adjacent soil plots under different land uses, namely forestland, grazing land, and cultivated land at 0–15 cm depth. Changes in soil properties on cultivated and grazing land were computed and compared to forestland, and ANOVA (analysis of variance) was used to test the significance of the changes. Sand and silt proportions, soil organic content, total nitrogen content, acidity, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable Ca2+ content were higher in forestlands. Exchangeable Mg2+ was highest in grazing land, while clay, available phosphorous, and exchangeable K+ were highest in cultivated land. The percentage changes in sand, clay, soil organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ were higher in cultivated land than in grazing land and forestland. In terms of the relation between soil properties, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable Ca2+ were strongly positively correlated with most of soil properties, while available phosphorous and silt have no significant relationship with any of the other considered soil properties. Clay has a negative correlation with all soil properties. Generally, cultivated land has the least concentration of soil physical and chemical properties except clay and available phosphorous, which suggests an increasing degradation rate in soils of cultivated land. So as to increase soil organic matter and other nutrients in the soil of cultivated land, the integrated implementation of land management through compost, cover crops, manures, minimum tillage, crop rotation, and liming to decrease soil acidity are suggested.

Soil structure of pistachio cultivation areas in Turkey and comparison with border lines

“…When the areas were compared in terms of content of P, it was found that mined area had less amount of P than the other areas since the mined areas hadn't been farmed for a long time. These results exhibited similarity with the parameters in which P values increased by the use of farming activities as reported by Adugna and Abegaz (2016). Content of K and Mg of soil samples were high and calcium was in medium/good level.…”

“…Most of the samples had no salinity problem, alkali-reaction, limy and soil which was poor in terms of organic substance and nitrogen. The content of clay, sand, pH and organic matter of soil change with type of land usage and that the amount of silt increase due to agricultural practices (Adugna and Abegaz, 2016). Similarly, pH value of soil tend to decrease (Abad, et al, 2014).…”

Ni̇ğde Akkaya Baraji Havzasinda Arazi̇ Kullanimi/Arazi̇ Örtüsü Deği̇şi̇mi̇ni̇n Bazi Toprak Özelli̇kleri̇ Üzeri̇ne Etki̇leri̇

“…Adugna ve Abegaz [30] ile Sarıyıldız ve ark. [23] benzer şekilde kum miktarının tarım alanlarında orman ve meraya göre daha yüksek olduğunu saptamışlardır.…”

Impact of Land Use Changes on Soil Properties and Organic Carbon Distribution Using Tracer Techniques in Selangor State of Malaysia

“…The contribution of root inputs to organic C can greatly influence both the total amount and vertical distribution of SOC in different depth of soil (Oelbermann and Voroney, 2007;Rumpel and Kogel-Knabner, 2011).Similar findings were reported by Keen et al (2011). Conversion to oil palm plantation led to a net gain of soil C stock (Flynn et al, 2012;Frazao et al, 2013;Patthanaissaranukool and Polprasert, 2011;Siangjaeo et al, 2011) due to suitable land management systems (Adugna and Abegaz, 2016;Six et al 2002). Land use change can lead to an alteration of the amounts and qualities of SOM (Coleman et al, 1989) and can potentially either release or sequester soil carbon (Mendham et al, 2003).…”