Soil survey and characterization of soil of Argo- Gedilala Sub Watershed in Dugda District, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Abstract

A detailed study on soil resources characterization based on the understanding of the soil system is not available at Dugda district. With the cognizance of this fact, the present study was conducted to characterize the morphological and physicochemical properties of soils, classify the soils according to World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) of Argo-Gedilala Subwatershed in Dugda District of Oromia Regional State, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Four slope classes were considered and one pedon was opened for each and described in the field on a standard description sheet for each slope category. Soil samples were collected from genetic horizons of each pedon for laboratory analysis of the selected physicochemical properties of the soils. The soils were classified into different Reference Soil Groups following the (WRB).The organic carbon (OC) content of the study area ranged from low to medium/moderate (0.64 to 1.83%). Total nitrogen (TN),available.phosphorus (Av.P), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and percent base saturation (PBS) of the soils were in the range of (0.066-0.135%), (2.24-4.81 mgkg-1), (39.52-43.52) cmol(+)kg-1) and (77.57-89.8%), respectively. Accordingly, they were rated as low to medium, very low to low, high to very high and high to very high, respectively. The soil classification revealed that pedon 1 and pedon 2 were Cambic Chernic Phaeozems (Pantoclayic, Humic, Hypereutric); and pedon 4, Cambic Chernic Phaeozem (Pantoclayic, Humic); whereas, pedon 3 is found to be a kind of Luvic Phaeozem (Abruptic, Albic, Clayic, Differentic, Hypereutric). The soils of the study area had low organic matter, available P and total nitrogen content, which can be seen as production constraints of all cultivated lands. To overcome the identified limitations, increasing the organic matter levels through continuous application of manure.

Soil-Landscape Characterization and Mapping to Advance the State of Spatial Soil Information on Ethiopian Highlands: Implications for Site-Specific Soil Management

“…The overall pedons means, av. P content was found in harmony with the result observed in other studies (Bekele et al 2021;Debele et al 2018;Fekadu et al 2018;Raghuvanshi et al 2020;Sebnie et al 2021). Based on the ratings of EthioSIS (2014), the average av.…”

“…The soils were very low to medium in Na, low to very high in K and Ca, and medium to very high in Mg as per the rating suggested by EthioSIS (2014). Others have also reported similar findings in Ethiopia's agroecological settings (Abate et al 2014;Abu 2021;Ali et al 2010;Bekele et al 2021). The per cent base saturation (PBS) increased with depth possibly due to the leaching of bases from the overlying layers and subsequent accumulation in the sub-surface horizons.…”

“…P content was found in the low to 69 Soil-landscape characterization and mapping medium category. Phosphorus deficiency in Ethiopian soils is well documented as a result of depletion and slow recycling due to a fixation on the inherent low occurrence (Bekele et al 2021;Elias 2016;Fekadu et al 2018;Mesfin et al 2017). Moreover, the low content of av.…”

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

“…Te overall profle means av. P content was found in harmony with the result observed in other studies [108,116,117]. Based on the ratings of EthioSIS [63]; the average av.…”

“…P content was found in the low to medium category. Phosphorus defciency in Ethiopian soils is well documented as a result of depletion and slow recycling due to a fxation on the inherent low occurrence [116,118]. Moreover, the low content of av.…”