AUTHOR=Amare Hailu , Admase Habtamu , Ewunetu Tenagne 

TITLE=Influence of land-use types and topographic slopes on the physico-chemical characteristics of soils in Northwestern Ethiopia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Soil Science

VOLUME=4

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/soil-science/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2024.1463315

DOI=10.3389/fsoil.2024.1463315

ISSN=2673-8619

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Aims</title><p>This study examines the effects of land-use types and slope position on selected soil physico-chemical properties in the Ageza Watershed, Northwestern Ethiopia, focusing on soil fertility depletion and its impact on agricultural productivity.</p></sec><sec><title>Materials and methods</title><p>The experiment utilized a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, involving three land-use types and slope positions. A total of 27 soil samples (both disturbed and undisturbed) were collected, prepared, and analyzed for selected physico-chemical properties following standard laboratory procedures. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA with SAS software.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Significant variations in most soil physico-chemical properties were observed across land-use types and slope positions. Soil bulk density, organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (Av. P), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and exchangeable bases significantly (<italic>P</italic> ≤ 0.001) differed among the land-use types and slope positions. The main effects showed significant (<italic>P</italic> ≤ 0.05) differences in sand, silt, and clay contents across the land-use types. However, pH did not show significant differences (<italic>P</italic> &gt; 0.05). Soil bulk density, silt content, Av. P, exchangeable bases, and CEC all showed significant (<italic>P</italic> ≤ 0.01) differences among the slope positions. Forest land had the highest values for clay (46.11%), OC (6.08%), Av. P (20.60 mg/kg), CEC (33.89 cmol (+) kg<sup>-</sup>¹), and exchangeable cations: Ca²<sup>+</sup> (23.72 cmol (+) kg<sup>-</sup>¹), Mg²<sup>+</sup> (4.40 cmol (+) kg<sup>-</sup>¹), K<sup>+</sup> (1.18 cmol (+) kg<sup>-</sup>¹), and Na<sup>+</sup> (0.77 cmol (+) kg<sup>-</sup>¹). Grazing land exhibited higher silt and bulk density, while cultivated land had higher sand content. Lower slope positions recorded the highest values for clay (47.33%), silt (20.77%), pH (4.90), Av. P (16.61 mg/kg), Ca²<sup>+</sup> (20.10 cmol (+) kg<sup>-</sup>¹), Mg²<sup>+</sup> (3.73 cmol (+) kg<sup>-</sup>¹), K<sup>+</sup> (1.00 cmol (+) kg<sup>-</sup>¹), Na<sup>+</sup> (0.66 cmol (+) kg<sup>-</sup>¹), and CEC (28.71 cmol (+) kg<sup>-</sup>¹), while bulk density was higher in the upper slope position.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Land-use types and slope positions significantly influence variations in soil physico-chemical properties and overall soil fertility status. Forest preservation and management are essential to improve the soil fertility in this region.</p></sec>