Characterization and classification of soils of Yikalo Subwatershed in Lay Gayint District, Northwestern Highlands of Ethiopia

Year 2018, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 151 - 166, 01.04.2018

Endalkachew Fekadu Kibebew Kibret Bobe Bedadi Asmare Melese

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.376267

Cited By: 13

Abstract

Soil
resource information is vital for sound land use planning and sustainable
fertility management. This study was carried out with the objective of
characterizing and classifying soils of Yikalo Subwatershed at Lay Gayint
district, Northwestern Ethiopia. Representative soil pedons were opened along
topographic positions and described on genetic horizon basis in the field for
their morphological characteristics and analyzed in the laboratory for selected
physical and chemical soil properties. The soils were classified following the FAO
(2014). The results revealed the presence of variations in the selected
morphological properties within a pedon and along the topographic positions.
Soils differed in reaction from 4.57 to 6.42. On the surface horizons of the
soil pedons, available P content varied from 0.21 to 3.25 mg kg^-1,
while exchangeable acidity ranged from 0.17 to 3.65 cmol_c kg^-1
soil. There was no consistent trend for cation exchange capacity (CEC) and PBS
(percent base saturation) with soil depth and topographic positions. The soils
in Yikalo Subwatershed were classified as Hyperdystric Cambisols (Humic), Haplic Alisols
(Humic), Cambic
Umbrisols (Colluvic), Haplic
Luvisols (Epidystric), and Pellic Vertisols (Mesotrophic). Optimum
rates of organic and inorganic amendments should be applied to reduce the level
of soil acidity, and improve the fertility level of the soils for better crop
production and productivity.

Keywords

slope positions, soil classification, pedon

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