Determination of physico-chemical properties and agricultural potentials of soils in Tembaro District, KembataTembaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Year 2019, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 118 - 130, 01.04.2019

Alemu Lelago Tadele Buraka

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.533454

Cited By: 5

Abstract

The
objectives of this study were to classify the soils of Tembaro district, and to
identify its potentials for crop production. 
Five pits representing a pedon each were opened and profile in each pit
was described for its morphological, physical and chemical characteristics
according to standard procedures. A total of 20 disturbed soil samples and 16
core ring samples were collected from five representative profiles. The samples
were analyzed in the laboratory for texture, BD, FC, PWP, Soil pH, EC, OC, TN,
av.P, av.K, exchangeable bases, free and active iron and CEC. The results
showed that the proportions of soil separates varied among profile and depth
however, soils were all in clay textural class. The BD varied from 1.02 in the
surface profile 1 to 1.25 g.cm-3 in the profile 3. Soil pH ranged
from 6.8 to 5.4 in the surface horizons of all profiles with further decrease
with depth indicating that the soils in the watershed are slightly acidic to
moderately acidic.  The OM and TN
contents ranged from 2.90 to 5.43 and 0.23 to 0.45% in the surface horizon and
they were in the low, low to medium and high categories respectively. The
corresponding values for the remaining subsoil horizons were in the low
categories. In all cases the contents of these parameters decreased
considerably with depths. Available P was below critical values for all
profiles and depths except for profiles 1 and 4. Exchangeable K was above
critical value in all profiles with increasing trend along with depth of all
profiles.  Exchangeable Mg varied from
2.47 in surface horizon of profile 3 to 3.98 cmolc kg-1 in the
surface horizons of profile 4 and increased with depth in all profiles except
in profile 1. The observation with exchangeable K and Mg implies that there is
leaching phenomenon in the study area. Ca ranged from 4. 35 cmolc kg -1
in profile 5 to 16.50 cmolc kg -1 in profile 1 with inconsistent
trend with depth. The CEC from 18.22 cmolc kg -1 soil in surface
horizon of profile 5  to 27.43 cmolc kg-1
soil  in the surface horizons of profile
1 indicating they are in the medium to high ranges. But inconsistent trend in
CEC distribution was observed with depth in all profiles. Based on the data
collected from profile description study and soil physicochemical analytical
data and according to FAO-WRD soil classification legend, the soil at Ambukuna
watershed were classified as Haplic Nitisols (Endoeutric, humic), Haplic
Nitisols (Hypereutric, humic), Haplic Nitisols (Endoeutric) and Haplic Nitisols
(Epidystric, Humic). Most of the soil physical and some of the chemical
characteristics studied could be ranked as good indicating that the area has
high potential for agricultural production.

Keywords

Agricultural constraints and potentials, soil physicochemical properties, soil profiles, profile description

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