Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of Land Use and Landscape Position on Soil Properties in Dire Watershed, Central Highlands of Ethiopia

  • AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY AND SOIL FERTILITY
  • Published:
Eurasian Soil Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Understanding soil qualities related to land use and landscape positions is critical for designing long term soil management practices. The research was set out with the objective of analyzing the effect of land use and landscape positions on selected soil physicochemical properties in Dire watershed, central highland Ethiopia. Replicated 27 composite surface soil samples were collected across three landscape positions from three land use types (cultivated land, grazing land and forest land) and analyzed using standard protocols. Results showed that land use type, altitude and slope significantly affect important soil physicochemical properties. These include particle size distribution, bulk density (BD), electrical conductivity (EC), soil pH, available water content (AWC), permanent wilting point (PWP), field capacity, soil organic carbon (SOC), total Nitrogen (TN) and available phosphorus (AP). Analysis of variance results showed that significant (p < 0.05) effect of slope, land use, landscape position and their interaction on AP, SOM, SOC, PWP and AWC. Results of correlation analysis showed that SOC, and EC have a significant positive correlation with TN but, AP, TN, and clay content were negatively correlated with BD. Comparatively cultivated land recorded lower soil quality than forest and grazing lands.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. N. Abate and K. Kibret, “Effects of land use, soil depth and topography on soil physicochemical properties along the toposequence at the Wadla Delanta Massif, Northcentral Highlands of Ethiopia,” Environ. Pollut. 5 (2), 57–71 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. A. Alemayehu and A. Assefa, “Effects of land use changes on the dynamics of selected soil properties in northeast Wellega, Ethiopia,” Soil 2 (1), 63–70 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. M. C. Amacher, K. P. O’Neil, and C. H. Perry, Soil Vital Signs: a New Soil Quality Index (SQI) for Assessing Forest Soil Health (US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, 2007), Research Paper RMRS-RP-65.

  4. T. Amare, A. Terefe, Y. G. Selassie, B. Yitaferu, B. Wolfgramm, and H. Hurni, “Soil properties and crop yields along the terraces and toposequece of Anjeni Watershed, Central Highlands of Ethiopia,” J. Agric. Sci. 5 (2), 134–144 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  5. B. Asmamaw and A. Mohammed, “Effects of slope gradient and changes in land use/cover on selected soil physico-biochemical properties of the Gerado catchment, north-eastern Ethiopia,” Int. J. Environ. Stud. 70 (1), 111–125 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. T. Bizuhoraho, A. Kayiranga, N. Manirakiza, and K. A. Mourad, “The effect of land use systems on soil properties; a case study from Rwanda,” Sustainable Agric. Res. 7 (2), 30–40 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. C. Black, D. Evans, L. Ensminger, F. Clarke, and J. White, Methods of Soil Analysis (American Society of Agronomy, Madison, 1965). Part 2.

  8. G. J. Bouyoucos, “Hydrometer method improved for making particle size analyses of soils 1,"Agron. J. 54 (5), 464–465 (1962).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. A. Chimdi, H. Gebrekidan, K. Kibret, and A. Tadesse, “Status of selected physicochemical properties of soils under different land use systems of Western Oromia, Ethiopia,” J. Biodiversity Environ. Sci. 2 (3), 57–71 (2012).

    Google Scholar 

  10. S. Damene, L. Tamene, and P. L. Vlek, “Performance of exclosure in restoring soil fertility: A case of Gubalafto district in North Wello Zone, northern highlands of Ethiopia,” Catena 101, 136–142 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. D. Dessalegn, S. Beyene, N. Ram, F. Walley, and T. Gala, “Effects of topography and land use on soil characteristics along the toposequence of Ele watershed in southern Ethiopia,” Catena 115, 47–54 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. E. Elias, “Characteristics of Nitisol profiles as affected by land use type and slope class in some Ethiopian highlands,” Environ. Syst. Res. 6 (1), 1–15 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. E. Elias, Farmers’ Perceptions of Soil Fertility Changes and Management (Institute for Sustainable Development, 2002).

    Google Scholar 

  14. E. Elias, “Selected chemical properties of agricultural soils in the Ethiopian highlands: a rapid assessment,” S. Afr. J. Plant Soil 36 (2), 153–156 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Y. Gebresilase and G. J. J. O. C. S. Ayana, “Effects of different land use systems on selected physico-chemical properties of soils in Northwestern Ethiopia,” J. Agric. Sci. 5 (4), 112–120 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  16. A. M. Gelaw, B. R. Singh, and R. Lal, “Soil quality indices for evaluating smallholder agricultural land uses in northern Ethiopia,” Sustainability 7 (3), 2322–2337 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. H. S. Gelagay and A. S. Minale, “Soil loss estimation using GIS and Remote sensing techniques: a case of Koga watershed, Northwestern Ethiopia,” Int. Soil Water Conserv. Res. 4 (2), 126–136 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. D. Girma, “Effect of land use types on selected soil physical and chemical properties at Sire Morose Sub watershed, Central Highland of Ethiopia,” Int. J. Eng. Res. Technol. 9 (5), 770–779 (2020).

    Google Scholar 

  19. P. Hazelton and B. Murphy, Interpreting Soil Test Results: What Do All the Numbers Mean? (CSIRO Publishing, 2016).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  20. T. Hengl, G. B. Heuvelink, B. Kempen, J. G. Leenaars, M. G. Walsh, K. D. Shepherd, A. Sila, R. A. MacMillan, J. Mendes de Jesus, and L. Tamene, “Mapping soil properties of Africa at 250 m resolution: random forests significantly improve current predictions,” PLoS One 10 (6), e0125814 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. H. Hurni, Soil Conservation in Ethiopia–Guidelines for Development Agents (Ministry of Agriculture, Addis Ababa, 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  22. R. Jahn, H. Blume, V. Asio, O. Spaargaren, and P. Schad, Guidelines for Soil Description (FAO, 2006).

    Google Scholar 

  23. N. Jaleta, “Effects of land use types on selected soil properties in central highlands of Ethiopia,” Appl. Environ. Soil Sci., 1–9 (2020).

  24. D. Jendoubi, H. Liniger, and C. Ifejika Speranza, “Impacts of land use and topography on soil organic carbon in a Mediterranean landscape (north-western Tunisia),” Soil 5 (2), 239–251 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. E. Karltun, T. Mamo, T. Bekele, S. Gameda, and S. Kidanu, Towards Improved Fertilizer Recommendations in Ethiopia—Nutrient Indices for Categorization of Fertilizer Blends from EthioSIS Woreda Soil Inventory Data (Addis Ababa, 2013).

  26. R. Kizilkaya and O. Dengiz, “Variation of land use and land cover effects on some soil physico-chemical characteristics and soil enzyme activity,” Zemdirbyste-Agriculture 97 (2), 15–24 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  27. A. Klute and C. Dirksen, “Hydraulic conductivity and diffusivity: laboratory methods,” in Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1: Physical and Mineralogical Methods (1986), Vol. 5, pp. 687–734.

  28. R. Lal and M. K. Shukla, Principles of Soil Physics (CRC Press, 2004).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  29. T. Lechisa, C. Achalu, and A. Alemayehu, “Dynamics of soil fertility as influenced by different land use systems and soil depth in West Showa Zone, Gindeberet District, Ethiopia,” Agric., For. Fish. 3 (6), 489–494 (2014).

    Google Scholar 

  30. W. Mengiste, M. Mohammed, and T. J. E. Yitebarek, “Evaluation of the effect of land use types on selected soil physico-chemical properties in Itang-kir area of Gambella region, Ethiopia,” J. Biol., Agric. Healthcare 5 (11), (2015).

  31. C. Mengistu, K. Kibebew, and F. Tarekegn, “Influence of different land use types and soil depths on selected soil properties related to soil fertility in Warandhab Area, Horo Guduru Wallaga Zone, Oromiya, Ethiopia,” Int. J. Environ. Sci. Nat. Resour. 4 (2), 555–634 (2017).

    Google Scholar 

  32. B. A. Miheretu and A. A. Yimer, “Spatial variability of selected soil properties in relation to land use and slope position in Gelana sub-watershed, Northern highlands of Ethiopia,” Phys. Geogr. 39 (3), 230–245 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. T. Mulugeta, A. Melese, and T. Wondwosen, “Effects of land use types on selected soil physical and chemical properties: the case of Kuyu District, Ethiopia,” Eur. J. Soil Sci. 8 (2), 94–109 (2019).

    Google Scholar 

  34. D. Mulugeta and B. Sheleme, “Characterization and classification of soils along the toposequence of Kindo Koye Watershed in Southern Ethiopia,” East Afr. J. Sci. 4 (2), 65–77 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  35. A. Moges, M. Dagnachew, and F. Yimer, “Land use effects on soil quality indicators: a case study of Abo-Wonsho Southern Ethiopia,” Appl. Environ. Soil Sci. 2013 (2013).

  36. T. Negasa, H. Ketema, A. Legesse, M. Sisay, and H. Temesgen, “Variation in soil properties under different land use types managed by smallholder farmers along the toposequence in southern Ethiopia,” Geoderma 290, 40–50 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. National Meteorological Service Agency of Ethiopia (NMSAE). Estimated Temperature and Rain Fall Data of Dire Gedeb (Addis Ababa, 2021) (in press).

  38. S. R. Olsen, Estimation of Available Phosphorus in Soils by Extraction with Sodium Bicarbonate, No. 939 (US Department of Agriculture, 1954).

  39. R. Patil and J. Prasad, “Characteristics and classification of some Sal (Shorea robusta) supporting soils in Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh,” J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci. 52 (2), 119–125 (2004).

    Google Scholar 

  40. D. Saha and S. Kukal, “Soil structural stability and water retention characteristics under different land uses of degraded lower Himalayas of North-West India,” Land Degrad. Dev. 26 (3), 263–271 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. W. Seifu, E. Elias, and G. Gebresamuel, “The effects of land use and landscape position on soil physicochemical properties in a semiarid watershed, northern Ethiopia,” Appl. Environ. Soil Sci. 2020, (2020).

  42. B. Seyoum, “Assessment of soil fertility status of Vertisols under selected three land uses in Girar Jarso District of North Shoa zone, oromia national regional state, Ethiopia,” Environ. Syst. Res. 5 (1), 1–16 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. L. Tadesse, K. Suryabhagavan, G. Sridhar, and G. Legesse, “Land use and land cover changes and soil erosion in Yezat Watershed, North Western Ethiopia,” Int. Soil Water Conserv. Res. 5 (2), 85–94 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. G. M. Tamene, H. K. Adiss, and M. Y. Alemu, “Effect of slope aspect and land use types on selected soil physicochemical properties in north western Ethiopian highlands,” Appl. Environ. Soil Sci. 2020, (2020).

  45. Y. Teshome, G. Heluf, K. Kibebew, and B. Shelem, “Impacts of land use on selected physicochemical properties of soils of Abobo area, western Ethiopia,” Agric., For. Fish. 2 (5), 177–183 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  46. V. A. Tellen and B. P. Yerima, “Effects of land use change on soil physicochemical properties in selected areas in the North West region of Cameroon,” Environ. Syst. Res. 7 (1), 1–29 (2018).

    Google Scholar 

  47. M. Tufa, A. Melese, and W. Tena, “Effects of land use types on selected soil physical and chemical properties: the case of Kuyu District, Ethiopia,” Eur. J. Soil Sci. 8 (2), 94–109 (2019).

    Google Scholar 

  48. L. van Reeuwijk, Procedures for Soil Analysis (International Soil Reference and Information Center (ISRIC), Wageningen, 1992).

  49. A. Walkley and I. A. Black, “An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter, and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method,” Soil Sci. 37 (1), 29–38 (1934).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. S. Wang, X. Wang, and Z. Ouyang, “Effects of land use, climate, topography and soil properties on regional soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in the Upstream Watershed of Miyun Reservoir, North China,” J. Environ. Sci. 24 (3), 387–395 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. M. Wolde and E. Veldkamp, “Impacts of landuse changes on soil nutrients and erosion in Tigray, Ethiopia,” in Proceedings of Conference on International Agricultural Research for Development, October 11–13, 2005 (Deutscher Tropentag, Stuttgart-Hohenheim, 2005).

  52. G. T. Yeshaneh, “Assessment of soil fertility variation in different land uses and management practices in Maybar Watershed, South Wollo Zone, North Ethiopia,” Int. J. Environ. Biorem. Biodegrad. 3, 15–22 (2015).

    Google Scholar 

  53. G. S. Yihenew, A. Fentanesh, and A. Solomon, “The effects of land use types, management practices and slope classes on selected soil physico-chemical properties in Zikre watershed, North-Western Ethiopia,” Environ. Syst. Res. 4 (1), 3 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. M. Zerihun, M. S. Mohammedyasin, D. Sewnet, A. A. Adem, and M. Lakew, “Assessment of soil erosion using RUSLE, GIS and remote sensing in NW Ethiopia,” Geoderma Reg. 12, 83–90 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We appreciate the support received from the land users and local leaders in the study area. We acknowledge Mohammed Yimam for the logistical assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Urban Development Studies, Kotebe University of Education, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    M. Habtamu

  2. Center for environmental science, College of Natural & Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    M. Habtamu, E. Elias & M. Argaw

  3. Borough of Manhattan Community college, City University of New York, New York, USA

    H. N. Bulley

Authors
  1. M. Habtamu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. Elias
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Argaw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H. N. Bulley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Habtamu.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this paper.

Supplementary Information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Habtamu, M., Elias, E., Argaw, M. et al. Effects of Land Use and Landscape Position on Soil Properties in Dire Watershed, Central Highlands of Ethiopia. Eurasian Soil Sc. 56, 951–962 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322602645

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322602645

Keywords:

Search

Navigation