| Peer-Reviewed

Impacts of Land-Use Changes on Soil Properties, Organic Carbon Stock, and Soil Quality in Ethiopia

Received: 23 June 2022    Accepted: 19 July 2022    Published: 27 September 2022
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

One of the major causes of soil quality degradation and carbon stock degradation is land-use changes (LUC), which are predominantly caused by deforestation and soil disturbance. Thus, the objective of the present study was to assess how land-use changes impacted soil properties, soil organic carbon stock and quality in Ethiopia. Relevant information was gathered from secondary sources and systematically reviewed. The physical and chemical qualities of soil were modified by changes in land use change. Physical soil properties such as bulk density (0.3g/cm3) was found to be higher in cultivated land and BD (0.2g/cm3) lowest in the forest lands. The forest lands (8%) have recorded higher soil organic carbon content than grassing land (5.16%) and cultivated land (2.31%). The moisture content and soil texture altered according to land-use change, with clay contents (percent) and silt contents (percent) being higher in forest land (60.7, 5.74%) and lower in cultivated land (33.8, 5.74%). Chemical soil qualities such as exchangeable CEC (percent), CaCO3 (percent), exchangeable K and Na+ (Cmol/kg), and AV. P (mg/kg) were higher in forest land (16mg/kg) lower in grass land (14.27 mg/kg) land and cultivated land (9.13 mg/kg) and TN were higher in forest land (0.24mg/kg) lower in cultivated land (0.14 mg/kg). CEC were higher in forest land (25.5 cmo/kg) and grazing land (24.02 cmol/kg) and lower in agricultural land (15.5cmol/kg). Chemical soil qualities such as exchangeable calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and potassium (K+). Organic carbon, exchangeable potassium (K+), and exchangeable cation capacity (CEC) were all higher in forest lands and lowest in cultivated lands. The highest soil SOCst (9.99 Mg ha-1) value was recorded in forest-to-forest land use changes, and low value of SOCst (5.78 Mg ha-1) was obtained in agriculture land. The lowest SOCst value was in land use changes from agriculture to agriculture. To save Ethiopia's soil, workable land use policy has to be developed. In addition, restoration methods, such as reducing the intensity of cultivation, integrated soil water conservation, integrated soil fertility management, and adequate land use management practices must be implemented.

Published in International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science (Volume 7, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijees.20220704.12
Page(s) 61-73
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Deforestation, Land Degradation, Land-Use Change, Soil Quality, Soil Carbon Stocks

References
[1] Abiye, Astatke, Tekalign Mamo, D. O. N. Peden, and Mamadou Diedhiou (2008)."Participatory on-farm conservation tillage trial in the Ethiopian highland Vertisols: The impact of potassium application on crop yields." Experimental Agriculture 40, no. 3: 369-379.
[2] Achalu Chimdi, Heluf Gebrekidan, Kibebew Kibret and Abi Tadesse (2012). Status of selected physicochemical properties of soils under different land use systems of Western Oromia, Ethiopia. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences 2 (3): 57-71.
[3] Adingo, Samuel (2021). “Land-Use Change Influence Soil Quality Parameters at an Ecologically Fragile Area of YongDeng County of Gansu Province,” 1–24.
[4] Ajanaw Negese (2021). Impacts of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion and Hydrological Responses in Ethiopia. 2021, 15–17.
[5] Alemayehu, Tamiru, Wagari Furi, and Dagnachew Legesse. (2016). Impact of water overexploitation on highland lakes of eastern Ethiopia: Environ Geol: 52: 147–154.
[6] Amare, Haileslassie, Priess J, Veldkamp E, Demil T, Lesschen JP. (2005). Assessment of soil nutrient depletion and its spatial variability on smallholders’ mixed farming systems in Ethiopia using partial versus full nutrient balances. Agric. Ecosyst.
[7] Andrews, S. S., Flora, C. B., Mitchell, J. P., & Karlen, D. L. (2003). Growers’ perceptions and acceptance of soil quality indices. Geoderma, 114, 187-213.
[8] Asmamaw, Legese. & Mohammed, Ahamad. (2013). Effects of Slope Gradient and Changes in Land Use/ Cover on Selected Soil physic- Biochemical Properties of the Gerado Catchement, North-eastern Ethiopia. International journal of environmental studies, 70 (1), 111-125.
[9] Assefa Abegaz., Winowiecki, A. A., Vågen, T.-G., Langan, S. and Smith, J. U. (2016) Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Soil Organic Carbon in Landscapes of the Upper Blue Nile Basin of the Ethiopian Highlands. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 218, 190-208.
[10] Assen, Mohammed. (2021). “Land Use / Cover Dynamics and Its Implications in the Dried Lake Alemaya Watershed, Eastern Ethiopia.”
[11] Awdenegest, Moges, Melku Dagnachew, and Fantaw Yimer. (2013). "Land use effects on soil quality indicators: a case study of Abo-Wonsho Southern Ethiopia." Applied and Environmental Soil Science.
[12] Aweke Mulualem Gelaw (2014). Soil Quality and Carbon Footprint of Different Land Uses by Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia. Department of Environmental Science Faculty of Environmental Science and Technology Norwegian University of Life Sciences. PhD Thesis, ISBN 978-82-575-1232-3.
[13] Belay Zerga & Getaneh Gebeyehu. (2018). Climate Change in Ethiopia Variability, Impact, Mitigation, and Adaptation. Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research, 2, 66 84.
[14] Bewket, Woldeamlak, and Leo Stroosnijder. (2003) Effects of agro ecological land use succession on soil properties in Chemoga watershed, Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia, Geoderma 111 (1-2): 85-98.
[15] Birhanu, Adugnaw, I. Masih, P. van der Zaag, Jan Nyssen, and X. Cai. (2019) “Impacts of land use and land cover changes on hydrology of the Gumara catchment, Ethiopia,” Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, vol. 112, pp. 165–174.
[16] Chan KY, Oates A, Li GD, Conyers MK, IM (2010): Soil carbon stocks under different pastures and pasture management in the higher rainfall areas of south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 48, 7–15.
[17] Chimdessa, Kenati. Qureshi, S Kebede, A. and Alamirew, T (2018). “Effect of land use land cover and climate change on river flow and soil loss in Didessa River Basin, South West Blue Nile, Ethiopia,” Hydrology, vol. 6, no. 1.
[18] Dagnachew, Melku, Awdenegest Moges, and Asfaw Kebede Kassa. (2019). “Effects of Land Uses on Soil Quality Indicators : The Case of Geshy Sub catchment, Gojeb River Catchment, Ethiopia.”
[19] Dams, J. (2007). Predicting Land-Use Change and Its Impact on the Groundwater System in the Grote-Net Catchment, Belgium, Hydrogeol. J., 15, 891–901.
[20] Deginet, Wako, and Getahun Kitila. (2021). “Effect of Land Use Change on Soil Carbon Stock and Selected Soil Properties in Gobu Sayyo, Western Ethiopia.”
[21] Dereje, Denu, Philip J. Platts, Ensermu Kelbessa, Tadesse W. Gole, and Rob Marchant. (2016): The role of traditional coffee management in forest conservation and carbon storage in the Jimma Highlands, Ethiopia. Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, 25, 226-38.
[22] Dessie Assefa, Boris Rewald, Hans Sandén, Christoph Rosinger, Abrham Abiyu, Birru Yitaferu, Douglas L. Godbold (2017). Deforestation and land use strongly effect soil organic carbon and nitrogen stock in Northwest Ethiopia. Institute of Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Peter Jordan-Strafe, 82 Vienna Austria.
[23] Eleni, Wolfgang W., Michael, E. K., Dagnachew, L., and G. Bloschl (2013). Identifying Land Use/Cover Dynamics in the Koga Catchment, Ethiopia, from Multi-Scale Data and Implications for Environmental Change. International Journal Geo-Information, 2: 302-323.
[24] Elias, Eyasu, Weldemariam Seifu, Bereket Tesfaye, and Wondwosen Girmayl, (2019) “Impact of land use/cover changes on lake ecosystem of Ethiopia central rift valley,” Cogent Food & Agriculture, vol. 5, no. 1.
[25] Elias, Eyasu. (2020). “Effects of Land Use / Land Cover Changes in Selected Soil Physical and Chemical Properties in Shenkolla Watershed.”
[26] Eshete, Abeje, Frank Sterck, and Frans Bongers (2011). Diversity and production of Ethiopian dry woodlands explained by climate- and soil-stress gradients. Forest Ecology and Management, 261, 1499–1509. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2011.01.021.
[27] Eyasu Elias. (2002). Farmers’ perceptions of change and management of soil fertility. SOS-Sahel and Institute of Development studies. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 252pp.
[28] Fantaw, Yimer, Ledin S, Abdu A. (2006). Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks as affected by topographic aspect and vegetation in the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. Geoderma, 135: 335-344.
[29] Fayissa, A. Ababaew, A. Chimdi (2015). Effects of different land use on the fertility status of acidic soils of Dano district, West Shoa zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia. American-Eurasian Journal of Scientific Research, 10 (4), pp. 235-24.
[30] Gashaw, Temesgen, Taffa Tulu, Mekuria Argaw, and Abeyou W. Worqlul. (2019) “Modeling the impacts of land use–land cover changes on soil erosion and sediment yield in the Andassa watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia,” Environmental Earth Sciences, vol. 78, no. 24,.
[31] Gashaw, Temesgen, Taffa Tulu, Mekuria Argaw, and Abeyou W. Worqlul (2018) “Modeling the hydrological impacts of land use/land cover changes in the Andassa watershed, Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia,” Science of 5e Total Environment, vol. 619-620, pp. 1394–1408.
[32] Gebremariam, Melese. Kebede, Feleke. (2010). Land use change effect on soil carbon stock, aboveground biomass, aggregate stability and soil crust: a case from Tahtay Adyabo, north western Tigray. Northern Ethiopia. J. drylands 2, 220–225.
[33] Gebreselassie, Yihenew (2014). "Selected chemical and physical characteristics of soils of audit research centre and it’s testing sites in Northwestern Ethiopia." Ethiopian Journal of Natural Resources.
[34] Gelaw, Aweke, Singh B R, Lal R. (2013). Organic carbon and nitrogen associated with soil aggregates and particle sizesunder different land uses in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Land Degrad. Develop. DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2261.
[35] Gessesse, Agenagnew A., Assefa M. Melesse, and Anteneh Z. Abiy (2019) “Land use dynamics and base and peak flow responses in the Choke mountain range, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia,” International Journal of River Basin Management, vol. 17, pp. 1–13, 2019.
[36] Getahun, Kitila, Heluf Gebrekidan, and Tena Alamrew (2016). "Soil quality attributes induced by land use changes in the Fincha’a watershed, Nile Basin of western Ethiopia." Science, Technology and Arts Research Journal 5.1 (2016): 16-26.
[37] Getahun, Yitea Seneshaw, and H. A. J. Van Lanen. (2015) “Assessing the impacts of land use-cover change on hydrology of Melka Kuntrie subbasin in Ethiopia, using a conceptual hydrological model,” Journal of Waste Water Treatment & Analysis, vol. 6, no. 3.
[38] Girmay G, Singh B (2012) Changes in soil organic carbon stocks and soil quality: land-use system effects in northern Ethiopia. Act a Agriculture Scandinavica and Section B-Soil and Plant Science, 62: 519-530.
[39] Girmay Gebresamuel. (2009). Land Use Change Effects in Northern Ethiopia: runoff, Soil and Nutrient Losses, Soil Quality, and Sediment as Nutrient Sources. A PhD Thesis at Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway.
[40] Girmay Gebresamuel, Singh BR, Mitiku H, Borresen T & Lal R. (2008). Carbon Stocks in Ethiopian Soils in relation to land use and soil management. Journal of Land Degradation and Development, 19, 351-367.
[41] Hailu, Zeleke. (2002). Ecological Impact Evaluation of Eucalyptus Plantations in Comparison With Agricultural and Grazing Land-Use Types in the Highlands of Ethiopia. Ph. Dissertation, Institute of Forest Ecology, Vienna University of Agricultural Sciences, Vienna.
[42] Haregeweyn, N. Tesfaye, S. Tsunekawa A (2015). “Dynamics of land use and land cover and its effects on hydrologic responses: case study of the Gilgel Tekeze catchment in the highlands of Northern Ethiopia,” Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, vol. 187, no. 1, p. 4090.
[43] Hayicho, Hussein, Mersha Alemu, and Haji Kedir (2019). "Assessing the Effects of Land-Use and Land Cover Change and Topography on Soil Fertility in Melka Wakena Catchment of Sub-Upper Wabe-Shebelle Watershed, South Eastern Ethiopia." Journal of Environmental Protection 10.5 (2019): 672-693.
[44] INEGI (2015). Guía para la interpretación de cartografía USO delsuelo y vegetation escala 1:250000 Serie V, 5. Instituto Nacional de Estadística Geografía, Mexico.
[45] IPCC. (2013). Climate change. The physical science basis. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press.
[46] Jonczak, J (2013). Soil organic matter properties in Stagnic Luvisols under different land use types Acta Agrophysica Journal, 20 (4), pp. 565-576.
[47] Kassaye Gurebiyaw., Melese Yigzaw. Hailu Kendie., Gebretsadik Melak, Mohammed Raff., & Alemtsehay Hagos. (2020). Evaluation of soil physical and chemical quality indices under different land use scenario in North Ethiopia. 9 (1), 38–47.
[48] Kebede, Y., & Raju, S. A. J. (2011). Effect of Land Use/ Land Cover Change on Soil Properties in the Hara River Watershed, Ethiopia. The Ecoscan, Anan International Quarterly Journal of Environmental Sciences, 5, 69-74.
[49] Khresat S, J. Al-Bakri, and R. Al-Tahnan, (2008) “Impacts of land use/cover change on soil properties in the Mediterranean region of northwestern Jordan,” Land Degradation and Development, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 397–407.
[50] Kidane, Moges, Alemu Bezie, Nega Kesete, and Terefe Tolessa. (2019) “impact of land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics on soil erosion and sediment yield in Ethiopia,” Heliyon, vol. 5, no. 12,
[51] Lee-Gammage, S. (2018). What is land use and land use change? (Food source: building blocks). Food Climate Research Network, University of Oxford.
[52] Li DJ, Niu SL & Luo YQ (2012). Global patterns of the dynamics of soil carbon and nitrogen stocks following afforestation: a meta-analysis. New Phytologist, 195, 172-181.
[53] LUCID (2004). A Research Framework to Identify Root Causes of Land-Use Change Leading to Land Degradation and Changing Biodiversity. Nairobi: LUCID Project Working Paper 48.
[54] Mekuria, Woldie, Veldkamp E, Haile M. (2009). Carbon stock changes with relation to land use conversion in the lowlands of Tigray, Ethiopia. A paper presented at a conference on International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development. University of Hamburg, October 6-8, 2009.
[55] Melese, Asmare, and Markku Yli-Halla (2016). Effects of applications of lime, wood ash, manure and mineral P fertilizer on the inorganic P fractions and other selected soil chemical properties on acid soil of Farta District, Northwestern highland of Ethiopia. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 11 (2), 87-99.
[56] Moges, Awdenegest, Melku Dagnachew, and Fantaw Yimer. (2013) "Land use effects on soil quality indicators: a case study of Abo-Wonsho Southern Ethiopia." Applied and Environmental Soil Science.
[57] Muktar, Mohammed, Bedadi Bobe, Kibret Kibebew, and Mulat Yared. (2018). “Soil Organic Carbon Stock under Different Land Use Types in Kersa Sub Watershed, Eastern Ethiopia.” African Journal of Agricultural Research 13 (24): 1248–56.
[58] Müller, D and Zeller, M (2002). Land use dynamics in the central highlands of Vietnam: A spatial model combining village survey data with satellite imagery interpretation. Agricultural Economics Journal, 27, pp. 333-35.
[59] Mulugeta, Lemenih, Erik Karltun, and Mats Olsson. (2005). Soil organic matter dynamics after deforestation along a farm field chronosequence in southern highlands of Ethiopia. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ 109: 9–19.
[60] Neina, D., (2019). The role of soil pH in plant nutrition and soil remediation. Applied and Environmental Soil Science Article ID 5794869.
[61] Noe, S. (2003). The Dynamics of Land-Use Change and their Impacts on Wildlife Corridor between Kilimanjaro National Park and Amboseli National Park, Tanzania. LUCID Working Paper 31: Nairobi: International Livestock Research Institute.
[62] Seyum, Senait, Girma Taddese, and Tesfaye Mebrate. (2019). “Land Use Land Cover Changes on Soil Carbon Stock in the Weshem Watershed, Ethiopia.” 3 (cm): 24–30.
[63] Shi, L. J., Zheng, L. B., Mei, X. Y., Yu, L. Z., & Jia, Z. C. (2010). Characteristics of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen under different land use types in Shanghai. The Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 21 (9), 2279–2287.
[64] Solomon Dawit, Lehmann M, Tekaligh M, Fritzsche F., Zech, W (2001) Sulfer fractions in particle size separation of the humid Ethiopia highland as influenced by land use changes. Geoderma, 102: 45-59.
[65] Temesgen Gashaw and Fentahun, Tesfahun, and (2014). Evaluation of Land Use/ Land Cover Changes in East of Lake Tana, Ethiopia. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 4: 49-53.
[66] Wei, G. (2016). Long-term effects of tillage on soil aggregates and the distribution of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and other nutrients in aggregates on the semi-arid loess plateau, China. Arid Land Research and Management 28, 291–310.
[67] Wondimagegn, Amanuel, Fantaw Yimer, and Erik Karltun. (2018). Variation of soil organic carbon related to land use land cover change: the case of birr watershed, upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. Master thesis.
[68] Yared, Mulat, Kibebew Kibret, Bobe Bedadi, and Muktar Mohammed (2021). Soil organic carbon stock under different land use types in Kersa Sub Watershed, Eastern Ethiopia. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 13, 1248-1256.
[69] Yimer, Fantaw, Stig Ledin, and Abdu Abdelkadir. (2006). "Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks affected by topographic aspect and vegetation in the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia." Geoderma 135 (2006): 335-344.
[70] Yoseph, Delelegn Witoon Purahong, Amila Blazevic, Birru Yitaferu, Tesfaye Wubet, Hans Göransson, and Douglas L. Godbold. (2017). Changes in land use, alter soil quality and aggregate stability in the highlands of northern Ethiopia. Scientific Reports, 7, 13602.
[71] Zenebe, Gebreegziabher (2007). Household fuel and resource use in rural-urban Ethiopia. Wageningen University, the Netherlands.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Workina Geleta, Fanuel Laekemariam. (2022). Impacts of Land-Use Changes on Soil Properties, Organic Carbon Stock, and Soil Quality in Ethiopia. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science, 7(4), 61-73. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijees.20220704.12

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Workina Geleta; Fanuel Laekemariam. Impacts of Land-Use Changes on Soil Properties, Organic Carbon Stock, and Soil Quality in Ethiopia. Int. J. Energy Environ. Sci. 2022, 7(4), 61-73. doi: 10.11648/j.ijees.20220704.12

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Workina Geleta, Fanuel Laekemariam. Impacts of Land-Use Changes on Soil Properties, Organic Carbon Stock, and Soil Quality in Ethiopia. Int J Energy Environ Sci. 2022;7(4):61-73. doi: 10.11648/j.ijees.20220704.12

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijees.20220704.12,
      author = {Workina Geleta and Fanuel Laekemariam},
      title = {Impacts of Land-Use Changes on Soil Properties, Organic Carbon Stock, and Soil Quality in Ethiopia},
      journal = {International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science},
      volume = {7},
      number = {4},
      pages = {61-73},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijees.20220704.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijees.20220704.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijees.20220704.12},
      abstract = {One of the major causes of soil quality degradation and carbon stock degradation is land-use changes (LUC), which are predominantly caused by deforestation and soil disturbance. Thus, the objective of the present study was to assess how land-use changes impacted soil properties, soil organic carbon stock and quality in Ethiopia. Relevant information was gathered from secondary sources and systematically reviewed. The physical and chemical qualities of soil were modified by changes in land use change. Physical soil properties such as bulk density (0.3g/cm3) was found to be higher in cultivated land and BD (0.2g/cm3) lowest in the forest lands. The forest lands (8%) have recorded higher soil organic carbon content than grassing land (5.16%) and cultivated land (2.31%). The moisture content and soil texture altered according to land-use change, with clay contents (percent) and silt contents (percent) being higher in forest land (60.7, 5.74%) and lower in cultivated land (33.8, 5.74%). Chemical soil qualities such as exchangeable CEC (percent), CaCO3 (percent), exchangeable K and Na+ (Cmol/kg), and AV. P (mg/kg) were higher in forest land (16mg/kg) lower in grass land (14.27 mg/kg) land and cultivated land (9.13 mg/kg) and TN were higher in forest land (0.24mg/kg) lower in cultivated land (0.14 mg/kg). CEC were higher in forest land (25.5 cmo/kg) and grazing land (24.02 cmol/kg) and lower in agricultural land (15.5cmol/kg). Chemical soil qualities such as exchangeable calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and potassium (K+). Organic carbon, exchangeable potassium (K+), and exchangeable cation capacity (CEC) were all higher in forest lands and lowest in cultivated lands. The highest soil SOCst (9.99 Mg ha-1) value was recorded in forest-to-forest land use changes, and low value of SOCst (5.78 Mg ha-1) was obtained in agriculture land. The lowest SOCst value was in land use changes from agriculture to agriculture. To save Ethiopia's soil, workable land use policy has to be developed. In addition, restoration methods, such as reducing the intensity of cultivation, integrated soil water conservation, integrated soil fertility management, and adequate land use management practices must be implemented.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Impacts of Land-Use Changes on Soil Properties, Organic Carbon Stock, and Soil Quality in Ethiopia
    AU  - Workina Geleta
    AU  - Fanuel Laekemariam
    Y1  - 2022/09/27
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijees.20220704.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijees.20220704.12
    T2  - International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science
    JF  - International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science
    JO  - International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science
    SP  - 61
    EP  - 73
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2578-9546
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijees.20220704.12
    AB  - One of the major causes of soil quality degradation and carbon stock degradation is land-use changes (LUC), which are predominantly caused by deforestation and soil disturbance. Thus, the objective of the present study was to assess how land-use changes impacted soil properties, soil organic carbon stock and quality in Ethiopia. Relevant information was gathered from secondary sources and systematically reviewed. The physical and chemical qualities of soil were modified by changes in land use change. Physical soil properties such as bulk density (0.3g/cm3) was found to be higher in cultivated land and BD (0.2g/cm3) lowest in the forest lands. The forest lands (8%) have recorded higher soil organic carbon content than grassing land (5.16%) and cultivated land (2.31%). The moisture content and soil texture altered according to land-use change, with clay contents (percent) and silt contents (percent) being higher in forest land (60.7, 5.74%) and lower in cultivated land (33.8, 5.74%). Chemical soil qualities such as exchangeable CEC (percent), CaCO3 (percent), exchangeable K and Na+ (Cmol/kg), and AV. P (mg/kg) were higher in forest land (16mg/kg) lower in grass land (14.27 mg/kg) land and cultivated land (9.13 mg/kg) and TN were higher in forest land (0.24mg/kg) lower in cultivated land (0.14 mg/kg). CEC were higher in forest land (25.5 cmo/kg) and grazing land (24.02 cmol/kg) and lower in agricultural land (15.5cmol/kg). Chemical soil qualities such as exchangeable calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and potassium (K+). Organic carbon, exchangeable potassium (K+), and exchangeable cation capacity (CEC) were all higher in forest lands and lowest in cultivated lands. The highest soil SOCst (9.99 Mg ha-1) value was recorded in forest-to-forest land use changes, and low value of SOCst (5.78 Mg ha-1) was obtained in agriculture land. The lowest SOCst value was in land use changes from agriculture to agriculture. To save Ethiopia's soil, workable land use policy has to be developed. In addition, restoration methods, such as reducing the intensity of cultivation, integrated soil water conservation, integrated soil fertility management, and adequate land use management practices must be implemented.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Department of Soil Resource and Watershed Management, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia

  • Department of Soil Resource and Watershed Management, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia

  • Sections