Selected physical,Chemical and mineralogical characteristics of major soils occurring in chercher highlands, eastern Ethiopia.
1999
Eylachew Zewdie
The study the impact of geomorphology on soil development and characteristics, survey work was conducted and profile samples collected along a toposequence of the area between Kkuni and Bedésa in eastern Harerghe. The results of the study revealed that the topography of the area controlled the distribution of soils with markedly contrasting properties. The soils are not in stable condition under the existing local condition. The differences between soils were also due to pedogenesis processes. Therefore, accurately sorting out the effects of geomorphology or pedogenesis processes on soil distribution was not easy. But based on t he morphological, physical and chemical properties as well as x-ray diffraction patterns of the clay minerals, most of the soils in the Chercher highlands between Kuni and Bedésa are classified as Orthent on erosional surfaces, Ustalfs on stable landscapes, and as Uderts in the valleys or foot slopes. Besides its impact on soil development, the high intensity of erosion on the mountain side soils has also affected the microclimate. The survey work, the study on soil characteristics and x-ray diffraction patterns showed that around 75% of t he soils at the upper slope of the highlands are Orthents with 2:1 type clay minerals, especially smectite (92-100%) and a very dmall quantity of kolinite (7-10%). The remaining 25% are uderts and Ustalfs dominated by smectite and kaolinite, respectively.
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