Potentials and constraints of wetland and upslope soils of chebere area, Illubabor,Ethiopia.
2008
Asmamaw Legass(Lecturer)
The study was conducted to classify and characterize the physic-chemical properties of soils in Chebere area in Illubabor, Ethiopia. To analyses the soil characteristics, 19 pits were opened and described following FAO's guideline for profile description-50 soil samples were analyzed in the National Soil Testing Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The results showed that humic Nitisols (NTu), gleyi-haplic Nitosols (NThg), haplic Nititsols (NTh), rhodic Nitisols (NTr), dystric Cambisols (CMd), and gleyic Alisols (ALg) were the major soil units identified in the survey area based on World Reference Base for soil resources. The acidic pH reaction, the fixation of phosphorus, leaching of basic cations, imbalance of Ca:mg ratios, dominance of the low nutrient storage capacity clays were the common constraints in these soils. The moderately deep or deep solum, low bulk density, higher or medium amount of organic matter and total nitrogen of the soils were favourable physical and biochemical properties for crop cultivation. In spite of these potentials, Alisols could limit crop cultivation by seasonal flooding, lack of aeration and mineralization unless the correct measures are taken. The leaching of exchangeable cations, burning of crop residues, rapid clearance of forests and inadequate traditional soil management systems were the main factors for the degradation of soil in the area.
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