Despite termite-induced soil mixing, summarizing termite-affected soil horizons is difficult, whi... more Despite termite-induced soil mixing, summarizing termite-affected soil horizons is difficult, while the lack of accurate information on the pedogenic processes featured by termite bioturbation, topography, and land use limits an effort to address land degradation. A study was therefore carried out to quantitatively classify the soils and describe them based on rangeland uses. Based on cluster analysis, five representative soil profiles were studied at different topographical positions. Soil samples were collected from mounds and adjacent soils under enclosure, cultivated, and open-grazing land at the summit and foot slope positions. Agglomerative clustering showed
low Ca 2+ , CEC, pH, and Mg 2+ that described cambic horizons formed Cambisols at the summit and back slope. Eluviation-illuviation processes formed Luvisols on the toe slope and foot slope, whereas clay and high CEC described argic horizons. High Ca 2+
, CEC, pH, and Mg 2+ described calcic horizons that formed Calcisols on the bottom slope. Divisive clustering showed that soil properties varied slightly between Cambisols and Luvisols at different topographies. However, the Luvisols on the toe slope were differentiated from the soil on the foot slope by predominant pedogenetic clay formation and a distinctly increased CEC. Calcisols are placed in other clusters
due to their distinct properties. Agglomerative clustering reflected pedogenic processes and differentiated diagnostic horizons, while divisive clustering matched WRB classification. The results of this study also showed that termite-mediated soil properties were dictated by rangeland use, and pedogenesis was more noticeable on open-grazing land than on enclosure or cultivated land.
Soil fertility is the ability of a soil to nourish essential nutrients to the plant. In order to ... more Soil fertility is the ability of a soil to nourish essential nutrients to the plant. In order to implement appropriate soil fertility management in the area where spatial variability of soil prevails, soil fertility status assessment is vital. Hence, this study was conducted in Muger sub-watershed in Ethiopia's Northern Oromia to assess and map the spatial variability of soil fertility status. A total of 25 composite soil samples were collected from cultivated, grazing and forestland of upper, middle and lower slope positions at a depth of 0-20cm for determination of selected soil physical and chemical properties, and their spatial variability was mapped using ordinary kriging techniques of GIS 10 software. The study indicated that there was significant (p<0.05) differences in the values of sand, silt, soil organic carbon
Scarcity of information apprehending the current situation and spatial variation of water quality... more Scarcity of information apprehending the current situation and spatial variation of water quality has limited our understanding on to what extent the current intensive human activities in the Central Rift Valley are affecting the natural resource base. This study investigated hydrochemistry, spatial and temporal quality variation of water from different sources, and their implications for agricultural uses. Water samples from rivers (Meki, Ketar, and Bulbula), Lake Zeway, and borehole or hand-dug (BH/HD) wells were analyzed for selected quality parameters following standard procedures. Historical data and current analysis results were used to analyze temporal changes using Mann-Kendall test statistics, while analysis of brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by AJOL-African Journals Online Spatial and temporal dynamics of irrigation water quality [56] variance was used to detect spatial variation. The hydrochemistry analysis result showed that Na + followed by Ca 2+ , except for Ketar River where Ca 2+ followed by Na + , dominates among cations. Bicarbonate dominated among anions in all water samples. In Lake Zeway, no statistically significant spatial variations were evident for sampling locations, while electrical conductivity (EC) and iron showed a statistically significant increasing trend from 2005 to 2016. Iron in Lake Zeway; total dissolved solids, EC and Na + in BH/HD wells, and K + in all water sources were partly beyond the maximum permissible limit for drinking. Considering salinity effect on crop water availability, at least 60% of the water samples from rivers and Lake Zeway were in "none" restriction, while it was in "slight to moderate" restriction category in about 50% of water samples from BH/HD wells. Over 37% of the water samples from BH/HD wells in Zeway and Bulbula subwatersheds showed high to very high alkali hazard. The RSC > 2.5 meq L-1 in most water samples of Lake Zeway, and BH/HD wells in Zeway and Bulbula subwatersheds hastens sodium hazard rate. The study results suggest the need to adapt compatible management options on use and emplace strong water quality monitoring program to reduce risks.
Responses to potassium (K) fertilizer are reported in different parts of Ethiopia in recent years... more Responses to potassium (K) fertilizer are reported in different parts of Ethiopia in recent years, contrary to the general perception that K fertilizer was not necessary on the soils. However, use of adequate K level for maximum economic yield is possible only when soil test data are calibrated against response curve for a given crop and soil type. This pot trial was conducted to calibrate K soil test with the response of teff (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.)) at application of increasing levels of K. Random soil samples (0-20 cm) were collected from 60 locations having Mehlich-3 (M-3) K soil test values ranging from 16 to 910 mg kg −1 across 20 teff growing districts in the highlands of Ethiopia. The relative biomass yield of teff was significantly correlated with Mehlich-3 extractable K, suggesting that the extraction method fairly estimated the available soil K. Soil test M-3 extractable K values were categorized, based on relative biomass yield, as "very low" (< 55 mg kg −1), "low" (55-210 mg kg −1), "medium" (210-280 mg kg −1), "high" (280-500 mg kg −1) and "very high" (> 500 mg kg −1). And K application rates of 139 and 54 kg ha −1 for the very low and low K categories respectively would suffice for optimum teff yield. The critical limit of K in soil (M-3) using the graphical method was 210 mg kg −1 for the 85% relative biomass yield level. An inverse relation of yield response to the soil K status was observed suggesting that application of K fertilizer increases yield of teff in low status soils. However, field verification is required to draw sound conclusions.
African Journal of Agricultural Research, Feb 9, 2017
Periodic assessment of released common bean cultivars is essential to screen genotypes that offer... more Periodic assessment of released common bean cultivars is essential to screen genotypes that offer superior intercropping advantage to farmers when grown in association with maize. Thus, comparative performance of improved genotypes representing commonly used growth habit and market classes were investigated under sole and intercropping system at Halaba special district, Southern Ethiopia. Treatments consisted of a factorial combination of seven common bean genotypes and two cropping systems, which were arranged in a split plot design replicated three times. Cropping system and genotype were assigned as main and sub plot factors, respectively. Cropping system by genotype interaction was significant for bean grain yield and two of the yield components causing moderate changes in ranking. Relative yield reduction due to association with maize varied from 26% for genotype Sari-1 (Type II) to 67% for Awash Melka (Type III), while maize suffered a smaller reduction, 7%. The total Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) values under intercropping with maize ranged from 1.34 for the improved Hawassa Dume (Type II) to 1.01 for the local cultivar, Red Wolayita (Type III). Genotypes with greater LER were not necessarily all top yielders under sole cropping, because of the genotype by cropping system interaction. Bush and semi bush (Type I and II) types produced the highest intercropping advantage, as a group. The two export bean types, which have a semi climbing (Type III) growth pattern, had the lowest LER values among the improved genotypes. Genotypes such as Hawassa Dume and Sari-1 are preferred to the conventionally used cultivars for maximizing intercropping advantage. Developing bush type export genotypes may help broaden their expansion outside their traditional zones since better performance under intercropping could attract more farmers to adopt them.
Asian journal of soil science and plant nutrition, Dec 31, 2022
Soil characterization and classification are prerequisites for better agricultural productivity a... more Soil characterization and classification are prerequisites for better agricultural productivity and sustainable soil fertility management. This study was previously conducted to characterize and classify DelboAtwaro, a watershed in southern Ethiopia. Three pedons classes were inspected and three representative pits (pedons) opened, i.e. one in each pedon. Pedons were described in accordance with FAO [1] and WRB (2014) in the study area, and then soil samples were collected from recognized horizons of each pedon and analyzed for selected physicochemical properties. The pedons confirmed the variability of the physical, chemical and morphological properties of the soils in the study area. Based on the result of field and laboratory soil analysis, the soil structure was early clay in both aboveground and subterranean strata. The soil chemical reaction used to be Original Research Article
Soil characterization and classification is the main information source for soil management and p... more Soil characterization and classification is the main information source for soil management and precision agriculture. However, much of Ethiopia's documented soil information is scanty and inadequate relative to the large size of the country and the wide diversity of soils and landscapes. This study was, therefore, conducted with the objective of characterizing and classifying soils of the Muger sub-watershed in North Shoa Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Three slope classes were considered and eight representative pedons (P01-P08) were opened and described at the study area. Soil samples collected from identified horizons of each pedon were analyzed following standard procedures. The field as well as the laboratory data revealed that the textural classes of most of the pedons were sandy clay loam followed by sandy clay. The soils are acidic to neutral in reaction (pH 5.59-7.24). Organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, and percent base saturation of the soils range from 0.41 to 4.06%, 26.42 to 60.94 cmol (+)kg-1 and 56.58 to 93.97%, respectively. The dominance of exchangeable bases was in the order of Ca 2+ >Mg 2+ >K + >Na +. The soils are low to high in available P and total N contents whilst varying from low to high in the contents of available micronutrients measured. The contents of soil organic carbon range from very low to high whereas the CEC and percent base saturation of the soils vary from medium to very high. It is concluded that the soils are classified as Mollic Leptosols (Eutric) (P01, P02, P05, P06 and P08), Pellic Vertisols (Grumic) (P04 and P07), and Rhodic Nitisols (Haplic) (P03) according to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources, and are dominantly sandy clay loam in texture varied contents of organic matter, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, and CEC. The wide variations in the pedons and physico-chemical properties of the soils imply designing land use system appropriate to specific needs of each soil class as well as implementing integrated soil fertility management practices to maintain soil organic matter and essential plant nutrients.
Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer Application on Soil Phosphorous Balance and Phosphorous Uptake and Use Efficiency of Potato in Arbegona District, Southern Ethiopia
Journal of fertilizers & pesticides, 2017
Phosphorus is often an important limiting factor for crop yields, and in addition, low soil ferti... more Phosphorus is often an important limiting factor for crop yields, and in addition, low soil fertility and crop nutrient imbalances are major obstacles preventing Ethiopian farmers from realizing high agricultural productivity. Effect of the sole and combined application of farmyard manure (FYM) and inorganic fertilizers on tuber yield, nitrogen (N) uptake and use efficiency of Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) was assessed in a field experiment carried out in Arbegona district of Sidama zone in Southern Ethiopia. The studied nutrient management practices were control (without fertilizer) and farmyard manure (FYM), recommended N and phosphorus (P), blended (17.3 N3, 4.7 P2O5, 7.41 S2, 23 Zn0, 3 B within 100 kg) plus potassium (K) fertilizers and combined half FYM and recommended NP and combined half FYM and blended plus K fertilizer. Treatments arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental soil was loamy and very strongly acidic, low in organic carbon and available P and medium in total N and available K. Results showed that the applied FYM and inorganic fertilizer individual and in combination were resulted positive N balances. Potato plants amended with sole blended fertilizer, combined half recommended NP and FYM, and combined half FYM and blended fertilizers improved total dry tuber yield and total N uptake more than twofold (100%) as compared to the control. In the amendments, average agronomic and physiological efficiency of N supply and uptake were 48 and 46 kg dry tuber, respectively. Furthermore, 112% of apparent recovery efficiency of N was obtained across the treatments. Soil amendments resulted the highest net benefits with acceptable marginal rate of return (above 100%). Generally, soil amendments either in sole or combined inorganic and organic fertilizers could be considered to improve soil fertility status and potato yield in the study area.
Organic residue valorization for Ethiopian agriculture through vermicomposting with native (Eudrilus eugeniae) and exotic (Eisenia fetida and Eisenia andrei) earthworms
Indian journal of agricultural research, Dec 30, 2022
Background: Plant analysis and soil testing are necessary to assess the fertility status of soils... more Background: Plant analysis and soil testing are necessary to assess the fertility status of soils and their capacity to feed plants and when necessary, to recommend balanced fertilizers. This study aimed to evaluate the soil and plant nutrient status and their relationships in different cropping systems of the Kambata Tembaro (KT) zone, in southern Ethiopia. Methods: Maize, tef, sorghum and wheat leaves from 28, 55, 29 and 75 smallholder farmers' fields, respectively with their respective soil samples were collected and analyzed. Result: The soil pH ranged from strongly acidic to neutral. The mean separation method confirmed that the means of all soil properties investigated in this study showed significant differences (P<0.001) among different crop-growing fields. Soil available P and S, total N, extractable B and Cu were deficient in most of the soils and plant tissues. The amount of exchangeable K, Ca, Mg and Zn were found to be sufficient in soils of the study area but their deficiency was recorded in most of the tissues. Soil available P, exchangeable K, Ca and Zn significantly (P<0.01) and positively correlated (r= 0.33, 0.37, 0.20 and 0.15), respectively with tissue content of the respective elements.
Up-to-date digital soil resources information, and its comprehensive understanding, is crucial to... more Up-to-date digital soil resources information, and its comprehensive understanding, is crucial to support crop production and sustainable agricultural development. Generating such information through conventional approaches consumes time and resources, which is difficult for developing countries. In Ethiopia, the soil resource map that was in use is qualitative, dated (since 1984), and small-scale (1:2 M) which limits its practical applicability. Yet, a large legacy soil profile data accumulated over time and the emerging machine learning modelling approaches can help in generating a high-quality quantitative digital soil map that can provide accurate soil information. Thus, a group of researchers formed a coalition of the willing for soil and agronomy data sharing and
Influence of Phosphogypsum Amendments on the Performance of Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) and Chemical Properties of Sodic Soil of Alage, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia
Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, May 31, 2023
Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management, Sep 21, 2013
A study was conducted to determine the effect of different land use systems on soil physical and ... more A study was conducted to determine the effect of different land use systems on soil physical and chemical properties in Sodo Zuria Woreda of Wolaita zone Southern Ethiopia. Differences in soil properties in different land use types at two depths (0-15 and 15-30 cm) were observed on many soil properties important to crop growth. Enset (Ensete Ventricosum) fields had higher pH, electrical conductivity (EC), available P and Zn, exchangeable Ca and K which is attributed due to the addition of manure, whereas maize fields had lowest average K and Mg, cation exchange capacity (CEC), percentage of base saturation (PBS), total N and OC. These results suggest that land use has persistent, multi-decadal effects on the spatial heterogeneity of soil resources and also the need of land use and landscape research to determine ecologically sound and sustainable land use and management strategies.
Zinc is an essential trace element for plants, animals, and humans, and its deficiency is the fif... more Zinc is an essential trace element for plants, animals, and humans, and its deficiency is the fifth most important risk factor associated with illness and death in the developing world. The experiment was conducted in Taba, Halaba, and Butajira soils to evaluate the response of haricot bean varieties to different Zn levels. It was carried out in a quadruple factorial design on farmers' fields and in a greenhouse with soils collected from the aforementioned locations. The two factors were the concentration of zinc fertilizer (0, 0.5, 1, or 1.5%) and the haricot bean variety (Nasir, Ibado, Hawassa Dume, or Sari-1). Zinc sulfate (ZnSO4•7H2O) was sprayed on the leaves, and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were applied to the soil equally for all treatments just before planting, using urea and triple super phosphate (TSP) respectively. Four haricot bean seeds/pot were sown and, later, two seedlings were thinned. For the field experiment, haricot beans were planted in rows with a spacing of 10 cm between plants and 40 cm between rows. Plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pot, 1000 seed weight, and biomass and grain yields were determined. Leaves and seeds from each treatment pot and plot were analyzed for their zinc contents. The results from pot and field experiments indicated that haricot bean production varied significantly among varieties both in yield parameters and tissue Zn concentrations, with the highest grain yield being produced by Nasir and Hawassa Dume. Nasir also produced the highest seed Zn; therefore, it was found to be the best variety both in quantity and quality. Haricot bean production also varied significantly among locations, with the highest grain yield at Butajira. The application of increasing levels of zinc fertilizer significantly increased tissue Zn concentrations. The growing season also significantly affected haricot bean production in terms of yield parameters and tissue Zn concentrations. The highest grain yield was observed during the belg (short growing) season, whereas the highest tissue Zn concentrations were recorded during the meher (long growing) season. Therefore, we can conclude that Zn fertilization and the consumption of haricot bean varieties with high levels of Zn could significantly improve the Zn status of people for whom haricot beans constitute a major component of their diet.
Aims Effect of phosphogypsum (PG) level and its application method on the performance of wheat an... more Aims Effect of phosphogypsum (PG) level and its application method on the performance of wheat and the chemical properties of sodic soils. Methods The field experiment was arranged as a split-plot design with three replications. Two methods of PG application (band and broadcast) were allocated as the main plot, and five PG levels (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200% GR) were randomly assigned as subplots. The experiments were repeated on plots and pots that were used for growing haricot beans using the same treatments and design. After two successive harvestings, soil samples (0–20 cm) were collected from each plot to compare treatment effects and analyzed for chemical properties. Results Results revealed that PG levels significantly reduced soil pH, ESP, and exchangeable Na+, whereas exchangeable Ca, SO4 − 2, and available P were significantly increased compared with control in both methods of PG application. Grain and straw yields, P uptake, and protein contents were also significantly incr...
Uploads
Papers by Sheleme Beyene
low Ca 2+ , CEC, pH, and Mg 2+ that described cambic horizons formed Cambisols at the summit and back slope. Eluviation-illuviation processes formed Luvisols on the toe slope and foot slope, whereas clay and high CEC described argic horizons. High Ca 2+
, CEC, pH, and Mg 2+ described calcic horizons that formed Calcisols on the bottom slope. Divisive clustering showed that soil properties varied slightly between Cambisols and Luvisols at different topographies. However, the Luvisols on the toe slope were differentiated from the soil on the foot slope by predominant pedogenetic clay formation and a distinctly increased CEC. Calcisols are placed in other clusters
due to their distinct properties. Agglomerative clustering reflected pedogenic processes and differentiated diagnostic horizons, while divisive clustering matched WRB classification. The results of this study also showed that termite-mediated soil properties were dictated by rangeland use, and pedogenesis was more noticeable on open-grazing land than on enclosure or cultivated land.