LAND USE EFFECTS ON SOIL ORGANIC CARBON AND NITROGEN IN SOME SOILS OF BALE, SOUTHEASTERN ETHIOPIA

Agricultural and economic growth in Ethiopia are constrained by the deteriorating natural resource base, especially in the highlands where 80% of the population lives. This threat stems from the depletion and degradation of the vegetation cover of the country, especially forests and unsustainable fa...

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Main Authors: Yifru Abera, Taye Belachew
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán 2010-11-01
Series:Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/ojs/index.php/TSA/article/view/538
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author Yifru Abera
Taye Belachew
author_facet Yifru Abera
Taye Belachew
author_sort Yifru Abera
collection DOAJ
description Agricultural and economic growth in Ethiopia are constrained by the deteriorating natural resource base, especially in the highlands where 80% of the population lives. This threat stems from the depletion and degradation of the vegetation cover of the country, especially forests and unsustainable farming practices. This study investigated the effects of different land-uses on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen. Both, soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) were responsive to land use change. Considering the top 0-5 cm depth, the highest SOC (12.95%) and TN (0.8%) were recorded in natural forest while the least, 2.56 and 0.21%, respectively from cultivated lands. The lowest SOC content in cultivated soils could be due to reduced inputs of organic matter and frequent tillage which encouraged oxidation of organic matter. SOC and TN consistently declined with increasing soil depth in all land use systems. The SOC and TN content calls for restoration of soil organic matter through sustainable soil management.
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spelling doaj.art-e5b7e0a63b674be98a7bc34029cc43e12022-12-22T02:24:49ZengUniversidad Autónoma de YucatánTropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems1870-04622010-11-01141229235251LAND USE EFFECTS ON SOIL ORGANIC CARBON AND NITROGEN IN SOME SOILS OF BALE, SOUTHEASTERN ETHIOPIAYifru AberaTaye BelachewAgricultural and economic growth in Ethiopia are constrained by the deteriorating natural resource base, especially in the highlands where 80% of the population lives. This threat stems from the depletion and degradation of the vegetation cover of the country, especially forests and unsustainable farming practices. This study investigated the effects of different land-uses on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen. Both, soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) were responsive to land use change. Considering the top 0-5 cm depth, the highest SOC (12.95%) and TN (0.8%) were recorded in natural forest while the least, 2.56 and 0.21%, respectively from cultivated lands. The lowest SOC content in cultivated soils could be due to reduced inputs of organic matter and frequent tillage which encouraged oxidation of organic matter. SOC and TN consistently declined with increasing soil depth in all land use systems. The SOC and TN content calls for restoration of soil organic matter through sustainable soil management.http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/ojs/index.php/TSA/article/view/538Land usesoil depth, soil organic carbonsoil qualitytotal nitrogenvegetation cover
spellingShingle Yifru Abera
Taye Belachew
LAND USE EFFECTS ON SOIL ORGANIC CARBON AND NITROGEN IN SOME SOILS OF BALE, SOUTHEASTERN ETHIOPIA
Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems
Land use
soil depth
, soil organic carbon
soil quality
total nitrogen
vegetation cover
title LAND USE EFFECTS ON SOIL ORGANIC CARBON AND NITROGEN IN SOME SOILS OF BALE, SOUTHEASTERN ETHIOPIA
title_full LAND USE EFFECTS ON SOIL ORGANIC CARBON AND NITROGEN IN SOME SOILS OF BALE, SOUTHEASTERN ETHIOPIA
title_fullStr LAND USE EFFECTS ON SOIL ORGANIC CARBON AND NITROGEN IN SOME SOILS OF BALE, SOUTHEASTERN ETHIOPIA
title_full_unstemmed LAND USE EFFECTS ON SOIL ORGANIC CARBON AND NITROGEN IN SOME SOILS OF BALE, SOUTHEASTERN ETHIOPIA
title_short LAND USE EFFECTS ON SOIL ORGANIC CARBON AND NITROGEN IN SOME SOILS OF BALE, SOUTHEASTERN ETHIOPIA
title_sort land use effects on soil organic carbon and nitrogen in some soils of bale southeastern ethiopia
topic Land use
soil depth
, soil organic carbon
soil quality
total nitrogen
vegetation cover
url http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/ojs/index.php/TSA/article/view/538
work_keys_str_mv AT yifruabera landuseeffectsonsoilorganiccarbonandnitrogeninsomesoilsofbalesoutheasternethiopia
AT tayebelachew landuseeffectsonsoilorganiccarbonandnitrogeninsomesoilsofbalesoutheasternethiopia