Evaluation of Soil Cations in Agricultural Soils of East Wollega Zone in South Western Ethiopia
Keywords:
Aluminum, Acidity, Calcium, Cation ation saturations, East Wollega, ECECE, Magnesium, PotassiumAbstract
The purpose of the study was to investigate the status of soil exchangeable cations, aluminum, hydrogen, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, in agricultural soils of East Wollega Zone of South Western Ethiopia. A total of 353 soil samples were collected in 2011and 2012 G.C from 0-20cm 20cm depth. Five representative districts of East Wollega zone were selected ected purposively. Samples were collected from farmers’ crop fields. Samples were analyzed at Nekemte Soil Research Center Laboratory. Soils were analyzed for pH, exchangeable acidity and bases. Effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) was determined by summation ummation and cations saturations were calculated. Data were analyzed by SAS software. Mean soil pH ranged from 4.88-5.25. Mean exchangeable acidity ranged from 3.25-5.55 5.55 cmol(+)/kg. Mean exchangeable calcium also ranged from 3.25-4.55 cmol(+)/kg. Mean exchangeable magnesium and potassium ranged from 3.02-7.66 cmol(+)/kg and 0.37-1.59cmol(+)/kg, 0.37 respectively, while mean ECEC ranged from 9.81-12.88 cmol(+)/kg. Acidic, basic, calcium, magnesium and potassium saturations ranged from 30-43, 43, 50-62, 50 24-61 and 4-11 %, respectively. Calcium, magnesium and potassium saturation percentages ranged from medium to high. Regression analysis showed soil acidity and exchangeable basic cations were significantly correlated. Mean soil pH, exchangeable acidity, calcium and potassium in study soils were rated as very strongly to strongly acidic, very high, low, and low to marginal, respectively. However, exchangeable magnesium was rated as high. Acid saturation was very high while basic cation saturations were in optimum ranges. rang The soils are infertile due to high acidity and low contents of calcium and potassium. The major crops are grown in stressed soil environment. Modeling lime, calcium and potassium rate for site specific recommendations and development of broad spectrum technologies such as acid tolerant crop varieties can be solutions for sustainable use of soils for agriculture in East Wollega zone.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Abdenna Deressa, Wakene Negassa Chewaka, and Tilahun Geleto. (2007). Inventory of soil acidity
Oromia National Regional State in Western Ethiopia are very strongly to strongly acidic. The soils have extremely high acid saturation and the soil reactions are not suitable for most agricultural crop productions. This study also revealed that
status in crop lands of central & western Ethiopia,
utilization of diversity in land use systems Sustainable and organic approaches to meet Human needs, Witzenhausen, 9-11, October, 2007.
Abdenna Deressa., Wakene Negassa., Fite Getaneh
soils of East Wollega zone are deficient in exchangeable calcium and exchangeable potassium ranges from low to marginal. Under these extreme acidic soil conditions, the major crops of East Wollega zone such as maize and sorghum are growing under suboptimal soil conditions. In order to achieve food security the region through increased production and productivity of these acidic soils, fertilizing the
and Birhanu Dinsa. (2004). Response of tef to
nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers under farmers' conditions. A paper presented on the Conference of the Crop Science Society of Ethiopia, 11, Addis Abeba (Ethiopia), 26-28 Apr 2004. Publisher, Crop Science Society of Ethiopia, Addis Abeba (Ethiopia), May 2006.
Achalu Chimdi, Heluf Gebrekidan, Kibebew Kibret,
and Abi Tadesse. (2012). Status of selected physicochemical properties of soils under different
soils with potassium and calcium is a necessity.
Moreover, ameliorating these acidic soils with inorganic lime to increase calcium contents and soil pH, and organic amendments which complexes or arrest toxic aluminum are of greatest significance. Thus, soil fertility research in south western Ethiopia should gear towards site specific fertilizer recommendation such modeling lime, potassium and calcium fertilizer rates alone or in association with other primary essential nutrients. In addition, research should focus on improving crop genetics for tolerance to soil acidity and Al toxicity which can be complementary to or independent of soil liming.
land use systems of Western Oromia, Ethiopia. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences, 2(3), 57-71.
Anonymous. (2010). Accelerating Ethiopian Agriculture Development for Growth, Food Security and Equity. Synthesis of findings and recommendations for the implementation of diagnostic studies in extension, irrigation, soil health/fertilizer, rural finance, seed systems, and output markets (maize, pulses, and livestock)
Benton and Jones J. (2003). Agronomic handbook: Management of crops, soils, and their fertility. CRC Press LLC, 2000 N.W. Corporate Blvd., Boca Raton, Florida 33431. Pp 482.
Bloom, P.R. (2000). Soil pH and pH buffering. In: ME Sumner, ed. Handbook of Soil Science. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2000, pp B333–B352.
Chapman, H. D. (1965). Cation exchange capacity. In:
C.A. Black (ed.) Methods of Soil Analysis Part II, pp. 891-901. Agronomy series number 9, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin.
Donald, L. Sparks. (2003). Environmental Soil Chemistry. Second Edition. University of Delaware, Academic Press, An imprint of Elsevier Science, Pp 367, http://www.academicpress.com.
Fageria, Nand, and Virupax C. Baligar. (2003). Fertility Management of Tropical Acid Soils for Sustainable Crop Production. In: Zdenko Rengel (ed.) Handbook of Soil Acidity. University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations). (2001). Soil fertility management in support of food security in sub-saharan africa. Food and Agriculture Organization of the NnitedNations. Rome, 2001.
FAO. (1990). Soil Map of the World: Revised legend FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), Rome, Italy.
Fite Getaneh, Abdenna Deressa, Wakene Negassa Chewaka. (2007). Influence of Irrigation on Soil Chemical Properties. In: ”Utilization of diversity in land use systems: Sustainable and organic approaches to meet human needs”. A paper presented on Tropentag 2007, October 9-11, 2007 Witzenhausen, Germany.
Hall and Roger Elliot. (2008). Soil essentials: Managing your farm’s primary asset. Australia, BPA Print Group. Pp. 191.
Hazelton Pam and Brian Murphy. (2007). Interpreting Soil Test Results. What Do All the Numbers Mean? Published by CSIRO Publisjing.160 Pp.
IFPRI (International Food and Policy Research Institute) (2010). Fertilizer and Soil Fertility Potential in Ethiopia. Constraints and opportunities for enhancing the system.
Lindsay, W.L., Walthall, P.M. (1996). The solubility of aluminum in soils. In: G Sposito, ed. The Environmental Chemistry of Aluminum. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1996, pp 333–361.
McLean, E.O. (1965). Aluminum. In: C.A. Black (Ed.). Methods of Soil Analysis. Agronomy Series No. 9. Part II. pp. 978-998. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Mesfin Abebe. (2007). Nature and Management of Acid Soils in Ethiopia.
Moore., Geoff. (2001). Soil Guide: A Hand Book For Understanding and Managging Agricultural Soils. Compiled And Edited By Geoff Moore, Bulletin 4343, July 2001.
Murray, B and McBride. (1994). Environmental chemistry of soils. New York, Oxford University Press, Pp 441.
Ridley, W.J., Slattery, K.R., Helyar, A., Cowling. (1990). The importance of the carbon cycle to acidification of a grazed annual pasture. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 30, 529-537.
Sanchez Pedro. (2010). Tripling Crop Yields in Tropical Africa. Nature geosciences, Vol 3, Commentary Focus. www.nature.com/naturegeoscience
SAS Institute inc. (2004). SAS/STAT Guide: version 9.1, SAS Institute Inc, Cam, North Carolina.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2013 journal of Science, Technology and Arts Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
STAR © 2023 Copyright; All rights reserved
