Exploring the relationship between agricultural land use and soil quality: Insight from southern Ethiopia agro-ecologies
In various agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia, inappropriate soil management, especially under cropland use has significantly degraded soil quality. However, comprehensive studies examining the impact of land use on soil quality indicators across these zones remain limited. This study aimed to evalua...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Environmental and Sustainability Indicators |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266597272500145X |
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| Summary: | In various agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia, inappropriate soil management, especially under cropland use has significantly degraded soil quality. However, comprehensive studies examining the impact of land use on soil quality indicators across these zones remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of land use (enset, grazing, faba bean, common bean, potatoes, wheat, barley, maize, and intercropping fields) on soil quality indicators and indices across the agroecologies of Southern Ethiopia. One-hundred-thirty-two soil samples (0–20 cm depth) were analysed for soil quality indicators. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used for statistical comparison. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified a minimum data set (MDS). Results showed significant (p < 0.001) variations in soil quality indicators, with enset land exhibiting the highest levels of pH, organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorous (Pav), exchangeable bases, and CEC, followed by grazing lands, while annual crop lands had the lowest values except for micronutrients. The PCA analysis indicated that silt fraction, BD, pH, OC, and Pav were identified as the MDS, accounting for 87.86 %, 90.26 %, 89.27 %, and 86.83 % of the variability explained in the soils of Hula, Cheha, Boricha, and Hawassa Zuria, respectively. The soil quality index (SQI) values were moderate to high for enset, low to moderate for grazing, and consistently low for annual crops showed the highest nutrient depletion. The aggregated SQI across the different agro-ecological zones was categorized as low. Customized soil management practices, especially the implementation of site-specific integrated soil fertility management, are crucial for enhancing soil quality and ensuring sustainability in these agro-ecological zones. |
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| ISSN: | 2665-9727 |