Impact of land use types on selected soil physicochemical parameters in the case of Liben Jawi district, Ethiopia

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the impact of different land use types on particular soil physical and chemical parameters in the Liban Jawi district, West Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Land use changes significantly influence soil quality by altering its physical and chemical properties, and understanding these impacts is essential for sustainable land management; however, in areas like Liban Jawi District, West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia, limited information exists on how different land use types affect soil characteristics. The three land use types: Forest lands (FL), Grazing lands (GL), and Cultivated lands (CL) were represented in the 9 soil samples collected using an auger and bulk density (BD) by core sampler for the analysis of soil properties at a depth of 0–30 cm with three replications. The analysis of soil samples was carried out in the Ambo University Chemistry laboratory. The result of the research showed that the textural classes of GL and CL were loamy sand, whereas, sandy loam in the FL. The BD recorded in the three land use types was statistically insignificant. The highest organic carbon (OC) 7.06%, Available phosphorus (Av.p) 70.7 mg/kg, Total nitrogen (TN) 0.82%, cation exchange capacity (CEC) 49.86 cmol/kg, electrical conductivity (EC) 0.08 ds/m, Calcium (Ca) 13.17 cmol/kg, Magnesium (Mg) 8.47 cmol/kg, and Potassium (K) 2.56 cmol/kg were recorded in FL, followed by GL. The study revealed a significant (P < 0.01) variation among the land use types for pH, OC, TN, Ca2+ and Na. However, land use types did not significantly affect Av. P, CEC, Mg2+, K, and EC. It is possible to conclude that soil physicochemical properties differed by land use due to the exhaustive exploitation of land resources and improper soil management systems in the area, highlighting the need for better soil management in cultivated and grassland areas. Therefore, there is a need to develop integrated soil management practices that could sustain agricultural productivity and production.