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Soils Characteristics in Maize Based Farming System of Western Oromia, Ethiopia

Received: 17 July 2016    Accepted: 28 July 2016    Published: 21 August 2016
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Abstract

Understanding soil fertility status is a prerequisite to implement appropriate soil management practices for sustainable agricultural production and productivity. In view of this, a study was conducted at Kejo and Ongobo farmers’ fields, located at GobuSeyo District of East Wollega Zone of Oromia region in 2011. To investigate soil characteristics, Soil samples were collected from the profiles of the genetic horizons for the analyzing the selected physicochemical properties. The results of the study revealed that the soils had strong coarse sub angular blocky structure at Ap horizon, whereas to angular blocky structures at the B horizon. The soil textural class of both profiles was clayey with the clay fractions being the highest and increased consistently with depth. The bulk density values ranging from 1.25 g cm-3 at the Ap horizon to 1.40 g cm-3 at the Bt4 horizon. The pH-H2O were strongly acidic ranging from 5.27 at the Ap horizon to 5.83 at Bt2 horizon. The soil organic matter (SOM) contents of the soils ranging from 0.62% at the Bt2 horizon to 3.78% at the surface horizon, whereas total N ranging from 0.03 to 0.19%, available P from 0.62 to 4.0 mg kg-1 and CEC from 11.84 to 22.47 cmolckg-1 soil.Available Fe ranging from 7.24 to 33.68 mg kg-1, Mn from 2.37 to 83.91 mg kg-1, Zn from 0.013 to 0.314 mg kg-1 and Cu from 0.16 to 2.32 mg kg-1 in the soil and showed decreasing trend with profile depth. The result of the study showed that the soils of the study sites had poor chemical fertility and integrated soil fertility management practices can improve the current situation.

Published in Journal of Energy and Natural Resources (Volume 5, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.jenr.20160504.11
Page(s) 37-46
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Soil Characteristics, Soil Chemical Fertility, Soil Horizon

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    Dagne Chimdessa. (2016). Soils Characteristics in Maize Based Farming System of Western Oromia, Ethiopia. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources, 5(4), 37-46. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20160504.11

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    Dagne Chimdessa. Soils Characteristics in Maize Based Farming System of Western Oromia, Ethiopia. J. Energy Nat. Resour. 2016, 5(4), 37-46. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20160504.11

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    AMA Style

    Dagne Chimdessa. Soils Characteristics in Maize Based Farming System of Western Oromia, Ethiopia. J Energy Nat Resour. 2016;5(4):37-46. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20160504.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jenr.20160504.11,
      author = {Dagne Chimdessa},
      title = {Soils Characteristics in Maize Based Farming System of Western Oromia, Ethiopia},
      journal = {Journal of Energy and Natural Resources},
      volume = {5},
      number = {4},
      pages = {37-46},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jenr.20160504.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20160504.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jenr.20160504.11},
      abstract = {Understanding soil fertility status is a prerequisite to implement appropriate soil management practices for sustainable agricultural production and productivity. In view of this, a study was conducted at Kejo and Ongobo farmers’ fields, located at GobuSeyo District of East Wollega Zone of Oromia region in 2011. To investigate soil characteristics, Soil samples were collected from the profiles of the genetic horizons for the analyzing the selected physicochemical properties. The results of the study revealed that the soils had strong coarse sub angular blocky structure at Ap horizon, whereas to angular blocky structures at the B horizon. The soil textural class of both profiles was clayey with the clay fractions being the highest and increased consistently with depth. The bulk density values ranging from 1.25 g cm-3 at the Ap horizon to 1.40 g cm-3 at the Bt4 horizon. The pH-H2O were strongly acidic ranging from 5.27 at the Ap horizon to 5.83 at Bt2 horizon. The soil organic matter (SOM) contents of the soils ranging from 0.62% at the Bt2 horizon to 3.78% at the surface horizon, whereas total N ranging from 0.03 to 0.19%, available P from 0.62 to 4.0 mg kg-1 and CEC from 11.84 to 22.47 cmolckg-1 soil.Available Fe ranging from 7.24 to 33.68 mg kg-1, Mn from 2.37 to 83.91 mg kg-1, Zn from 0.013 to 0.314 mg kg-1 and Cu from 0.16 to 2.32 mg kg-1 in the soil and showed decreasing trend with profile depth. The result of the study showed that the soils of the study sites had poor chemical fertility and integrated soil fertility management practices can improve the current situation.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Soils Characteristics in Maize Based Farming System of Western Oromia, Ethiopia
    AU  - Dagne Chimdessa
    Y1  - 2016/08/21
    PY  - 2016
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20160504.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jenr.20160504.11
    T2  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
    JF  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
    JO  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
    SP  - 37
    EP  - 46
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7404
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20160504.11
    AB  - Understanding soil fertility status is a prerequisite to implement appropriate soil management practices for sustainable agricultural production and productivity. In view of this, a study was conducted at Kejo and Ongobo farmers’ fields, located at GobuSeyo District of East Wollega Zone of Oromia region in 2011. To investigate soil characteristics, Soil samples were collected from the profiles of the genetic horizons for the analyzing the selected physicochemical properties. The results of the study revealed that the soils had strong coarse sub angular blocky structure at Ap horizon, whereas to angular blocky structures at the B horizon. The soil textural class of both profiles was clayey with the clay fractions being the highest and increased consistently with depth. The bulk density values ranging from 1.25 g cm-3 at the Ap horizon to 1.40 g cm-3 at the Bt4 horizon. The pH-H2O were strongly acidic ranging from 5.27 at the Ap horizon to 5.83 at Bt2 horizon. The soil organic matter (SOM) contents of the soils ranging from 0.62% at the Bt2 horizon to 3.78% at the surface horizon, whereas total N ranging from 0.03 to 0.19%, available P from 0.62 to 4.0 mg kg-1 and CEC from 11.84 to 22.47 cmolckg-1 soil.Available Fe ranging from 7.24 to 33.68 mg kg-1, Mn from 2.37 to 83.91 mg kg-1, Zn from 0.013 to 0.314 mg kg-1 and Cu from 0.16 to 2.32 mg kg-1 in the soil and showed decreasing trend with profile depth. The result of the study showed that the soils of the study sites had poor chemical fertility and integrated soil fertility management practices can improve the current situation.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Oromia Agricultural Resaerch Institute, Bedele Soil Research Center, Bedele, Ethiopia

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