Agumas, Birhanu (2008) Soil Acidity Problems and Comparison of Lime Requirement Determination Methods in Different Land Uses Systems: The Case of Fagetalekoma Woreda, Awi Zone. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.
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Abstract
Soil acidity is one of chemical soil degradation problems which affect productivity of the soil in Ethiopian highlands. The purpose of this research was to assess the status of soil acidity in different land uses systems and to compare different lime requirement determination methods in Fagtalokoma woreda, Awi Zone. The different land use systems were cultivated land, backyard, grazing land and the natural forest. Composite soil samples were collected along transects in each of the land use systems and analyzed in laboratory. Lime requirement was determined using acid saturation and SMP buffer solution methods. The results indicated that cultivated land and grazing land were strongly acidic (pH<5.5), where as natural forest and backyard land uses were moderately acidic (5.6-6.0) soils. The increased soil acidity in cultivated lands may be due to intensive cultivation without fallow for extended period of time, removal of crop residue and inappropriate use of chemical fertilizers. Soil acidity in grazing land may be aggravated by over grazing in this area. Significantly higher soil (p<0.01) pH, ECEC, Ca and Mg were recorded at natural forest soils as compared to other land uses in both kebeles. On the other hand, significantly (p<0.05) lower exchangeable acidity was obtained in backyard and natural forest as compared to other two land uses. Higher organic matter and total nitrogen content were observed on the natural forest in both kebeles where as higher available phosphorous was recorded in the backyard land use of Gullazmach kebele, which might be attributed to high return of biomass due to little soil disturbance and high farmyard manure input. Higher available Potassium was recorded on backyard land use of Gulazmach kebele however, significant difference was not observed in available Potassium in the three land uses except backyard with the lower available potassium in Gaffera kebele. The lime requirement results revealed that 1.80 to 3.65 tons of lime was required in cultivated land using acid saturation method. By using SMP buffer solution method, 12.77-15.90 tone/ha of lime is required for cultivated and grazing land uses to change the soil pH from 5.13-6.5.This is because the recommended soil pH range for optimum plant growth, nutrient availability and best bacterial activity are 6.5-7.2. The exaggerated difference on lime amount using acid saturation method and SMP buffer solution method might be due to the SMP buffer solution. Lime requirement was significantly (p<0.01) and positively correlated with exchangeable acidity and acid saturation percentage. There was also a negatively significant (p<0.01) correlation between limes requirement and soil pH, exchangeable bases and ECEC. In order to address soil acidity problems, use of lime, manure and compost should be encouraged in the study area in cultivated lands. Reducing over grazing by improving land management options is necessary to rehabilitate acidic soils in grazing land.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QD Chemistry Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) S Agriculture > SB Plant culture |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Selom Ghislain |
| Date Deposited: | 24 May 2018 12:21 |
| Last Modified: | 24 May 2018 12:21 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/4077 |
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