International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
p-ISSN: 2165-882X e-ISSN: 2165-8846
2016; 6(3): 123-131
doi:10.5923/j.ijaf.20160603.04
Wondwossen Gebretsadik
Central Ethiopia Environment and Forest Research Center, Ethiopia
Correspondence to: Wondwossen Gebretsadik , Central Ethiopia Environment and Forest Research Center, Ethiopia.
Email: |
Copyright © 2016 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The present study highlights the effect of slope and tree species on soil properties of degraded semi arid hills at Kuriftu Lake catchment. Five native broad leaves and legumes were planted with conservation structures on slopes: 0-17% and 17-23%. After seven years of rehabilitation soil sampling pits were randomly assigned within a 50 m2 plot on planting space of a given tree species and samples were collected at three distinct depths (0-15, 15-30 and 30-50cm) to be homogenized later by depth. Slope and soil depth changes impacted significant differences in soil properties under canopies of the study trees. TN and OM significantly declined from surface (0-15cm) to inner surface (30-50cm). OM on surface soils of broadleaves was significantly higher than tree legumes. Lower slopes had significantly higher pH than higher slopes and there was significant negative correlation (-0.65) between slope and pH. CEC under evaluated trees was significantly higher on lower slopes than higher slopes. Slope had significantly higher negative correlations with CEC, exchangeable Ca, Mg, Na and pH. OM and TN had no significant correlations with slope. BD was greater on higher slopes than lower slopes though tree species induced no change on texture. Surface, sub surface and inner surface MC in lower slopes were significantly higher than con specifics in higher slopes.
Keywords: Cation exchange capacity, Bulk density, Moisture content, Organic matter
Cite this paper: Wondwossen Gebretsadik , Assessment of Mixed Tree Rehabilitation Impacts on Soil Physicochemical Properties of Degraded Landscapes, International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, Vol. 6 No. 3, 2016, pp. 123-131. doi: 10.5923/j.ijaf.20160603.04.
Figure 1. D. angustifolia with water harvesting structures (Kuriftu lake catchment) |
Figure 2. Soil sampling locations of the study area |
Figure 4. Increasing pattern of pH with soil depth across species (Error bars are SEM, n=3) |
Figure 5A. Organic matter under different species and slope categories. (Error bars are SEM, n=5); Figure 5B. Soil organic matter under different species and soil depths. (Error bars are SEM, n=5) |
Figure 6. Cation exchange capacity under different species slope categories and soil depths. (Error bars are SEM, n=10) |
Figure 7. Total nitrogen under different species slopes. (Error bars are SEM, n=5) |
Figure 8. Total nitrogen under different species and soil depths. (Error bars are SEM, n=5) |
|
Figure 9A. Soil bulk density as influenced by slope and soil depth. (Error bars are SEM, n=6); Figure 9B. Bulk density being influenced by tree species and soil depth. (Error bars are SEM, n=6) |
Figure 10A. Soil moisture being influenced by tree species and soil depth. (Error bars are SEM, n=6); Figure 10B. Soil moisture being influenced by slope and soil depth. (Error bars are SEM, n=6) |