Authors :
Abebe Hegano; Atinafu Tunebo
Volume/Issue :
Volume 9 - 2024, Issue 10 - October
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/36nyk7e7
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/2ubndsb5
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24OCT858
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Soil acidity poses a significant challenge to
agricultural productivity in Ethiopia's highlands,
particularly affecting the Semen Ari district in the Ari
zone. The common practice of applying agricultural lime
to mitigate soil acidity is hampered by a lack of detailed
information on the extent, severity, and spatial
distribution of acidic soils. This study aims to determine
how soil acidity varies spatially by identifying and
mapping the specific geographic patterns of soil acidity
levels in the Semen Ari district. Seventy-one composite
soil samples from the 0–20 cm layer were geo-referenced
and analyzed. Using statistical analysis and ArcGIS
software for spatial interpolation through ordinary
kriging, soil pH ranged from 3.29 to 5.68, classifying 99%
of the soils as strongly acidic. The root mean squared
error (RMSE) of the interpolation was 0.30. Soil pH
showed a significant negative correlation with
exchangeable acidity but a non-significant negative
correlation with organic carbon and total nitrogen. The
results highlight the need for targeted soil management
strategies, such as appropriate lime application rates and
the cultivation of acid-tolerant crops, to enhance crop
yields. Further research is recommended to include
comprehensive soil property datasets to better
understand the factors influencing soil pH variability,
thus supporting more precise management of acidic soils
in the region. The generated high-resolution soil acidity
map serves as a valuable tool for agricultural planning
and decision-making.
Keywords :
Soil Acidity, Spatial Variability, Geographic Pattern, Kriging Interpolation.
References :
- Abebe, M. (2007). (n.d.). Nature and management of acid soils in Ethiopia.
- Amacher M. C., K.P. O’Neil and C.H. Perry, 2007. (n.d.). Soil vital signs: A new Soil Quality Index (SQI) for assessing forest soil health. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.
- Baruah, T.C. and Barthakur, H. ( 1997). (n.d.). A Text Book on Soil Analysis, Vikas Publishers, New-Delhi.
- Brady, N. C., & Weil, R. R. (2002). (n.d.). The nature and properties of soils. 13th (ed) Prentice Hall International. New Jersey.
- Chimdi. (2015). Assessment of the Severity of Acid Saturations on Soils Collected from Cultivated Lands of East Wollega Zone, Ethiopia. Science, Technology and Arts Research Journal, 3(4), 42. https://doi.org/10.4314/star.v3i4.6
- Gete Zelleke, Getachew Agegnehu, Dejene Abera, & Rashid, S. (2019). Fertilizer and soil fertility potential in Ethiopia. Gates Open Research. https://doi.org/10.21955/GATESOPENRES.1115635.1
- Iticha, B., & Takele, C. (2019). Digital soil mapping for site-specific management of soils. Geoderma, 351, 85–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.05.026
- Johnston, K., Ver Hoef, J. M., Krivoruchko, K., & Lucas, N. (2001). (n.d.). Using ArcGIS geostatistical analyst (Vol. 380). Redlands: Esri.
- Jones Benton. (2003). (n.d.). Agronomic Handbook: Management of crops, soils, and their fertility. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, Florida, USA. 482.
- Kaur, L., & Rishi, M. S. (2018). Integrated geospatial, geostatistical, and remote-sensing approach to estimate groundwater level in North-western India. Environmental Earth Sciences, 77(23), 786. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7971-8
- Kochian, L. V., Hoekenga, O. A., & Piñeros, M. A. (2004). HOW DO CROP PLANTS TOLERATE ACID SOILS? MECHANISMS OF ALUMINUM TOLERANCE AND PHOSPHOROUS EFFICIENCY. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 55(1), 459–493. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev. arplant.55.031903.141655
- Mamo, T., & Haque, I. (1991). (n.d.). Phosphorus status of some Ethiopian soils. III Evaluation of soil test methods for available phosphorus.
- Wang, C., Zhao, X. Q., Chen, R. F., Chu, H. Y., & Shen, R. F. (2013). Aluminum tolerance of wheat does not induce changes in dominant bacterial community composition or abundance in an acidic soil. Plant and Soil, 367(1–2), 275–284. https://doi.org/10.1007/ s11104-012-1473-3
- Wassie and Shiferaw (2009). (n.d.). Mitigation of soil acidity and fertility decline challenges for sustainable livelihood improvement: Research findings from southern region of Ethiopia and its policy implications.
Soil acidity poses a significant challenge to
agricultural productivity in Ethiopia's highlands,
particularly affecting the Semen Ari district in the Ari
zone. The common practice of applying agricultural lime
to mitigate soil acidity is hampered by a lack of detailed
information on the extent, severity, and spatial
distribution of acidic soils. This study aims to determine
how soil acidity varies spatially by identifying and
mapping the specific geographic patterns of soil acidity
levels in the Semen Ari district. Seventy-one composite
soil samples from the 0–20 cm layer were geo-referenced
and analyzed. Using statistical analysis and ArcGIS
software for spatial interpolation through ordinary
kriging, soil pH ranged from 3.29 to 5.68, classifying 99%
of the soils as strongly acidic. The root mean squared
error (RMSE) of the interpolation was 0.30. Soil pH
showed a significant negative correlation with
exchangeable acidity but a non-significant negative
correlation with organic carbon and total nitrogen. The
results highlight the need for targeted soil management
strategies, such as appropriate lime application rates and
the cultivation of acid-tolerant crops, to enhance crop
yields. Further research is recommended to include
comprehensive soil property datasets to better
understand the factors influencing soil pH variability,
thus supporting more precise management of acidic soils
in the region. The generated high-resolution soil acidity
map serves as a valuable tool for agricultural planning
and decision-making.
Keywords :
Soil Acidity, Spatial Variability, Geographic Pattern, Kriging Interpolation.