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ISSN: 2360-7874 |
Academic Research Journal of
Agricultural Science and Research |
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Vol. 8(1), pp. 12-23, January 2020 Research Characterization of Agricultural Soils of Meki and Adamitulu in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia
Mesfin Hundessa
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Melkassa Agricultural Research Center (MARC) Natural Resource Management Research Process. E-mail: hundessamesfin@gmail.com
Accepted 19 November 2019
Soil pits were used to provide characterization of soil profiles for soil morphological, physical and chemical characteristics in two areas of the central rift valley’s agricultural soils. Hence, the composite surface soils of Adamitulu (7.7 to 7.8) were moderately alkaline and that of Meki was neutral to slightly alkaline. The profiles and the composite surface soil samples of the areas (Meki and Adamitulu) had very low OM, OC, available nitrogen and P content that would limit production of many crops. Hence, there is a need for external application of the above nutrients for both locations. The soil exchange complex was mainly dominated by Ca and Mg where the order of occurrence was Ca > Mg >K > Na. The soils of the study areas are not deficient with micro nutrients like zinc, Cu, Fe and Mn that doesn’t need external application of the above soil minerals. The soils of the study sites fails to meet the criteria listed for diagnostic epipedons than ochric, as it has high color value for most of the horizons. The sub surface horizon had high percentage of clay than the overlying soil material. Therefore, the soils of the subsurface meet the requirement of Argilic horizon. Referring to the weather data of the site it can be concluded that the area is characterized by an aridic soil moisture regime. Thus, considering the morphological, physical and chemical properties of the surface and sub surfaces horizons, soils of the sites falls under the Aridisols soil Order of Soil Taxonomy.
Key words: physico-chemical properties, soil profile, composite surface soil
How to cite this article (APA Style): Mesfin H (2020). Characterization of Agricultural Soils of Meki and Adamitulu in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 8(1): 12-23
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