Influence of land use and management practices on soil physicochemical properties across slope gradients

Document Type : Research/Original/Regular Article

Authors

1 MSc in Soil Science, Department of Natural Resources Management, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

2 Professor, Department of Natural Resources Management, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

3 PhD in Soil Science, Amhara Design and Supervision Works Enterprise, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Soil Resource and Watershed Management, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource, Gambella University, Gambella, Ethiopia

5 MSc in Soil Science, Department of Soil Resource and Watershed Management, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource, Gambella University, Gambella, Ethiopia

Abstract

The decline in soil fertility is being intensified by both human activities and natural phenomena. Therefore, in order to realize the concerns of the agricultural revolution and sustainable land productivity. It is crucial to examine the influence of land use and land management practices on soil properties across various slope gradients. The research aimed to examine how different land use and management techniques influence selected physicochemical properties of the soil across various slope classes. The study employed an experimental design that included three types of land use and two slope classes, with samples collected from managed and unmanaged areas. Finally, 36 samples were obtained at a depth 0-20 cm. Three-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. The results revealed that most soil physicochemical properties were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by land use type management practice, and slope gradient. Forest land exhibitted the highest values for clay (44.25%), TP (59.03%), pH (5.73), OM (5.03%), TN (0.16%), Av. P (12.19 ppm), CEC (31.60 cmol(+) kg-1) and exchangeable bases: Ca²+ (8.94 cmol(+) kg-1), Mg²+ (3.10 cmol(+) kg-1), K+ (0.62 cmol(+) kg-1) and Na+ (0.61 cmol(+) kg-1). In contrast, cultivated land showed the highest sand content (33.42%) and bulk density (1.25 g cm-3), while grazing land recorded the highest silt content (31.67%). Managed areas recorded the highest values for clay (43.11%), TP (57.57%), pH (5.65), OM (4.35%), TN (0.15%), Av. P (11.14 ppm), CEC (29.25 cmol(+) kg-1) and exchangeable bases: Ca²+ (8.37 cmol(+) kg-1), Mg²+ (2.48 cmol(+) kg-1), K+ (0.59 cmol(+) kg-1) and Na+ (0.52 cmol(+) kg-1) compared to unmanaged areas. With respect to slope gradient, it was generally noted that most of the studied soil properties increased with decreasing slope gradient. Generally, the sources of variations in the soils physicochemical properties were land use type, management practice, and slope. Therefore, there is need for appropriate and integrated land management techniques, such as agroforestry, contour plowing, terracing, conservation tillage, mulching, crop rotation, cover cropping, controlled grazing, reforestation, and the use of organic amendments, which aim to improving the physicochemical properties of soils to the different land use and slope classes in Burat Watershed.

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Water and Soil Management and Modelling
Volume 5, Issue 4
November 2025
Pages 15-27

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History

  • Receive Date: 08 September 2025
  • Revise Date: 16 October 2025
  • Accept Date: 27 October 2025

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