Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 101-108 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Soil and Tillage Research |
| Volume | 94 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - May 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Conversion of native forests to cultivation is usually accompanied by a decline in soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrients, and deterioration of soil structure. The objectives of this study were: (i) to assess the effect of cultivation on soil aggregation and aggregate stability and (ii) to determine the effect of cultivation on total SOM, and the quantity and quality of POM in a Rhodic Nitisol at Munesa, in southeastern Ethiopia. Samples were collected from a cropland cultivated for 26 years and an adjacent natural forest. After cultivation, the proportion of water-stable macroaggregates was significantly reduced from >70% in the natural forest soil to 50% in the cultivated soil, being more pronounced in the >1 mm size aggregates. Cultivation also induced significant losses of OC and N both in bulk soil and water-stable aggregates. The amounts of free light fraction (free LF) C and N were more affected by cultivation than the amounts of intraparticulate organic matter (iPOM) C and N. The effect of cultivation was more pronounced on macroaggregate associated total and particulate organic matter than on microaggregate-associated fractions. The losses of POM C and N due to cultivation were highest in comparison to the total aggregate and whole soil OC and N suggesting that POM constitutes a more sensitive SOM fraction to the effects of cultivation. Soil aggregate stability and SOM could be used as indicators to apply the more appropriate management practices for increasing soil sustainability or productivity.
Keywords
- Aggregate stability, Cultivation, Ethiopia, Nitisol, POM
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Agronomy and Crop Science
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Soil Science
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
- Earth-Surface Processes
Cite this
- Standard
- Harvard
- Apa
- Vancouver
- BibTeX
- RIS
In: Soil and Tillage Research, Vol. 94, No. 1, 05.2007, p. 101-108.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Soil aggregation, and total and particulate organic matter following conversion of native forests to continuous cultivation in Ethiopia
AU - Ashagrie, Y.
AU - Zech, W.
AU - Guggenberger, G.
AU - Mamo, T.
N1 - Funding information: Funding for this research was given by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
PY - 2007/5
Y1 - 2007/5
N2 - Conversion of native forests to cultivation is usually accompanied by a decline in soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrients, and deterioration of soil structure. The objectives of this study were: (i) to assess the effect of cultivation on soil aggregation and aggregate stability and (ii) to determine the effect of cultivation on total SOM, and the quantity and quality of POM in a Rhodic Nitisol at Munesa, in southeastern Ethiopia. Samples were collected from a cropland cultivated for 26 years and an adjacent natural forest. After cultivation, the proportion of water-stable macroaggregates was significantly reduced from >70% in the natural forest soil to 50% in the cultivated soil, being more pronounced in the >1 mm size aggregates. Cultivation also induced significant losses of OC and N both in bulk soil and water-stable aggregates. The amounts of free light fraction (free LF) C and N were more affected by cultivation than the amounts of intraparticulate organic matter (iPOM) C and N. The effect of cultivation was more pronounced on macroaggregate associated total and particulate organic matter than on microaggregate-associated fractions. The losses of POM C and N due to cultivation were highest in comparison to the total aggregate and whole soil OC and N suggesting that POM constitutes a more sensitive SOM fraction to the effects of cultivation. Soil aggregate stability and SOM could be used as indicators to apply the more appropriate management practices for increasing soil sustainability or productivity.
AB - Conversion of native forests to cultivation is usually accompanied by a decline in soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrients, and deterioration of soil structure. The objectives of this study were: (i) to assess the effect of cultivation on soil aggregation and aggregate stability and (ii) to determine the effect of cultivation on total SOM, and the quantity and quality of POM in a Rhodic Nitisol at Munesa, in southeastern Ethiopia. Samples were collected from a cropland cultivated for 26 years and an adjacent natural forest. After cultivation, the proportion of water-stable macroaggregates was significantly reduced from >70% in the natural forest soil to 50% in the cultivated soil, being more pronounced in the >1 mm size aggregates. Cultivation also induced significant losses of OC and N both in bulk soil and water-stable aggregates. The amounts of free light fraction (free LF) C and N were more affected by cultivation than the amounts of intraparticulate organic matter (iPOM) C and N. The effect of cultivation was more pronounced on macroaggregate associated total and particulate organic matter than on microaggregate-associated fractions. The losses of POM C and N due to cultivation were highest in comparison to the total aggregate and whole soil OC and N suggesting that POM constitutes a more sensitive SOM fraction to the effects of cultivation. Soil aggregate stability and SOM could be used as indicators to apply the more appropriate management practices for increasing soil sustainability or productivity.
KW - Aggregate stability
KW - Cultivation
KW - Ethiopia
KW - Nitisol
KW - POM
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33847657539&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.still.2006.07.005
DO - 10.1016/j.still.2006.07.005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33847657539
VL - 94
SP - 101
EP - 108
JO - Soil and Tillage Research
JF - Soil and Tillage Research
SN - 0167-1987
IS - 1
ER -