Characterization and Classification of the Major Agricultural Soils in Cascape Intervention Woredas in the Centeral Highlands of Oromia Region, Ethiopia
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CHARACTERIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE MAJOR AGRICULTURAL SOILS IN CASCAPE INTERVENTION WOREDAS IN THE CENTERAL HIGHLANDS OF OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA. CASCAPE–ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY Bako-Tibe, Becho, Gimbichu, GirarJarso and Munessa weredas. Engdawork Assefa, PhD March, 2015 0 Table of Content page Preface 3 1. Introduction 5 5 1.1 Background 7 1.2 Objectives 8 1.3 Scope 2. Materials and methods 9 9 2.1 Preparation 11 2.2 Field work 12 2.3 Back to office 3 Results and discussion 13 13 3.1 Soil characteristics and classification of Bako_Tibe Wereda 13 3.1.1 Description of the Environment 17 3.1.2 Results of preparation and review of existing information 20 3.1.3 Results of field work and data processing 30 3.1.4 Soils of Bako-Tibe woreda 30 3.1.4.1 Soil classification 33 3.1.4.2 Soil-landscape Bako-Tibe 35 3.1.4.3 Synthesis 36 3.2 Soil characteristics and classification of Becho Wereda 36 3.2.1 Description of the Environment 40 3.2.2 Results of preparation and review of existing information 41 3.2.3 Results of field work and data processing 49 3.2.4 Soils of Becho woreda 49 3.2.4.1 Soil classfication 52 3.2.4.2 Soil-landscape Becho 53 3.2.4.3 Synthesis 54 3.3 Soil characteristics and classification of GerarJarso Woreda 54 3.3.1 Description of the environment 57 3.3.2 Results of preparation and review of existing information 58 3.3.3 Results of field work and data processing 68 3.3.4 Soils of GerarJarso woreda 1 68 3.3.4.1 Soil classification 70 3.3.4.2 Soil-landscape of GerarJarso 71 3.3.4.3 Synthesis 72 3.4 Soil characteristics and classification of Gimbichu Wereda 72 3.4.1 Description of the environment 76 3.4.2 Results of preparation and review of existing information 78 3.4.3 Results of field work and data processing 87 3.4.4 Soils of Gimbichu woreda 87 3.4.4.1 Soil classification 89 3.4.4.2 Soil-landscape of Gimbichu 90 3.4.4.3 Synthesis 92 3.5 Soil characteristics and classification of Munessa Wereda 92 3.5.1 Description of the environment 95 3.5.2 Results of preparation and review of existing information 97 3.5.3 Results of field work and data processing 105 3.5.4 Soils of Munessa woreda 105 3.5.4.1 Soil classfication 108 3.5.4.1 Soil-landscape of Munessa 110 3.5.4.2 Synthesis 4 Conclusion and recommendations 113 116 References 119 Appendix 2 Preface Ethiopia's economy is highly dependent on natural resources. The long-term unsustainable exploitation of these natural resources resulted in soil degradation, declining soil fertility, deforestation which subsequently adversely affecting economic growth and livelihood opportunities. In cognizant with these major challenges, Ethiopia has put in place a medium term development plan (Growth and Transformation Plan) focused mainly on a broad-based development in a sustainable manner to achieve all the MDGs. To achieve these goals and mainly sustainable agriculture, food security, and rural poverty alleviation, the soil should be managed properly. The informed decision made on use and management of soil are not only important for food and fiber production but also to maintain the environmental quality which is the current global issues, as fulfilling the green economy. In this regard, CASCAPE has entered into a collaboration agreement with the Government of Ethiopia (MoA/ATA) to assist the Ethiopian Soils Information System (EthioSIS) in various ways. Among others, soil characterization and classification of agricultural soils based on detailed soil profiles studies in all 30 CASCAPE intervention weredas in Ethiopia is the main one. The objective of this study, as a part of the broader project, is to characterize and understand the qualities and behavior of the major agricultural soils occurring in the five intervention weredas of the Centeral highlands of Ormoya, namely: Bako-Tibe, Becho, GerarJarso,Gimbichu and Munessa weredas. To attain the aforementioned aim, various activities have carried out involving scientific research methods which include: preliminary investigation (Digital Elevation Map preparation, desk study, site reconnaissance), exploratory investigation, main site investigation, soil lab analysis and interpretation, land use land cover map, and soil map production. The workshop on research capacity enhancement and experiences sharing at the commencement and towards the end of the research project, was also worth to mention. The main results of the study are summarized as: • Soil data namely morphological, physical and chemical characteristics of the agricultural soils of the Central highlands of Ethiopia, CASCAPE interventions woredas were generated • The agricultural soils of the study areas are classified according FAO/WRB , 2006, classification system by employing the soil diagnostic and horizontal characteristics • Soil maps, land use maps, Digital Elevation Maps, location map produced. • Soil variability along the landscape and agro ecological zones were analyzed and explained. 3 • The agricultural potential of soils and their limitations were determined according to the physical and chemical properties of soils • Further research areas or themes which need to investigated in the future have been identified. These findings will be the basis for developing site specific and functional soil information that would guide soil fertility management decisions by smallholder farmers. Moreover, this will help in scaling up and extrapolating soil-based results of experiments. The study results will also contribute to the development of the national/regional soil information database under EthioSIS by the generated local specific soil information. As this juncture, it is a pleasure and an honor to thank the people and institutions that made this study possible. First and foremost my sincerer gratitude goes to Dr Eyasu Elias for facilitation and coordination. I value his scholarship, his friendship and his hospitality. I am also indebted to Dr Arie van Kekem and Johan Leenaars for the scintific input during the workshop, backstopping and reviewing the report. I am very glad to owe my indebtedness to the IT staff and focal persons of CASCAPE -Addis Ababa University, specially Ms Sada for her valuable supports and assistances during my field work. I would also like to thank Molla Maru and Bamlaku Amente the for processing of seattleite images and GIS work and the staff of the soil lab of the Water and Mining Resources of Ethiopia for soil analysis. Last but not least, I am grateful for the farmers of the study areas and the College of Development Studies for corporation and facilitations. Engdawork Assefa, PhD Center for Environment and developmnet, College of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University March, 2015 4 1. Introduction 1.1 Background Soil is a natural body which is formed as a result of both natural and managed processes, and varies greatly in time and space. The rate and extent of the formation of soil are dependent on rocks, climate, vegetation, topography and time and more recently also on human influence. The land of Ethiopia is marked with a great variation in these soil forming factors. The main types of rocks in Ethiopia include: basaltic rocks in the highlands and sedimentary rocks in the lowlands. In some few pockets of place metamorphic rocks are exposed. The elevation of the land ranges from 120 m below sea level to 4600 m above sea level. The major landforms include dissected mountains, hills, plain, and pediments. The rift valley, as a part of the greatest East African Rift Valley, divides the highlands of Ethiopia into two, crossing from northeast to southwest. The country Ethiopia has also exhibited a great variation in climate and vegetation. The diversified topography, climate and vegetation, as soil forming factors, resulted in the formation of different types of soils. Soil is very significances for the Ethiopia to which most of economic activities are dependent on agriculture. Soil resources in Ethiopia are considered as an asset but its management is treated as a challenge. The severe problem of soil degradation in Ethiopia is mainly due to the overexploitation (over-cultivation, overgrazing) of the soil resources which causes billions of tons of soil removal every year and, worse, loss of the functions and services soil provide. The soil is an asset for the country as a whole and for the individual farmer as the soil forms the basis for the daily meal by supporting the growth of the variety of crops, livestock and wood. The soil in Ethiopia is thus needs a high attention on soil specific management, which in turn requires a major investigation across the country. 5 The two most important issues that Ethiopia is aspiring are to increase agriculture production and simultaneously to maintain the environment including the agricultural production resource base. For sustainable agricultural production, the soil should be managed properly, as the soil can easily be lost if care not taken. In order to manage soil, understanding of the soil properties with respect to land use is very crucial. The information on characterizations. Classification, fertility status and others are very important for decision making. The informed decision made on use and management of soil is not only important for food and fiber production but also to maintain the environmental quality base, which is a current global issue (fulfilling the green economy). The evidences based decision making on land uses, land management, fertilizer application, soil problem identification and the counter measures are all associated with the soil information. It is also to be noted that the success of the project or decision on soil related matter are highly influenced by the availability of information.