Pedological Characterization, Fertility Status and Classification of Some Typical Soils of Bako Tibe and Toke Kutaye Districts of Western Showa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Purposive maize farm field selection was carried out in two districts of western Showa,Ethiopia. Four representative farm fields were selected based on landforms and otherphysiographic attributes in humid highland and sub humid mid altitude maize growingareas of Toke Kutaye and Bako Tibe districts. Four soil profiles were opened andcharacterized. Pedons are formed under udic and perudic moisture and iso-thermictemperature regimes for both districts. The soils were very deep, well-drained reddishbrown to dark reddish brown loamy sand to sandy clay loams, with thick reddish brownloamy sand top and sub soil for Bako Tibe and Toke Kutaye. Three pedons had clayeytop and sub soils. The pH of surface soil ranged from 3.26 -5.52 which was very stronglyacidic to strongly acidic. The soil organic carbon contents of the surface four pedonsranged from 2.07 to 2.69 % which were in medium to high but very low to high for thesubsurface horizons. Both the highland pedons have 20.06 to 54.17 cmol kg -1 soil CEC thatwas in medium to very high, while 10.82 to 23.52 cmol kg -1 soil CEC for two midaltitudes, which was low to medium. The total nitrogen concentration is 0.19 to 0.23 %for top soil, which was low to medium range, and 0.03 to 0.07 % for sub surface horizon,which was in very low range. According to USDA Soil Taxonomy, the four pedons wereclassified as Typic Hapludalfs (Nitisols according to WRB). The four pedons weredifferent in physicochemical properties, indicating the need to characterize soils to givesite-specific fertilizer recommendations for maize production.