Effect of different land use systems and soil depths on soil chemical properties alteration in Yerer forests and its surrounding area, at the central highland of Ethiopia

Abstract Background Different land-use systems have different potentials to change soil chemical properties either positively or negatively. Hence, scientifically information on the soil chemical properties dynamics under different land-use systems is crucial for best land management practices, and to avoiding ecological negative impacts of it for sustainable development. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of different land-use systems and soil depths on selected soil chemical properties in Yerer forest and its surrounding area, central Ethiopia. The land-use systems included natural forest, four exotic tree plantation species (Eucalyptus globules, Cupressus lusitanica, Grevillea robusta, and Pinus patuala), grassland, grazing land, and agricultural cropland . Results The analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the majority of soil chemical properties of OC, TN, Avial. P, soil pH, EC, CEC, and exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K, Na) were showed that significant variations among land-use systems (P<0.0001). The highest mean values of OC (3.487% DM), TN (0.313% DM), Avail.P (31.515 mg/kg of soil), CEC (33.634 meq/100gm soil), Exch. Ca (17.126 cmol(+)/kg soil), Exch. Mg (5.369 cmol(+)/kg soil), and Exch. K (3.597 cmol(+)/kg soil) were observed under natural forest than others of land-use systems. The results also showed that the lowest mean values of OC (1.472% DM), TN (0.130%DM), soil pH (5.377), CEC (18.983 meq/100gm soil), Exch. Ca (9.931 cmol(+)/kg soil), Exch. K (1.197 cmol(+)/kg soil), and Exch. Na (0.206 cmol(+)/kg soil) were recorded under agricultural cropland than other land-use systems. The highest mean values of EC (3.474ds/m), and Exch. Na (0.604 cmol(+)/kg soil) were observed under Eucalyptus globules plantation forest. The overall mean values of OC, TN, Avail.P, CEC, Exch. Mg, Exch. Ca, Exch. K, and Exch. Na accumulation at the topsoil layer was higher than that of the subsoil layer except for soil pH and EC. Conclusion In general, the majority of soil chemical properties under agricultural cropland and Eucalyptus globules plantation forest were poorer than the soils subjected to other land-use systems which indicated that changes in land use system were significantly affected soil chemical properties.