The impact of land use types on soil physicochemical properties in Dandi District, Ethiopia

Land-use change significantly alters soil physicochemical properties, threatening agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability in the Ethiopian highlands. Although the effects of land use on soil properties have been examined at broader scales in Ethiopia, empirical, site-specific evidence from Dandi District is lacking, despite widespread deforestation and unsustainable management practices that have resulted in substantial but unmeasured soil degradation. This study evaluated the effects of three dominant land-use types: forest, cultivated, and grazing lands on selected soil parameters in Boda Basaka kebele. Using a randomized complete block design across three elevation classes, we analyzed 27 composite topsoil samples collected in February 2021. Standard procedures were used to assess physical and chemical properties. Results showed that forest land maintained significantly superior soil quality, with higher pH (6.29), EC (0.28 dS/m), TN (0.31%), OC (5.57%), OM (9.59%), and CEC (25.86 cmol/kg). In stark contrast, cultivated land suffered the most severe degradation, with the highest bulk density (0.89 g/cm3) due to compaction and notable nutrient depletion. Grazing land showed an intermediate level of deterioration. The conversion of natural forest to agricultural uses in Dandi has profoundly degraded soils, compromising their productive capacity. These empirical, location-specific findings provide crucial scientific evidence to guide targeted sustainable land management interventions, such as agroforestry integration, controlled grazing regimes, and site-specific nutrient replenishment, to restore soil health and enhance resilience in this vulnerable highland landscape.