The purpose of the study was to investigate the status of soil exchangeable cations, aluminum, hydrogen, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, in agricultural soils of East Wollega Zone of South Western Ethiopia.A total of 353 soil samples were collected in 2011and 2012 G.C from 0-20cm depth.Five representative districts of East Wollega zone were selected purposively.Samples were collected from farmers' crop fields.Samples were analyzed at Nekemte Soil Research Center Laboratory.Soils were analyzed for pH, exchangeable acidity and bases.Effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) was determined by summation and cations saturations were calculated.Data were analyzed by SAS software.Mean exchangeable acidity ranged from 3.25-5.55also ranged from 3.25-4.55cmol(+)/kg.Mean ranged from 3.02-7.66cmol(+)/kg and 0.37 ECEC ranged from 9.81-12.88cmol(+)/kg.Acidic, basic, calcium, magnesium and potassium saturations ranged from 30-43, 50 Calcium, magnesium and potassium saturation percentages ranged from medium to high.Regression analysis showed soil acidity and exchangeable basic cations were significantly correlated.Mean soil pH, exchangeable acidity, calcium and study soils were rated as very strongly to strongly acidic, very high, low, and low to marginal, respectively.However, exchangeable magnesium was rated as high.Acid saturation was very high while basic cation saturations were in optimum rang soils are infertile due to high acidity and low contents of calcium and potassium.The major crops are grown in stressed soil environment.Modeling lime, calcium and potassium rate for site specific recommendations and development of broad spectrum technologies such as acid tolerant crop varieties can be solutions for sustainable use of soils for agriculture in East Wollega zone.
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Deressa et al. (2013) studied this question.