Research Article
Land Use Effects on Soil Quality Indicators: A Case Study of Abo-Wonsho Southern Ethiopia
Table 3
SOC (gKg−1), TN (gKg−1), C/N ratio, pH (H2O), Av. P (mgKg−1), and Av. K+ (cmol (+)/kg soil) in relation to land use and soil depth (cm) (Mean ± S.E).
| Variables
| Depth (cm) | | Land use types | | Overall | Protected forest | Open grassland | Farmland | Grazing land |
| SOC | 0–10 | 41.8 (±3.6) | 25.1 (±1.8) | 19.8 (±1.7) | 30.2 (±0.20) | 29.2(±1.3)b | 10–20 | 17.6 (±2.1) | 23.0 (±3.8) | 17.0 (±1.9) | 21.7 (±0.23) | 19.8 (±1.3)a | Overall | 29.7 (±4.5)a | 24.1 (±2.0)ab | 18.4 (±1.3)a | 26.0 (±0.20)b | |
| TN | 0–10 | 2.6 (±0.8) | 1.4 (±0.6) | 1.4 (±0.2) | 2.5 (±0.04) | 1.7 (±0.3)a | 10–20 | 1.6 (±0.8) | 1.4 (±0.5) | 1.3 (±0.5) | 1.8 (±0.04) | 1.5 (±0.3)a | Overall | 2.1 (±0.6)a | 1.4 (±0.4)a | 1.4 (±0.2)a | 2.1 (±0.03)a | |
| C : N
| 0–10 | 47.85 (±14.45) | 53.68 (±31.04) | 15.42 (±3.43) | 14.87 (±4.44) | 32.96 (±6.85)a | 10–20 | 11.46 (±4.01) | 29.84 (±11.37) | 26.40 (±12.21) | 13.51 (±2.04) | 20.30 (±6.85)a | Overall | 29.66 (±9.31)a | 41.76 (±16.08)a | 20.91 (±6.25)a | 14.19 (±2.31)a | |
| pH | 0–10 | 5.97 (±0.14) | 5.34 (±0.31) | 6.15 (±0.21) | 5.67 (±0.10) | 5.78 (±0.11)a | 10–20 | 5.44 (±0.23) | 5.40 (±0.28) | 5.70 (±0.23) | 5.67 (±0.05) | 5.55 (±0.11)a | Overall | 5.70 (±0.16) | 5.37 (±0.20)a | 5.92 (±0.16)a | 5.67 (±0.05)a | |
| Av. P | 0–10 | 1460 (±260) | 1130 (±430) | 5120 (±1020) | 2140 (890) | 2460 (±590)a | 10–20 | 3790 (±1710) | 2090 (±620) | 3940 (±2280) | 2250 (±620) | 3020 (±590)a | Overall | 2630 (±900)a | 1610 (±390)a | 4530 (±1190)a | 2190 (±510)a | |
| Av. K+ | 0–10 | 0.28 (±0.03) | 0.12 (±0.01) | 0.29 (±0.04) | 0.13 (±0.01) | 0.21 (±0.02)a | 10–20 | 0.23 (±0.08) | 0.11 (±0.01) | 0.18 (±0.03) | 0.10 (±0.01) | 0.16 (±0.02)a | Overall | 0.26 (±0.04)b | 0.11 (±0.01)a | 0.24 (±0.03)b | 0.12 (±0.01)a | |
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Overall means within rows and columns followed by different letters are significantly different () with respect to land use and soil depths.
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