Soil fertility status of selected highland maize growing districts of West Shoa zone, central highland of Ethiopia Adisu Bahiru1,*, Dechassa Nigussie2, Tana Tamado3, Wogi Lemma2 1Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Ambo Agricultural Research Center, P. O. Box 37, Ambo, Ethiopia 2College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia 3Department of Crop Production, University of Eswatini, P. O Luyengo, M205, Eswatini *Corresponding author : adisubahiru4@gmail.com
Online Published on 15 December, 2023. Abstract Soil nutrient depletion is a major problem constraining maize production in Ethiopia. Therefore, research was conducted to assess the fertility status of the soils in Ambo and Toke-Kutaye districts in central highland of Ethiopia during the 2022 cropping season. One hundred and ten surface (0–30 cm depth) and sub-surface (30–60 cm depth) soil samples were collected randomly from each district and analyzed for the major chemical properties. In both districts, the texture of the soil is clayey; with clay content ranging from 47.5 to 72.5%. The pH of the soils in Ambo district ranged between moderate acidity (5.42) to moderate alkalinity (7.61), whereas that of Toke-Kutaye district ranged between strong (4.87) to moderate acidity (6.4). The available soil phosphorus, sulphur, boron, zinc, organic carbon, and total nitrogen contents of both districts were found to be predominantly low. The exchangeable potassium content of soils of Ambo district was found to be medium (0.37 cmol (+) kg-1) whereas that of Toke-Kutaye district was low (0.22 cmol (+) kg-1). The results imply the need to formulate appropriate recommendations of fertilizers containing the deficient nutrients and organic fertilizers to improve crop productivity and farmers’ livelihoods in the study area. Top Keywords Available nutrients, Exchangeable bases, Nutrient index, Organic carbon, pH. Top |