Resumen

EGETA, Dereje; YADESA, Giche; ESHETE, Abeje  y  BELAY, Hailu. Physical and chemical properties of soils in Gera moist Afromontane forest, southwest Ethiopia. J. Selva Andina Biosph. [online]. 2023, vol.11, n.2, pp.118-130.  Epub 01-Nov-2023. ISSN 2308-3867.  https://doi.org/10.36610/j.jsab.2023.110200118.

Soil is the centre of plant growth and, in turn, plants are important elements in soil creation. This points to a strong positive correlation between forest growth dynamics and soil qualities. However, the decline in the biological, chemical and physical characteristics of forest soils alters this link. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine the physical and chemical properties of soils in the Afromontane rainforest of Gera as inputs for vegetation and land management. A systematic random sampling design was used to collect a soil sample. Twenty main plots with a size of 20 m by 20 m pits measuring (0.5) m by (0.5) m, one in the centre and four in the corners, were dug for the collection of soil samples. Soil samples were collected to a depth of 0 - 20 cm using an auger because the soil has a similar profile and is mixed to form a soil composite. From the composite sample, twenty samples were randomly selected as a working sample. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were carried out to analyze the data using SAS software. The sampled soil contains an average of 56.93 % sand, 26.22 % silt and 16.36 % clay. The average bulk density of the forest is 1.49 g cm-3. The forest contains 3.91 and 6.74 % organic carbon and matter, respectively. The analysis revealed that sandy loam accounts for 70 % of the texture classes in the Gera forest. Total nitrogen was highly correlated with organic carbon and matter, and magnesium and calcium were highly correlated with cation exchange capacity, while sodium was highly correlated with electrical conductivity. Further study on other soil physico-chemical properties will be required for rapid rehabilitation of the Gera forest for site species that match and sustain the forest.

Palabras clave : Bulk density; cation exchangeable capacity; correlation; degraded forest; organic carbon; soil composite; soil fertility; soil texture.

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