Impacts of Land Use /Land Cover Change on Soil Physicochemical Properties and Soil Carbon Stock in Lemo District, Central Ethiopia

Mulunesh Melese
Department of Plant Science, Wachemo University, P.O. Box 667, Hossana, Ethiopia

Mekdes Lulu
Deparment of Plant Science, Wachemo University, P.O. Box 667, Hossana, Ethiopia

Teshale Tirulo
Deparment of Natural Resource Management, Wachemo University, P.O. Box 667, Hossana, Ethiopia.

Dergicho Dutamo
Department of Horticulture, Wachemo University, P.O. Box 667, Hossana, Ethiopia.

Abstract

This study was to assess the impacts of land use and land cover change (LULCC) on soil physicochemical properties and soil carbon stock at 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm soil depths with three land uses of Forest, Grazing, and Crop lands and three kebeles the Bellesa, Jawa, and Masibira kebeles in Lemo District, Central Ethiopia. The Household survey results indicated that on LULCC trends and driving factors collected through a household survey of 66 purposively selected respondents. The significant increase in mono-cropping (Cropland) between the mid-1990s and 2025s. The result of soil physical and chemical analysis indicated as follows. The soil moisture content was significantly higher in forestland compared to grazing and cropland. Soil texture was predominantly Clay loam and did not differ significantly (p>0.05) across land use types. However, PH, CEC, Av.P, OM, OC, and SOCs exhibited significant differences (p<0.05) among land use types at both soil depths. Soil pH was slightly acidic across all land uses, with forestland showing the highest values. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) was high in all land use types, with forestland having higher value at the 0-20 cm depth. Available phosphorus was significantly higher in forestland. Total nitrogen and soil organic carbon (SOC) content followed the order of cropland < grazing land < forestland, with higher concentrations in the topsoil. The soil organic matter (OM) was optimum in forest and grazing lands and low in cropland. Soil organic carbon stock (SOCs) was also highest under forestland, followed by grazing land, and lowest under cropland. These findings suggest that the conversion of forest and grazing lands to cropland in the study area has negative impacts soil physical and chemical properties. Thus, the current trend shows mono-cropping(cropland) expanding into Forest and Grazing land. Therefore, further research is recommended to support agroforestry and integrated nutrient management to restructure organic matter and prevent soil acidification.

Keywords: Agricultural land expansion, Drought, Global Carbon dynamic, Mono- cropping.

Author Biographies

Mulunesh Melese, Department of Plant Science, Wachemo University, P.O. Box 667, Hossana, Ethiopia

Mekdes Lulu, Deparment of Plant Science, Wachemo University, P.O. Box 667, Hossana, Ethiopia

Teshale Tirulo, Deparment of Natural Resource Management, Wachemo University, P.O. Box 667, Hossana, Ethiopia.

Dergicho Dutamo, Department of Horticulture, Wachemo University, P.O. Box 667, Hossana, Ethiopia.