Effects of Grazing Intensity on Soil Properties of Rangeland in Semi-arid Rangeland of Borana Zone, Southern Ethiopia

The study was conducted in three districts of Borana Zone to determine the impacts of grazing on soil nutrients of Borana rangelands under the traditional enclosure and continuous grazing rangeland types. Within both rangeland types of each district, 20 m x 20 m plots were placed at 200 m distances intervals with three replications used to collect soil samples from four corners and a center of main plot within three depths (0-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20- 30 cm) to analysis its soil physio-chemical properties. Totally 54 soil samples were collected from three districts, two rangeland types, and three depths to determine the effect of grazing on soil properties. The collected data were analyzed using a three-way factorial ANOVA to compare the effect of grazing pressure by using traditional enclosures and continuous grazing rangeland types of each study site on rangeland soil properties. The study sites of soil texture class were loam, sandy loam, and silt clay. The soil pH value was significantly different (P > 0.05) among study sites, but there was no significant difference between rangeland types and soil depths. The soil total nitrogen was significantly different (P > 0.05) between districts, rangeland types, and soil depth, due to the impact of grazing pressure, was differed between rangeland types. Grazing intensity has a great impact on rangeland soil physico-chemical properties. Therefore, rangeland users should consider an appropriate grazing system to improve and sustain the soil health and ecosystem of rangeland.