The Impact of Different Land Use Types on selected soil Physicochemical parameters in Dandi District, West Shewa zone, Ethiopia

This study examines the impact of various land-use types on soil physicochemical properties in the Dandi District, West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia. Using a systematic randomized complete block design, soil samples were collected from three representative land-use types: forest, cultivated, and grazing lands. The samples were analyzed following standard laboratory procedures to assess the impact of land use on specific soil physicochemical parameters. A total of 27 composite soil samples were collected for analysis, along with 9 undisturbed samples for bulk density measurement at a depth of 0–30 cm. One-way ANOVA, conducted using SAS software, was used to evaluate differences in soil properties. The results showed significant variations in most soil parameters, except for silt, sand, magnesium, and calcium content. The dominant soil textures identified were sandy clay, clay, and loam, indicating substantial removal of clay particles across land-use types. Higher bulk densities in cultivated land (0.886) were attributed to livestock-induced compaction and nutrient depletion. Soils in the forest exhibited higher values of pH 6.29, electrical conductivity (EC) 0.28, total nitrogen (TN) 0.31, organic carbon (OC) 5.57, organic matter (OM) 9.59, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) 25.86 compared to grazing and cultivated lands. These findings suggest that land use has a significant influence on soil physicochemical properties, particularly in cultivated and grazing areas. Therefore, it is recommended to adopt sustainable soil management practices, including soil and water conservation measures, sustainable land management, and control of overgrazing to reduce the negative impacts of land use on soil properties and to improve soil fertility and agricultural productivity.