Impact of woody plants species on soil physico-chemical properties along grazing gradients in rangelands of eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

In the lowlands of arid and semiarid rangelands woody plants plays an important role in soil fertility maintenance, providing food, medicine, cosmetics, fodder, fuel wood and pesticides. A better understanding of the interaction of woody plants on their immediate environment is needed to guide optimum management of native vegetation in the production landscapes. However, the impact of woody plant species on soil properties remains poorly understood. This study evaluates the impact of two dominant woody plant species (A. senegal and B. aegyptica) on soil physicochemical properties along grazing gradients in rangelands of eastern Ethiopia. Six trees of each species were selected from light, moderate and heavy grazing sites. Soil sample data at two depths (0-15 and 16-30 cm) were collected from under and open areas of A. senegal and B. aegyptica from each grazing sites, and analysed for nutrient contents. The nutrient status of soil under both woody species was significantly higher especially with regard to soil organic matter (4.37%), total nitrogen (0.313%), and available phosphorus (11.62) than the open grassland with soil organic matter (3.82%), total nitrogen (0.246%), and available phosphorus (10.94 mg/Kg soil) for A. Senegal. The soil organic matter (3.93%), total nitrogen (0.285%), available phosphorus (11.66 mg/Kg soil) were significantly higher than open grassland with soil organic matter (3.52%), total nitrogen (0.218%), available phosphorus (10.73 mg/Kg soil) for B. aegyptica. This was more pronounced in the top 15 cm of soil under A. senegal woody plant species and on the light and moderate grazing site. Therefore, this tree has a significant effect on soil fertility improvement in resource poor rangelands and as a result, it is important to retain scattered A. senegal and B. aegyptica plants in the lowlands of eastern Ethiopia.