Status of Soil Properties Under Canopy of Farmers’ Preferred Coffee Shade Tree Species, in Adola Rede District, Guji Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted at Adola Rede District, in Guji Zone, Southern Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to investigate farmers’ preference criteria of soil fertility improving shade tree species and to identify Status of soil properties under canopy of farmers’ preferred shade tree species. To address the objectives of this study, all necessary data were collected through key informant interview, questionnaire survey and soil sampling. A total of 20 key informants and 90 households were participated for household interview. Based on their selection criteria, sampled households have done preference ranking of shade tree species used for soil fertility enhancement. The results of this study showed that, farmers’ main selection criteria were based on decomposition rate of shade treelitter fall, soil moisture status under shade tree canopy, coffee yield increments and growth rate of coffee plants under shade tree canopy. Generally, the preference ranking of key informants and respondent households soil fertility improvingcoffee shade tree species were in the order of: Ficus sur>Cordia africana>Millettia ferruginea>Albizia gummifera> croton macrostachyus>Acacia abyssinica. From the identified soil fertility improving coffee shade treespecies, soil samples were taken from under canopy of Ficus sur with 1st rank and Cordia africana with 2nd rank farmers’ preferences. For soil analysis from under canopy of both coffee shade trees and from outside the tree canopy, a total of 48 soil samples were taken. The results of soil properties under canopy of both shade trees showed that SOC, total N, available P, exchangeable K, CEC and soil pH were significantly (P<0.05) higher than outside the tree canopy. The results of BD outside the tree canopy was significantly (P<0.05) higher than undercanopy of both coffee shade trees. However, soil textures under canopy of both coffee shade trees and outside the tree canopy was not significantly different. Based on the finding of this study, statusof soil fertility under canopy of Ficus sur was significantly (P<0.05) higher than Cordia africana. Thus, the soil laboratory analyzed results of soil physico-chemical properties are in agreement with farmers’ rank of coffee shade tree preferences. Therefore, the findings suggest that if knowledge of local farmers is recorded and effectively used with scientific findings, it can provide valuable information. Moreover, for soil fertility enhancement and increments of coffee production incorporation of the two shade trees incoffee farms of similar agro-ecological conditions is paramount.