Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stock response to traditional enclosure management in eastern Ethiopia

Mohammed, Mussa and Abule, Ebro and Lissahanwork, Nigatu (2017) Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stock response to traditional enclosure management in eastern Ethiopia. Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management, 8 (2). pp. 37-43. ISSN 2141-2391

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Abstract

Traditional area enclosures are widely used by pastoralists in East Africa. However, the response of basic soil properties to the establishment of traditional enclosure management remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of area enclosure on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stock in the Bordade rangelands, eastern Ethiopia. The soil samples were collected from twelve area enclosures and openly grazed areas at a depth of 0 to 15 and 15 to 30 cm. The samples were analyzed for soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and bulk density. Establishment of area enclosure had significantly more 27.5% soil organic carbon and 27.5% total nitrogen stock compared with the area outside area enclosure. Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stock were significantly higher in the top 0 to 15 cm soil layer compared with 15 to 30 cm subsoil. Overall, the study showed that establishment of rangeland enclosures and the short-term resting period followed by dry season grazing at light stocking rate has the potential to improve soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stock, which is an option for realizing positive vegetation changes that support the local pastoral economy in the semiarid rangelands of eastern Ethiopia.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: AP Academic Press > Agricultural and Food Science
Depositing User: Unnamed user with email support@apacademicpress.com
Date Deposited: 08 May 2023 05:21
Last Modified: 20 Sep 2024 03:53
URI: http://info.openarchivespress.com/id/eprint/1217

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