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Impact of grazing around a watering point on soil status of a semi‐arid rangeland in Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Gebremeskel Kidane,
Pieterse P. J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2006.00682.x
Subject(s) - grazing , rangeland , silt , cation exchange capacity , arid , agronomy , phosphorus , environmental science , zoology , chemistry , environmental chemistry , soil science , ecology , soil water , biology , organic chemistry , paleontology
The influence of long‐term livestock grazing on the soil status of a semi‐arid rangeland was studied along a grazing gradient from a watering point in southern Afar Region of Ethiopia for two seasons. The soil samples were analysed for organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), exchangeable cations (Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , K + and Na + ), acidity (pH), cation exchange capacity, and particle size distribution (clay, silt and sand). No significant differences ( P > 0.05) were observed for particle size distribution, OC, N, P and K contents along the grazing gradient further than 1500 m from the watering point. Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ were found to be dominant cations particularly in the severely degraded area contributing about 74% to the exchangeable cations. The study has also recognized high concentrations of Na + and more than 11% exchangeable sodium percentage. Total exchangeable bases significantly declined ( P < 0.05) along the grazing gradient and were indicative of the exchange complex of the soil being saturated with Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ions. Thus this study concluded that there are soil differences in the grazing gradient caused by impact of grazing, particularly in the severely degraded area.