In the Wondo Genet,
Ethiopia, the common agricultural land uses include maize, shade coffee, khat
and sugarcane. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of
perennial land uses on soil organic carbon (SOC),
soil N and base cations. Four sites
having maize and one or two of perennial land uses
and with similar site characteristics were identified for this study. Soils (0 - 30 cm) were sampled at corners of a plot (20 × 20 m2) placed in
each land use at each site. Results indicated that the SOC storage of the shade coffee plantations were 86% and 125%
higher compared with adjacent maize land uses with the absolute differences
being 50.7 and 54.4 Mg·ha-1, respectively. The soil N stock was 109% and 126% higher for the
shade coffee than the maize land use while the absolute differences were 5.7
and 4.7 Mg·ha-1 for the same sites. Among perennials, the higher SOC storage in the shade coffee is
attributable to the increased litter input and reduced soil disturbance in the
system. While the higher soil N in
the shade coffee was attributed to reduction of leaching, N uplift, and the increased litter quality and input. The high
relative increase in shade coffee in SOC and soil N at Finance site was
ascribed to the finer soil texture and low SOC and soil N at the compared adjacent
maize farm. Although not significant, the relative increase in SOC (34%) and soil N (43%) in the sugarcane at the Finance as well as the relative
increase in SOC (7%) and soil N (9%) in khat at Gotu as compared to
Chaffee site was attributed to mainly the management differences. The shade
coffee has the greatest potential for SOC storage and for increasing N stock,
while khat and sugarcane have the least potential.
Lemenih, M., Karltun, E. and Olsson, M. (2005) Soil Organic Matter Dynamics after Deforestation along a Farm Field Chronosequence in Southern Highlands of Ethiopia. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 109, 9-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2005.02.015
Six, J., Guggenberger, G., Paustian, K., Haumaier, L., Elliott, E.T. and Zech, W. (2002) Sources and Composition of Soil Organic Matter Fractions between and within Soil Aggregates. European Journal of Soil Science, 52, 607-618. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2389.2001.00406.x
Paustian, K., Andren, O., Janzen, H.H., Lal, R., Smith, P., Tian, G., Tiessen, H., Van Noorwijk, M. and Woomer, P.L. (1997) Agricultural Soils as a Sink to Mitigate CO2 Emissions. Soil Use and Management, 13, 230-244. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.1997.tb00594.x
Smith, P., Martino, D., Cai, Z., Gwary, D., Janzen, H., Kumar, P., McCarl, B., Ogle, S., O’Mara, F., Rice, C., Scholes, B., Sirotenko, O., Howden, M., McAllister, T., Pan, G., Romanenkov, V., Schneider, U., Towprayoon, S., Wattenbach, M. and Smith, J. (2008) Greenhouse Gas Mitigation in Agriculture. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 363, 789-813. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2007.2184
Lemenih, M., Olsson, M. and Karltun, E. (2004) Comparison of Soil Attributes under Cupressus lusitanica and Eucalyptus saligna Established on Abandoned Farmlands with Continuously Cropped Farmlands and Natural Forest in Ethiopia. Forest Ecology and Management, 195, 57-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2004.02.055
Lemma, B., Bergern, D., Nilsson, I. and Olsson, M. (2006) Soil Carbon Sequestration under Different Exotic Tree Species in the Southwestern Highlands of Ethiopia. Geoderma, 136, 886-898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2006.06.008
Chivenge, P.P., Murwira, H.K., Giller, K.E., Mapfumo, P. and Six, J. (2007) Long-Term Impact of Reduced Tillage and Residue Management on Soil Carbon Stabilization: Implications for Conservation Agriculture on Contrasting Soils. Soil & Tillage Research, 94, 328-337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2006.08.006
Conant, R.T., Paustian, K. and Elliot, E.T. (2001) Grassland Management and Conversion into Grassland: Effect on Soil Carbon. Ecological Applications, 11, 343-355. https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(2001)011[0343:GMACIG]2.0.CO;2
Dessie, G. and Kinlund, P. (2008) Khat Expansion and Forest Decline in Wondo Genet, Ethiopia. Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography, 90, 187-203. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0467.2008.00286.x
Tefera, M., Chernet, T. and Haro, W. (1999) Explanation of the Geological Map of Ethiopia. Ethiopian Institute of Geological Surveys, EIGS Technical Publications team, Addis Ababa.
Soto-Pinto, L., Villalvazo-López, V., Jiménez-Ferrer, G., Ramírez-Marcial, N., Montoya, G. and Sinclair, F. (2007) The Role of Local Knowledge in Determining Shade Composition of Multistrata Coffee Systems in Chiapas, Mexico. Biodiversity and Conservation, 16, 419-436. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-005-5436-3
Laganière, J., Angers, D.A. and Parè, D. (2010) Carbon Accumulation in Agricultural Soils after Afforestation: A Meta-Analysis. Global Change Biology, 16, 439-453. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2009.01930.x
Walkley, A. and Black, I.A. (1934) An Examination of the Degtjareff Method for Determining Organic Carbon in Soils: Effect of Variations in Digestion Conditions and of Inorganic Soil Constituents. Soil Science, 63, 251-263. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-194704000-00001
Lemma, B., Bergern, D., Nilsson, I. and Olsson, M. (2007) Factors Controlling Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration under Exotic Tree Plantations: A Case Study Using the CO2Fix model in Southwestern Ethiopia. Forest Ecology and Management, 252, 124-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2007.06.029
Lemma, B. and Olsson, M. (2006) Soil δ15N and Nutrients under Exotic Tree Plantations in Southwestern Ethiopian Highlands. Forest Ecology and Management, 237, 127-134 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.09.038
Duguma, L.A., Hager, H., Sieghardt, M. (2010) Effects of Land Use Types on Soil Chemical Properties in Smallholder Farmers of Central Highland Ethiopia. Ekologia, 29, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.4149/ekol_2010_01_1
Dariah, A., Agus, F. and Maswar (2008) Soil Quality of the Land under Coffee-Based Farming System (Case Study at Sumberjaya, West Lampung). Indonesian Journal of Agriculture, 1, 51-57.
Negash, M. and Starr, M. (2013) Litterfall Production and Associated Carbon and Nitrogen Fluxes of Seven Woody Species Grown in Indigenous Agroforestry Systems in South-Eastern Escarpment of Ethiopia. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 97, 29-41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-013-9590-9
Descheemaeker, K., Muys, B., Nyssen, J., Poesen, J., Raes, D., Haile, M. and Deckers, J. (2006) Litter Production and Organic Matter Accumulation in Ex-Closures of the Tigray Highlands, Ethiopia. Forest Ecology and Management, 233, 21-35.
Juo, A.S.R., Franzluebbers, K., Dabiri, A. and Ikhile, B. (1996) Soil Properties and Crop Performance on a Kaolinitic Alfisol after 15 Years of Fallow and Continuous Cultivation. Plant Soil, 180, 209-217. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015304
Kimemia, J.K., Chweya, J.A. and Nyabundi, J.O. (2001) Green Manure Application to Young Coffee Plants after Establishment II: Effects on Soil Properties. Kenya Coffee, 66, 3052-3057.
Raffa, D.W., Bogdanski, A. and Tittonell, P. (2015) How Does Crop Residue Removal Affect Soil Organic Carbon and Yield? A Hierarchical Analysis of Management and Environmental Factors. Biomass & Bioenergy, 81, 345-355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.07.022
Siebert, S.I. (2002) From Shade to Sun Grown Perennials in Sulawest, Indonesia Implications for Biodiversity Conservation and Soil Fertility. Biodiversity and Conservation, 11, 1889-1902. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020804611740
Hoyos, N. and Comerford, N.B. (2005) Land Use and Landscape Effects on Aggregate Stability and Total Carbon of Andisols from the Colombian Andes. Geoderma, 129, 268-278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2005.01.002
Hergoualc’h, K., Skiba, U., Harmand, J.M. and Henault, C. (2008) Fluxes of Greenhouse Gases from Andosols under Coffee in Monoculture or Shaded by Inga densiflora in Costa Rica. Biogeochemistry, 89, 329-345. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-008-9222-7
West, T.O. and Post, W.M. (2002) Soil Carbon Sequestration by Tillage and Crop Rotation: A Global Data Analysis. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 66, 1930-1946. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2002.1930
Ngwira, A., Sleutel, S. and De Neve, S. (2012) Soil Carbon Dynamics as Influenced by Tillage and Crop Residue Management in Loamy Sand and Sandy Loam Soils under Smallholder Farmers’ Condition in Malawi. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 92, 315-328. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-012-9492-2
Thorburn, P.J., Meier, E.A., Collins, K. and Robertson, F.A. (2012) Changes in Soil Carbon Sequestration, Fractionation and Soil Fertility in Response to Sugarcane Residue Retention Are Site-Specific. Soil and Tillage Research, 120, 99-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2011.11.009
Mando, A., Ouattara, B., Sédogo, M., Stroosnijder, L., Ouattara, K., Brussaard, L. and Vanlauwe, B. (2005) Long-Term Effect of Tillage and Manure Application on Soil Organic Fractions and Crop Performance under Sudano-Sahelian Conditions. Soil and Tillage Research, 80, 95-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2004.03.002
Negassa, W., Gebrekidan, H. and Friesen, D.K. (2005) Integrated Use of Farmyard Manure and NP fertilizers for Maize on Farmers’ Fields. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 106, 131-141.
Kanten, R.V., Schroth, G., Beer, J. and Jiménez, F. (2005) Fine Root Dynamics of Coffee in Association with Two Shade Trees in Costa Rica. Agroforestry Systems, 63, 247-261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-005-4163-9
Babbar, L.I. and Zak, D.R. (1994) Nitrogen Cycling in Coffee Agroecosystems: Net N Mineralization and Nitrification in the Presence and Absence of Shade Trees. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 48, 107-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-8809(94)90081-7
Buresh, R.J. and Tian, G. (1998) Soil Improvement by Trees in Sub Saharaan Africa. Agroforestry Systems, 38, 51-76. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005948326499
Sakala, W.D., Cadischa, G. and Giller, K.E. (2000) Interactions between Residues of Maize and Pigeonpea and Mineral N Fertilizers during Decomposition and N Mineralization. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 32, 679-688. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-0717(99)00204-7
John, B., Yamashita, T., Ludwig, B. and Flessa, H. (2005) Storage of Organic Carbon in Aggregate and Density Fractions of Silty Soils under Different Types of Land Use. Geoderma, 128, 63-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2004.12.013
Kong, A.Y.Y. and Six, J. (2010) Tracing Root vs. Residues Carbon into Soils from Conventional and Alternative Cropping Systems. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 74, 1201-1210. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2009.0346
Hartemink, A.E. (1998) Soil Chemical and Physical Properties as Indicators of Sustainable Land Management under Sugarcane in Papua New Guinea. Geoderma, 85, 283-306. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7061(98)00048-2
