Review on the Effects of Land Use on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties in Ethiopia

Land use is one of the main chauffeurs of many processes of environmental change, as it influences basic resources within the landscape, including the soil resources. Changes in land practice and soil management practice can have a marked effect on soil physical and chemical properties. Depend on the land use soil chemical and physical properties has different effects either positive and negative effects. The purpose of this review paper is to review the effects of land use on the soil physical and chemical properties in Ethiopia. Conversion of land use types from one to another has adverse effects on soil properties, especially overgrazing and cultivation of deforested land. Therefore, the proper soil and water conservation practice are important in the different area to enhance soil fertility and crop productivity. The results of different studies indicate that soil on bulk density (BD), particle density (PD) and total porosity (TP) of the cultivated land is highest than that of forest land. But the grassland had lower bulk density than the cultivated land which could be due to restricted grazing at the grassland to harvest fodder and free grazing on crop lands after harvest and continuous ploughing at the same depth of cultivated lands. Different finding suggested that the highest soil pH values of 5.61 and 5.52 in surface soil were found under the grassland; whereas, the lowest pH and also the organic matter of cultivated soil is low from that of forest land and grass land.From the results of the review it was possible to conclude that conversion of forest lands to cultivated and grasslands had detrimental effects on the soil physio-chemical properties under subsistence farming systems of the different area. It is, therefore, recommended that appropriate and integrated land management options for different land use systems are required to sustain agricultural productivity while protecting the environment. Generally, Land use has great effects on soil physical and chemical properties by different it may affect positively or negatively. Keywords: Land use type, soil physical and chemical properties DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/89-02 Publication date: November 30th 202