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Effects of Land Use and Topographic Position on Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks in Different Agro-Ecosystems of the Upper Blue Nile Basin

Author

Listed:
  • Getu Abebe

    (The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
    Amhara Agricultural Research Institute, Forestry Research Department, P.O. Box 527 Bahir Dar, Ethiopia)

  • Atsushi Tsunekawa

    (Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan)

  • Nigussie Haregeweyn

    (International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan)

  • Taniguchi Takeshi

    (Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan)

  • Menale Wondie

    (Amhara Agricultural Research Institute, Forestry Research Department, P.O. Box 527 Bahir Dar, Ethiopia)

  • Enyew Adgo

    (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 1289 Bahir Dar, Ethiopia)

  • Tsugiyuki Masunaga

    (Faculty of Life and Environmental Science Shimane University, Shimane Matsue 690-0823, Japan)

  • Mitsuru Tsubo

    (Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan)

  • Kindiye Ebabu

    (The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
    College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 1289 Bahir Dar, Ethiopia)

  • Mulatu Liyew Berihun

    (The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
    Faculty of Civil and Water Resource Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 26 Bahir Dar, Ethiopia)

  • Asaminew Tassew

    (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 1289 Bahir Dar, Ethiopia)

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) are key ecological indicators of soil quality in a given landscape. Their status, especially in drought-prone landscapes, is associated mainly with the land-use type and topographic position. This study aimed to clarify the effect of land use and topographic position on SOC and TN stocks to further clarify the ecological processes occurring in the landscape. To analyze the status of SOC and TN, we collected 352 composite soil samples from three depths in the uppermost soil (0–50 cm) in four major land-use types (bushland, cropland, grazing land, and plantation) and three topographic positions (upper, middle, and lower) at three sites: Dibatie (lowland), Aba Gerima (midland), and Guder (highland). Both SOC and TN stocks varied significantly across the land uses, topographic positions, and agro-ecosystems. SOC and TN stocks were significantly higher in bushland (166.22 Mg ha −1 ) and grazing lands (13.11 Mg ha −1 ) at Guder. The lowest SOC and TN stocks were observed in cropland (25.97 and 2.14 Mg ha −1 ) at Aba Gerima, which was mainly attributed to frequent and unmanaged plowing and extensive biomass removal. Compared to other land uses, plantations exhibited lower SOC and TN stocks due to poor undergrowth and overexploitation for charcoal and firewood production. Each of the three sites showed distinct characteristics in both stocks, as indicated by variations in the C/N ratios (11–13 at Guder, 10–21 at Aba Gerima, and 15–18 at Dibatie). Overall, land use was shown to be an important factor influencing the SOC and TN stocks, both within and across agro-ecosystems, whereas the effect of topographic position was more pronounced across agro-ecosystems than within them. Specifically, Aba Gerima had lower SOC and TN stocks due to prolonged cultivation and unsustainable human activities, thus revealing the need for immediate land management interventions, particularly targeting croplands. In a heterogeneous environment such as the Upper Blue Nile basin, proper understanding of the interactions between land use and topographic position and their effect on SOC and TN stock is needed to design proper soil management practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Getu Abebe & Atsushi Tsunekawa & Nigussie Haregeweyn & Taniguchi Takeshi & Menale Wondie & Enyew Adgo & Tsugiyuki Masunaga & Mitsuru Tsubo & Kindiye Ebabu & Mulatu Liyew Berihun & Asaminew Tassew, 2020. "Effects of Land Use and Topographic Position on Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks in Different Agro-Ecosystems of the Upper Blue Nile Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-18, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:6:p:2425-:d:334607
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Amrakh I. Mamedov & Atsushi Tsunekawa & Nigussie Haregeweyn & Mitsuru Tsubo & Haruyuki Fujimaki & Takayuki Kawai & Birhanu Kebede & Temesgen Mulualem & Getu Abebe & Anteneh Wubet & Guy J. Levy, 2021. "Soil Structure Stability under Different Land Uses in Association with Polyacrylamide Effects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Idowu Ezekiel Olorunfemi & Ayorinde Akinlabi Olufayo & Johnson Toyin Fasinmirin & Akinola Adesuji Komolafe, 2022. "Dynamics of land use land cover and its impact on carbon stocks in Sub-Saharan Africa: an overview," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 40-76, January.
    3. Snežana Jakšić & Jordana Ninkov & Stanko Milić & Jovica Vasin & Milorad Živanov & Darko Jakšić & Vedrana Komlen, 2021. "Influence of Slope Gradient and Aspect on Soil Organic Carbon Content in the Region of Niš, Serbia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-17, July.
    4. Mihretie, Fekremariam Asargew & Tsunekawa, Atsushi & Haregeweyn, Nigussie & Adgo, Enyew & Tsubo, Mitsuru & Masunaga, Tsugiyuki & Meshesha, Derege Tsegaye & Ebabu, Kindiye & Nigussie, Zerihun & Sato, S, 2022. "Exploring teff yield variability related with farm management and soil property in contrasting agro-ecologies in Ethiopia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    5. Nigussie, Zerihun & Tsunekawa, Atsushi & Haregeweyn, Nigussie & Tsubo, Mitsuru & Adgo, Enyew & Ayalew, Zemen & Abele, Steffen, 2021. "The impacts of Acacia decurrens plantations on livelihoods in rural Ethiopia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    6. Demissie, Simeneh & Meshesha, Derege Tsegaye & Adgo, Enyew & Haregeweyn, Nigussie & Tsunekawa, Atsushi & Ayana, Muluken & Mulualem, Temesgen & Wubet, Anteneh, 2022. "Effects of soil bund spacing on runoff, soil loss, and soil water content in the Lake Tana Basin of Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).

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