Effect of Land Use Types and Slope on Selected Soil Physicochemical Properties in Bubisa Watershed, Adea Berga District, Central Ethiopia

Soil physicochemical properties can be affected by different land use type in Ethiopia. The nutrient content of soil in the three sites was varied based on; soil management systems, organic inputs and other factors. Cognizant of this fact, research was conducted in Bubisa Watershed to evaluate the effect of different land use types and slope on selected physicochemical properties of soil. Accordingly, lands such as; crop, grazing and forest land were nominated and twenty seven (27) core and composite soil samples were collected from 0-20 cm layers. Soil analysis was done and the highest (1.29 g cm<sup>-3</sup>) bulk density was recorded on the upper slope of crop land and lower (0.99 g cm<sup>-3</sup>) on the lower slope of forest land. Total porosity and Available water holding capacity were high (60.02%; 172 mm/m) in forest land and lower (49.56%); 152 mm/m) in crop land respectively. Soil pH was high in forest land and low in crop land soils. The result of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen were also high (4.51%; 0.22%) in forest land and low (1.4; 0.15) crop land soils, respectively. Moreover, CEC and basic cations varied across the three sites and high in forest land and low in crop land in the study watershed. Based on the results, it was concluded that forest has high concentration of soil nutrients except bulk density than crop land. As recommendation, studies should be expanded to provide more conclusive recommendation to have qualified; productive soils and estimate the effect of land use types and slope on soil properties for sustainable agricultural productivity.