CHARACTERIZATION OF SALT-AFFECTED SOILS AT METEHARA SUGAR ESTATE, CENTRAL RIFT VALLEY OF ETHIOPIA

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Understanding the behavior of salt-affected soils is crucial for recommending appropriate management practices that improve soil health and crop productivity.<strong> Objective: </strong>To characterize salt-affected soils of Metehara Sugar Estate, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia.<strong> Methodology: </strong>Two representative pedons were opened. After describing the soil morphological attributes, soil samples were collected from every identified horizon for soil analysis in the laboratory.<strong> Results: </strong>There were variations in soil properties among the studied pedons. Soil textural class in both pedons ranges from sandy loam to silty clay loam. In MZ-50-1 pedon, bulk density values are between 1.2 and 1.3 g cm<sup>-3</sup>, while in MZ-50-2 pedon, they range from 1.2 to 1.4 g cm<sup>-3</sup>. At 20 cm depth, saturated hydraulic conductivity varies from a slow rate (3.74 μm s<sup>-1</sup>) in pedon MZ-50-2 to moderate rate (4.86 μm s<sup>-1</sup>) in pedon MZ-50-1.<strong> </strong>In the MZ-50-1 pedon soils, the pHe ranged from 8.2 to 9.1, the ECe varied between 9.5 and 13.6 dS m<sup>-1</sup>, and the ESP spanned from 28.4 to 37.2%. In contrast, MZ-50-2 pedon exhibited a pHe ranged from 7.8 to 8.5, ECe from 10.4 to 14.0 dS m<sup>-1</sup>, and ESP of 30.2-40.4%. The soil organic carbon content, total nitrogen, available P, CEC and CEC-clay values in the MZ-50-1 pedon and the MZ-50-2 pedon ranged from 0.5 to 1.6% and 0.6 to 2.0%; 0.04 to 0.12% and 0.05 to 0.15%; 3.9 to 6.75 mg kg<sup>-1</sup> and 4.9 to 7.6 mg kg<sup>-1</sup>; 12.9 to 21.9 Cmolc kg<sup>-1</sup> and 11.2 to 24.4 Cmolc kg<sup>-1</sup>; and 71.4 to 117.8 Cmolc kg<sup>-1</sup> and 58.3 to 110.7 Cmolc kg<sup>-1</sup>, respectively.<strong> Implications: </strong>The differences may suggest that site-specific soil fertility and reclamation are desired, and the results may provide basic information to design soil management options to improve land productivity.<strong> Conclusions: </strong>The salinity and sodicity levels, and the amounts of TN, available P, and micronutrients in the studied soils, were within a range that can significantly affect plant growth. Therefore, the results confirmed that the Metehara sugar estate's soils fall into a highly saline-sodic category, requiring appropriate management strategies for sustainable crop production. </p><p> </p>