Assessment and Mapping of Soil Fertility Status Under Different Land Use Systems of Yabello District, Borana Zone, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

Soil fertility status under different land use systems has been verified to be useful for soil fertility management practices and the efficient utilization of limited land resources. The study was conducted from 2021 to 2023 in the Yabello District to assess soil fertility status under different land use systems and mapping of selected soil fertility parameters. Consequently, based on soil factors such as parent materials, topography, climate, and geomorphology, Yabello District was divided into 87 sampling units. A total of eighty-seven (87) sample mapping units were identified, and composite soil samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical properties at the Yabello and Batu Soil Research Centers. For soil parameter analysis, laboratory standards were followed. Based on laboratory results, the data was subjected to interpolation using ArcGIS 10.8 software (ordinary kriging), was used to predict values for unsampled locations and to map the whole district. Accordingly, soil texture was categorized as sandy clay loam in forest, cultivate and grazing lands, and sandy clay in shrub lands. Available phosphorus ranged from medium to high in forest land, medium in shrub and grassland, and low in cultivated land. Soil pH was categorized as slightly acidic to neutral in forest land, neutral in grassland, and slightly alkaline in cultivated and shrub lands. Organic carbon ranged from low to high in forest land, medium in grassland, and low to medium in cultivated areas. Therefore, further research should focus on correlating and calibrating soil test with crop responses to develop site-specific fertilizer recommendations and optimal application rates.