ECOLOGICAL IMPACT ANALYSIS OF TEA (Thea sinensis L.) PLANTATION, IN ALE DISTRICT, ILU ABBA BOR ZONE, OROMIA REGION, SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA

The study was conducted in Ale District Ilu Abba Bore Zone with the aim of ecological impact analysis of tea plantations. Sampling techniques were used purposely for site selection considering the oldest age of tea plantation in Ethiopia and four kebeles were renownedas tea growers with their land. Tools employed in data collection were questioners, laboratory analysis, satellite images, and climate conditions from the National Meteorological Agency of Ethiopia and analysed by excel, Satellite images of Landsat8 (OLI-TIRS) 7 (ETM+), 5(TM) and SPSS version (24) model of two-way of (ANOVA). A total of 73 informants and 40 soil samples were selected by simple random sampling technique to collect from 30cm depth. Tea plantations have advantages in generating employment and immediate income source besides their negative effects to decrease plant species, honey products eviction of local inhabitants. Its effect on LULCC is conversion from, forest, shrubland wetland, 65.46, 67.26, 185.13, 192.66 and 218.50-hectare tea plantations respectively. Regarding climate change from (1990-2021) maximum and minimum temperatures rose by 0.25 °C and 0.3°C respectively. The average value of soil parameters at different age levels found under tea plantations indicates for pH values extremely acidic, electric conductivity (non saline) Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium Magnesium under low fertility, however, total nitrogen and cation exchange capacity has medium concentration. The Soil under the control group pH value strongly acidic, Electric conductivity was slightly saline, cation exchange capacity, organic carbon, Total nitrogen, potassium, exchangeability of calcium and Magnesium were found under medium fertility class, and except electric conductivity all parameters significant difference for experimental and control group. Generally, Tea plantations greater negative effect on socioeconomic, land use system, climate conditions, and depletion of soil nutrients so, all stockholders and authority over environmental issues, and must take conservative measures.