Soil Fertility and Irrigation Water Characterization of Ziway prison Farm at East Shewa Zone of Oromiya, Ethiopia
Musefa Redi1*, Israel Bekele2
Citation : Musefa Redi, Israel Bekele, Soil Fertility and Irrigation Water Characterization of Ziway prison Farm at East Shewa Zone of Oromiya, Ethiopia International Journal of Research Studies in Agricultural Sciences 2019, 5(4) : 44-53.
Soil fertility and irrigation water quality assessment is useful for the proper fertility management and wise utilization of irrigation water. This study was aimed to characterize the soil fertility status and irrigation water quality for the Ziway Prison farm found in East Shewa Zone of Oromiya, Ethiopia. A total of 11 composite surface soil samples from 0-20 cm depth and irrigation water samples were collected and analyzed. The results revealed that soils of the farm were loam surface soil texture with an optimum pore space and BD. The results of pH (8.19 to 8.75), EC (0.28 to 0.99 dS m-1 ) and ESP (2.3 to 5.3 %) revealed that the farm soil was non-saline non-sodic strongly alkaline condition. Total N content of the farm soils (0.109 to 0.202 %) were at moderate to high status, whereas OM contents (1.570 to 2.490 %) were at low status. The contents of available P (4.6 to 16.9 mg kg-1 ) and CEC (15.0 to 29.8 meq 100g-1 ) were in the range of medium to high. Exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and, extractable Fe and Mn values were at high status. Extractable Cu and Zn contents were at marginal and low status, respectively. In general, soils of the farm are good in their physico-chemical properties for plant growth but needs OM amendment and application of Zn fertilizer. For an optimum crop production, use of P and N fertilizers is also recommended for the farm Blocks that had medium total N status and available P status less than the critical level (< 8 mg kg-1 ). Moreover, the results of irrigation water pH (7.67) was at normal status and EC was below 0.75 dSm-1 , indicating that irrigation water used for the farm qualified as �safe� for irrigation purpose. However, to prevent the occurrence of sodicity in the long run and sustain productivity of the soil, the Na imbalance in irrigation water should be periodically monitored and appropriate irrigation method need to be used by the farm.