Effects of Land Use Types on Soil Physio-Chemical Properties in Northern Rwanda
Abstract:
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of land use types on soil physio-chemical properties in North ern Rwanda. Three different land use types were assessed: non-cultivated land (forestland), fallowed land and cultivated land of irish potatoes in a vegetative stage with no fertilizers applied in the season where the research was done. Composite soil samples were collected and analysed in the University of Rwanda’s soil laboratory. which randomized systematic grid sampling design Eleven soil physio-chemical properties were measured: pH, soil organic matter (SOM), organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), carbon-nitrogen (C/N) ratio, available phosphorus (AP), calcium (Ca2+ ), magnesium (Mg2+), soil bulk density (BD), soil texture, and porosity. The findings demonstrated that non-cultivated land (forest) has high values in SOM (5.59%), Ca2+ (390ppm), Mg2+ (110ppm), TN (0.56%), porosity (64.59%), and pH (6.86) compared to the cultivated land with SOM of 3.12%, TN of 0.29%), calcium (313.33 ppm), Mg2+ (76.67 ppm) and pH (6.59). A trend of decrease was observed in SOM, Ca2+, Mg2+, TN, porosity, and pH when land use changed from non-culti vated (forest) to cultivated land while the soil BD shown an opposite trend for cultivated land which had a BD of 1.05g cm-3 to 0.94g cm-3. However, for both land use shifts, the amount of AP did not vary considerably. Therefore, the loss of forestland and other non-cultivated land results in soil fertility depletion and a greater deterioration of soil properties. This study had shown that a compromise between forested land and arable land can be found and be applicable to the lands and help in replenishing the nutrients required in agriculture, the recommendation of this compromise could be agroforestry and land fallowing.
