2024/05/01 by Abdi, Dahir Yosuf
#Constraints #Fertilizer #Practices #Shebeley #Soil fertility
paper · doi:10.20372/afnr.v2i1.924
Soil fertility management is continuously modified and adapted as conditions change in time. The main objective of this study was to evaluate soil fertility management practices and their limitations at Shabeley district. The district was purposively selected, whereas Kebeles was selected randomly. Ninety seven households from all kebeles of the district was surveyed using semi-structured questionnaire. Furthermore, key informants’ interview and observation in the field were carried out during this study. In addition to thirty composite soil samples of 0-30cm depth from different cultivated lands in study sites were collected, to verify farmers’ perception of soil fertility with the actual soil nutrient status. The study revealed that top soil removal, and insufficient fertilizer supply are the main soil fertility loss. Whereas, crop residual, manure and crop rotation was some of the soil fertility management improvement practices in the area. According to the result of the current study, only about 26.8% % of the respondents use chemical fertilize. The main reasons for not using chemical fertilizer in the farmers was the physical unavailability of the fertilizer. The soil laboratory tests was indicated that pH of the soil samples ranged from neutral (6.7-7.3) to strongly alkaline (>8). Whereas, organic carbon (OC), Total Nitrogen (TN) and Available phosphorus (AP) of the sampled soil was indicated low to medium content in the soil. Suggesting that external application of nutrient and organic matter sources through an integrated soil fertility management approach was needed for optimal crop growth and sustained yield improvement in shabeley woreda.