Abstract

The study was conducted in the Kimbibit District, which is located at the North Shoa Zone of Oromia National Regional State, with the objective of investigating the effects of traditional practice of soil burning (guie) on physical properties of soils of the study area. Both disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected from farmers’ burned fields and normal fields in three peasant associations. The burned soils samples were collected from the bottom, middle and top of the heap. Soil parameters were analyzed using standard procedures and the results were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Mean separation was done using the least significant difference (LSD). Except silt content, total porosity, percentage base saturation, all the other parameters considered in this study were significantly affected by soil burning. The burning reduced clay content (71.9, 78.4 and 75.8%), total porosity (20.3, 21.7 and 0.1%), water retained at FC (26.0, 58.4 and 33.8%) and PWP (19.7, 55.5 and 25.0%) and available water holding capacity (42.9, 67.1 and 57.1%), of the bottom, middle and top of the heap, respectively. Burning increased sand content (31.0, 38.0 and 34.5%), bulk density (19.7, 30.3 and 9.2%), particle density (7.7, 16.3 and 9.5%), water repellency (84.0, 149.4 and 95.1), on the bottom, middle and top of the heap, respectively. The soil attributes due to soil burning showed an overall change towards the direction of the loss of its physical fertility as compared to unburned soils. Therefore, strategies to feed the expanding population in the study areas will have to seek a sustainable solution that better address integrated soil management.

Key words: Guie, heap, Kimbibit district, soil burning.