DOI: 10.11648/j.ijees.20261104.12 ISSN: 2578-9546

Soil Resource Characterization, WRB Classification and Mapping of Guto Gida District, Western Oromia, Ethiopia

Amanuel Warke, Chalsissa Sori, Temesgen Deressa, Bikiltu Sori, Mintesinot Eshetu, Amanuel Kejela
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Accurate and spatially explicit information on soil properties is essential for sustainable land-use planning and the development of site-specific soil management strategies. This study aimed to characterize, classify, and map the soil resources of the Guto Gida district in Western Oromia, Ethiopia. A semi-detailed soil survey was conducted, delineating 28 Soil Mapping Units (SMUs). Twenty representative pedons were described in the field for morphological attributes and analyzed in the laboratory for key physicochemical properties. The soils were predominantly deep to very deep (>150 cm), except for Leptosols occurring on steep dissected landscapes. Morphologically, most pedons exhibited reddish to reddish-brown hues (2.5YR–5YR), reflecting well-drained conditions and the presence of iron oxides. Soil texture was largely dominated by clay, and low silt: clay ratios (<0.35) indicated advanced weathering and clay translocation. Soil reaction (pH-H₂O) ranged from strongly acidic (4.66 in SMU 26) to slightly acidic (6.36 in SMU 23), with substantial portions of the landscape affected by acidity, as evidenced by high exchangeable acidity values reaching up to 10.49 cmolc kg⁻¹in SMU 27. Organic carbon and total nitrogen contents were generally low to moderate, while available phosphorus was critically low (<10 ppm) in most pedons due to the strong P-fixing capacity of the clay-rich, acidic soils. Based on the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB, 2022), the soils were classified into eight Reference Soil Groups: Nitisols (41.59%), Alisols (14.73%), Cambisols (15.37%), Lixisols (13.95%), Leptosols (4.54%), Luvisols (3.53%), Acrisols (2.89%), and Regosols (0.88%). Overall, soil acidity and nutrient depletion constitute the major limitations to agricultural productivity in the district. Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM), encompassing liming, organic matter enhancement, and site-specific fertilization, is recommended for the strongly acidic Alisols and Acrisols, whereas targeted soil and water conservation strategies are critical for the sloping landscapes dominated by Nitisols and Lixisols.

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