SOIL FERTILITY AND MICRONUTRIENT STATUS IN TISSUES OF MAIZE IN DARO LABU DISTRICT, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Depletion of soil fertility due to soil erosion and nutrient mining farming system leads to decline soil productivity and crop yields. The study was initiated to assess soil fertility status and to determine micronutrient concentration in the tissues of maize grown at Daro Labu district, Eastern Ethiopia. A field survey was conducted to collect general information. A total of 12 composite soil samples from the depth of 0-20 cm and 12 maize tissue samples were collected from the district. Data were analyzed by using SPSS version 20. The soil texture was sandy clay loam. Soil bulk density was varied from 1.3 to 1.4 g cm-3. The total porosity of soil was very high with a value ranged from 41.5 to 45.3%. The soil pH (6.3 - 6.8) were varied from slightly acidic to a neutral level. The soil was very low in OC content with values ranged from (0.5 to 0.9%). The TN content of the soil was low which was varied from 0.04 to 0.22%. The soils available P content ranging from 10.08 to 16.2 mgkg-1. The CEC of soil was ranged from medium to high. The concentrations of exchangeable Ca and Mg were found to be sufficient in soil of the study area. Exchangeable K was high to very high. The soil had an adequate level of DTPA extractable Fe and Mn whereas deficiency of Cu and B in the soil. The soil showed a deficiency of Zn in 25% of the soil sample. Maize tissue had sufficient concentration of Fe and Mn. However, 41.67%, 41.67% and 75% of maize tissues were deficient in Cu, Zn, and B respectively. The extractable Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and B concentrations in a plant tissue were positively correlated with their respective soil micronutrients. The study result indicates that OM, total N, Cu, Zn and B are the limiting factors for crop production. The use of integrated soil fertility management practices with increasing organic matter addition should be implemented. Thus, fertilizers containing N, Cu, Zn, and B need to be applied by conducting further experiments under green house and field conditions by considering soil type and crop variety could be recommended.