Effects of Guie on Soil Organic Carbon a
Journal of Agricultural Science; Vol. 5, No. 7; 2013
ISSN 1916-9752 E-ISSN 1916-9760
Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education
Effects of ‘‘Guie’’ on Soil Organic Carbon and Other Soil Properties: A
Traditional Soil Fertility Management Practice in the Central Highlands
of Ethiopia
Tadele Amare1,2, Birru Yitaferu1 & Hans Hurni2
1
Amhara Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI), Bahr Dar, Ethiopia
2
Centre for Development and Environment, Institute of Geography, Department of Integrative Geography,
Hallerstrasse 10, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland
Correspondence: Birru Yitaferu, Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI), Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Tel: 251-58-220-5173. E-mail: birru_yitaferu2002@yahoo.com
Received: May 2, 2013
doi:10.5539/jas.v5n7p236
Accepted: June 4, 2013
Online Published: June 16, 2013
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v5n7p236
Abstract
A traditional soil fertility management practice through soil burning, locally called ‘‘guie’’ is practiced in the
central highlands of Ethiopia. The study was conducted to investigate the effect of ‘‘guie’’ on physico-chemical
properties of the soil and its long term impact on soil organic carbon (SOC). Two sets of soil samples were
collected from the field. The first set was from central part of the heaps of the burnt soil. The second set was from
adjacent cultivated fields used with and without ‘‘guie’’ for many years. Collected samples were analysed
following standard laboratory procedures. Complete soil burning showed a significant decrease in SOC, total
nitrogen, cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable calcium, magnesium, sodium, available iron and clay
while it significantly increased available phosphorus, manganese and copper, exchangeable potassium and sand. A
significant difference (p
ISSN 1916-9752 E-ISSN 1916-9760
Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education
Effects of ‘‘Guie’’ on Soil Organic Carbon and Other Soil Properties: A
Traditional Soil Fertility Management Practice in the Central Highlands
of Ethiopia
Tadele Amare1,2, Birru Yitaferu1 & Hans Hurni2
1
Amhara Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI), Bahr Dar, Ethiopia
2
Centre for Development and Environment, Institute of Geography, Department of Integrative Geography,
Hallerstrasse 10, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland
Correspondence: Birru Yitaferu, Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI), Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Tel: 251-58-220-5173. E-mail: birru_yitaferu2002@yahoo.com
Received: May 2, 2013
doi:10.5539/jas.v5n7p236
Accepted: June 4, 2013
Online Published: June 16, 2013
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v5n7p236
Abstract
A traditional soil fertility management practice through soil burning, locally called ‘‘guie’’ is practiced in the
central highlands of Ethiopia. The study was conducted to investigate the effect of ‘‘guie’’ on physico-chemical
properties of the soil and its long term impact on soil organic carbon (SOC). Two sets of soil samples were
collected from the field. The first set was from central part of the heaps of the burnt soil. The second set was from
adjacent cultivated fields used with and without ‘‘guie’’ for many years. Collected samples were analysed
following standard laboratory procedures. Complete soil burning showed a significant decrease in SOC, total
nitrogen, cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable calcium, magnesium, sodium, available iron and clay
while it significantly increased available phosphorus, manganese and copper, exchangeable potassium and sand. A
significant difference (p