Nutrient status of soils from farmers’ maize fields in mid altitude areas of Western Ethiopia

Inappropriate land use can deplete nutrient contents of crop land that leads to reduce nutrient concentrations and productivity. However, monitoring nutrient status of crop land can help producer take appropriate remedial measures before significant loss occur productivity. The six farms maize field soils were clay in texture. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) before planting was highly variable among different farmers field ranged from 19.7 to 36.5 cmol+kg-1 found in the medium to high range for crop production. The NO3-N and NH4-N concentrations were found in the optimum range indicated that the six farmers’ fields needed lower amount of nitrogen fertilizer inputs for maize production. The soils of all farmers’ fields were very strongly to moderately acidic range shows need of reclamation for the soil. Higher pH of the soils was recorded from nitrogen fertilizer-treated as compared to soil before application indicating use of nitrogen improved the pH of the soil. Total nitrogen concentrations ranged from 0.13 to 0.37 % for all six farms were in the very low, medium to high range. The extractable phosphorous ranged from 3 to 66 ppm for all farms were found in the low, medium to adequate range for crop production. The soil nutrient status was differed among farms indicating the importance site and soil test based fertilizer recommendation for sustainable maize production. Soil fertility intervention that differentiates between farm components soil fertility status in mid altitude was recommended for sustainable maize production.