ABSTRACT Soil degradation causes low land productivity. To tackle soil degradation, soil management practices have been implemented in the study area. However, less attention has been given to the management of physical soil quality. Hence, the objective of this study is to evaluate soil physical properties of long-used cultivated lands. Twelve Land Mapping Units (LMUs) were identified by overlaying slope and soil maps. Twelve composite and 12 undisturbed soil samples were collected from the 12 LMUs, and soil physical properties analyzed. Soil bulk density varied from 1.22 g cm−3 in LMU3 to 1.68 g cm−3 in LMU4. Available water capacity ranged from 0.09 in LMU4 to 0.17 in LMU3. Stability index (SI) values ranged from a low of 3.58 at LUM10 to 62.5 at LMU3; stability quotient (SQ) values ranged from 79.4 at LMU9 to 2782.8 at LUM3. Highest and lowest soil crust index values were found to be 1.53 in LMU5 and 0.29 in LMU9. This study indicated that poor soil management practice in the study area has caused soil physical degradation. Therefore, this study provides insight into improved land management of long-used cultivated land in the semi-arid region of the study area and other similar environments.

中文翻译：

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长期使用耕地的土壤物理特性评估作为土壤退化的推导指标，埃塞俄比亚北部

摘要 土壤退化导致土地生产力低下。为了解决土壤退化问题，研究区实施了土壤管理措施。然而，对物理土壤质量管理的关注较少。因此，本研究的目的是评估长期使用的耕地的土壤物理特性。通过叠加坡度图和土壤图确定了 12 个土地测绘单位 (LMU)。从 12 个 LMU 中收集了 12 个复合和 12 个未扰动的土壤样品，并分析了土壤物理特性。土壤容重从 LMU3 中的 1.22 g cm−3 到 LMU4 中的 1.68 g cm−3 不等。可用水容量范围从 LMU4 中的 0.09 到 LMU3 中的 0.17。稳定性指数 (SI) 值范围从 LUM10 的 3.58 到 LMU3 的 62.5；稳定商 (SQ) 值的范围从 LMU9 的 79.4 到 LUM3 的 2782.8。发现最高和最低土壤结皮指数值在 LMU5 中为 1.53，在 LMU9 中为 0.29。本研究表明，研究区土壤管理不善导致土壤物理退化。因此，本研究为改善研究区半干旱地区和其他类似环境中长期使用的耕地的土地管理提供了见解。