Physico-Chemical Analysis of Peat Land Soil Found in Guna Mountain (Mehil Chemaw) and Semen Mountain National Park (Debela) Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Peatland is available in considerable quantities in Ethiopia. The current investigation was aimed on analysis of physicochemical properties, heavy metal concentration and micronutrient availability of Peat land soil found at GUNA Mountain (Mehil Chemaw), Siemen Mountain National Park (Debela) and one control sample at Gondar zuria woreda Amhara region, Ethiopia. Soil samples were randomly collected to a depth of 20cm using auger. Samples were air-dried, sieved by <2 mm mesh and analyzed using standard procedures. The following physicochemical properties such as color, texture, pH, EC, CEC, OC, OM, TN of the soil and some selected metal concentrations (Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Mg) were analyzed. The result shows that the color of soil at GUNA, SNP and GDC is dark black, dark brown and light black, respectively. The soil textural class of GUNA and SNP is clay, while GDC is sandy clay. pH and EC determined in soil/water (1:2.5, v/v) the soil pH of GUNA (4.83) and SNP (5.1) are strong acid and GDC (6.63) slightly acid. The EC of GUNA and SNP is 0.136 and 0.121 ds/m, respectively but GDC soil 0.062 ds/m. The CEC in GUNA (51.2cmol (+)/kg) and SNP (48.8 cmol (+)/kg) have very high and GDC (32.2cmol (+)/kg) high. The organic matter content of GUNA and SNP is 8.74% and 9.41%, respectively, which was rated as very high, while GDC have 2.02% rated as medium OM. In GUNA (0.25%) and SNP (0.22%) the TN value has a similar value but in GDC is 0.06%. Among the studied available micronutrients Mn and Cu in GDC and Fe in GUNA, SNP and GDC are optimum the rest of micronutrients and heavy metals are below the optimum point. Generally, the color, organic matter, CEC, TN, and pH of the properties of the soils of GUNA and SNP are indicators of peat soils characteristics as observed from the value. Micronutrient availability and heavy metals of the soil except Fe and Cu in all soil samples and Mn in GDC soil are minimum (below the permissible limit) this might be the extraction method difference or leaching of metals due to its geographical positioning or the sampling season or time factors.