EFFECT OF EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS TREES ON SELECTED PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL, GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) AT HULA JANNATA IN GIRAWA DISTRICT, EAST HARARGHE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Eucalyptuses are the most commonly expanded for wood deficiency both for construction and fuel wood. The field experiment were conducted at Hula Jannata, Girawa woreda from April 01, 2021 to December 29, 2021 E.C, on the farmers farm land which is fenced by Eucalyptus globulus with a similar tree age to orientations in Northern, Southern aspects. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The soil samples were collected from the plots with the distance of 2, 6, 10, 14 and 25 m 0-30cm depth and soil auger used. The soil samples were collected and composited into one sample. The test crop used for this study was maize variety BH 661, a widely planted variety in the area. The spacing was, on average, 75 cm between lines and 25 cm between plants. Two sampling quadrats of an area 1m*1m were randomly laid out at each distance of 2, 6, 10, 14 and 25 m from the Eucalyptus globulus stands. The maize plant population and height in both northern and southern orientation was increased by the distance 2 m to 25 m from Eucalyptus globulus stand. The maize grain yield and biomass was reduced by the distance 25 m to 2 m as approaches to trees stand in both northern and southern orientations. There is no significant difference in bulk density and soil moisture was observed along the distance from Eucalyptus globulus. There were no significance differences in soil pH along the distance from Eucalyptus and between both northern and southern orientation. The organic carbon, total nitrogen and available phosphorus in both farmlands were increased with distance farther from Eucalyptus stands. There was significant difference herbaceous species diversity and species richness at 0.05 along the distance from 2 m to control. The study was aimed to examine the effect of Eucalyptus globulus on selected soil physical and chemical properties, identify other plant species diversity, species richness and evenness under the canopy of Eucalyptus and its effect on emergence of seedling, plant height, dry biomass and grain yield of the maize. Hence, it is important to assess the impact of Eucalyptus globulus expansion on the soil nutrient and other physico-chemical properties status by considering the different crops, on chat and the long term effects of the species with other natural forest.