Oromia Irrigation Development Authority of

North Showa irrigation Development

Authority

Feasibility Study of

Soil Part

Heyi SSIP of YayyaGullele District

October, 2017

Fitche
Contents
1.) Soil and land Suitability ....................................................................................................... 1
1.1.1) Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1
1.1.2) Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 1
1.2) Description of the study area ............................................................................................... 1
1.2.1).Soil physical property ....................................................................................................... 1
1.6)Conclusion and Recommendation ........................................................................................ 4
1.6.1.) Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 4

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1.) Soil and land Suitability
1.1 General
The soil is usually containing more weather able minerals specially the upper part of the profile.
It is comprise most of the reddish brown soil is formed in well drained sites on the up and
sloping land. It is less stable aggregations and hence, moderately permeable and susceptible
erosion, while the more clay types may be plastic and sticky when wet. As it is very hard during
the dry season and sticky during the rains, it can only be given preparatory cultivation with hand
tools and ox-drown implements during the development periods.

Under good management drainage does not appear to be serious problem since the surface soil
has a coarse, blocky structure and in sub soil water is able to percolate between polished and
grooved surfaces of sand clay blocky which develop from the movement of large blocks of soil
against one another during swelling shrinkage.
1.1.1) Introduction
Soil has an important place in agricultural development .Its part in plant -soil-water relationship
is very determined. It is the first media for valuable nutrients, water and other fertility factors that
limit the crop yield and general productivity of the future irrigated agriculture in the area. Before
planning any cropping pattern and related activities, it is necessary to investigate both physical
and chemical properties of that soil of the command area.

A particular observation was given during the study period in the command area especially
physical characteristics of the soil were determined.
1.1.2) Objectives
The objective of the study of the soil and land suitability of the project area is:-
 To identify the physical and chemical properties of the soil of the command area
 To determine the suitability soil of the command area for the proposed crops
1.1.3 Methodology used
The following methodology was adopted during the study
 Transect walk with farmers & DA was made across the entire command area,
 Farmers were interviewed on the potentiality of the soils
 All physical investigation marks were based on
 Color differences
 Slope ranges which much related with soil depth and fertility
 Topographic feature of the surface
 Land position
 Using hand –feel test (thumb and finger) and by examining the degree of its fines and sticky conditions the
shape it makes during the examination.
1.2) Description of the study area
1.2.1).Soil physical property
1.2.1.1) Textural Analysis
The texture is done on finger hand by dropping water in to parcel of soil from each profile and
examine its fines and stickiness and observing the final shape it made on the hand.

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Generally the soils of the command area are silt particles dominated with character having sand
silty and made a shape of rolled thick ribbon and v-shape but no further rolled with out broken
.Hence the soil t is medium to coarse textured soil.
By ratio more than 33% the CA, soil is sandy, 10% CA is silt clay loam and 47% is silt clay.
Therefore it can be concluded that soils of the command area are medium to course textured soil
by 90% is medium and coarse by 10%. Hence the total water holding capacity is low to medium
1.2.1.2) Structural Analysis
The majority of the command area has granular, blocky, and prismatic, totally the top soil is
granular where the subsoil’s have no definite shape due to imperfect drainage, prismatic, blocky,
single grain and other different structures were observed.

1.3) Topographic feature of the command area

Almost the total developed area has different topographic steep and gentle slope. And basic land
suitability analysis can consider as one phase (groups), by which there is no basic (radical
formation) or differences. As per physical investigation, this land can be grouped b/n class II and
III
The following are physically observed characteristics of the soils in the command area.
 Crops can be regularly cultivated with easily applied conservation practice.
 Sufficient soil depth and medium structure, texture & fertility
Summary of Observed physical properties
Color - Top soil: Brown reddish
Depth- deep: 80 – 120cm
Water Holding Capacity: low to medium

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Table 1.1 Soil physical properties summery sheet
Pit cad profile Horizon characteristics Observed summery
Pit 01 Layer Bottom
0-35cm Stoniness Has a stone
Color Brown
Structure Granular
Texture ,silt clay
Land use Cultivated
Consistency Moderately sticky
Topography Gentle slope>5%
Erosion no
Drainage Imperfect
Pit – 01 Color Brown reddish
36-80cm Structure Prismatic/platy
Texture Silt clay
Land use Cultivated land
Consistency Sticky
Drainage Imperfect
Layer Top
Color Brown to red
Structure Prismatic and massive
Texture Silt Clay

Consistency Sticky
Topography Gentle
Pit-02
Plant Root Medium
0-40
Drainage Non

Land use Cultivated

Erosion Have erosion
Layer Bottom
Pit 02 Color Brown to Red
Structure Massive
41-80cm Texture Silt-clay
Consistency Sticky
Topography Gentle

Drainage Non

Layer Top

Erosion Have erosion

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1.4 The Soil of the study area
During field observation the physical properties of soil were observed. such as soil color
(Brownish red ) ,soil depth (are between 80cm -120cm deep) ,soil texture of the command
area is having both sand and silt clay (sandy, sand silty and silt clay loam), nature of soil types
are seen during field observation by using hand feel test ,water holding capacity low to
moderate) and the slope(gentle and steep ) as the main factors. Hence, by analyzing, using hand
–feel test (thumb and finger ) and by examining the degree of its fines ,coarse and sticky
conditions the shape it makes during the examination.

The chemical properties of these proposed command area of these irrigation project is not
analyzed because of different causes, but even if these irrigation project is implemented the soil
of these area should be analyzed for the feasibility and sustainability of these irrigation project.
1.5) Land suitability Evaluation
The crop area can be more likely grouped under class II and III because of the following factors:-
 The soil nature of these area is Sand soil , having light silt clay
 The class II and II land has having limitation which aggregate are moderately and marginally severe for
sustained application of a given use ; this limitation will reduce productivity or benefits and increase the
required inputs to extent that the overall advantage to be gained from the project .
 The soil of these area is make easily dry , if the water is not frequently irrigated.
 The topography of these project area also another factor for the categorization of these classes II and III
,because it has steep and gentle slope
 More or less have poor nutrient content thus the land is moderately suitable for the irrigation
development ;but in order to more describe and determine the land suitability evaluation of the command
area the soil chemical property analysis is the one of the major factor ,these chemical properties of the is
not analyzed; but even if these irrigation project is implemented the soil of these area should be analyzed
for the feasibility and sustainability of these irrigation project.
1.6)Conclusion and Recommendation
1.6.1.) Conclusion
The most important element for plant growth such as organic matter, total nitrogen and available
of phosphorus are low to medium. Therefore, practices of different cultural practices are
necessary to sustain the project. This are mostly addition of inorganic fertilizers (urea and DAP),
addition of plant residues, in crop rated of manure and other organic wastes crop rotation with
legumes also must practices by the beneficiaries.
1.6.2.) Recommendation
The soil and water conservation methods (bunds ,terraces )must be done in these area ,because
the topographic nature of these project especially the upper stream and left said of the
command area is marginally to moderately suitable for furrow irrigation methods , but area
which has gentle to flat slope is suitable for furrow irrigation.
For the protection of soil from erosion the fruit crops should be planted where the area is
susceptible to erosion while the left command area is suitable for furrow irrigation.