Properties of Major Agricultural Soils of Ethiopia

The book gives full information on soils developed under different climatic and geomorpological conditions of Ethiopia. Geomorphology of Ethiopia is found to be the major factor affecting soil formation and development. Thus,in Ethiopia it is possible to find all soil types, however all of them are not important for agriculture activities particularly for crop production. The most important on the highlands are Vertisols, Nitosols, Cambisols and Regosols. The lowland, which accounts for 60% of the country, contains various types of soils such as Fluvisols, Vertisols, Cambisols and other that can develop salt layer within short time if put under irrigated agriculture. Beside the main topic this manuscript tries to give a bird eye view on major problems of agricultural development from soils properties point of view. Of all problems soil degradation due to water and wind erosion and nutrient lose are the most important once. Both these problems need immediate attention that is based on resources identification