Land use types driven variations in soil properties of Kaseny watershed, Eastern Ethiopia

Assessing soil responses to human activities is critical for sustainable land management and understanding the ecological consequences of land use. The study was conducted in the Kaseny Watershed, eastern Ethiopia. Soil samples were collected from natural forests, plantations, cultivated lands, and grazing lands at depths of 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm. A total of 24 disturbed samples were analyzed for chemical properties and 24 undisturbed samples for BD and MC determination. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and LSD tests at P < 0.05 in SAS 9.0. Land use types significantly affected soil properties. Sand content was highest in cultivated (23.10%) and lowest in natural forests (15.47%), while clay content was highest in forests (56.80%) and lowest in cultivated lands (44.69%). Bulk density was greater in cultivated (1.50 g cm⁻³) and grazing lands (1.49 g cm⁻³) than in forests (1.11 g cm⁻³). SOC and (TN) were highest in forests (5.03% and 0.37%, respectively and lowest in cultivated (0.87% and 0.12%) and grazing lands (0.83% and 0.16%). SOC and TN decreased with depth. The C:N ratio was highest in forests (15.07) and lowest in cultivated (6.17) and grazing lands (5.14). Available phosphorus, exchangeable bases (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺), and cation exchange capacity were also highest in forests and lowest in plantations and cultivated lands. Sustainable practices such as residue retention, integrated fertilization, liming, limiting eucalyptus expansion, and soil conservation measures are recommended to restore soil health and maintain productivity in the Ethiopian highlands.