Land Use Dynamics and Soil Degradation of the Different Land uses in Werkaryia Area, South Wello, Ethiopia

Abstract

Engdawork Assefa·
ABSTRACT 71le paper examilles the distribution oj land use and land cover at
different periods o/time (1967,1986 alld 1996) alld idefllijies the rate o/changes
ill Werkaryia area, Kutaher wereda, south Wel/o. Moreover, it assesses the
physical, biological and chemical soil degradation under differellt land use/ land
cover ami slopes.
Cultivated land alld shrub lalld increased by 58% and 700/0, respectively, ill 1996
compared to 1965. During the same period 0/ time, 011 the other hand, grass land,
wood/alld and bush land declined by 12, 39 and 32 9/tlS', respectively.
In the sllldy area there are different types of soil degradation, which prohibited
proper crop production. About 47% of soils are marked by very shallow soil
depth. The crop cultivation is also affected by low organic malter, imbalances of
nutrients and deficiency of Phosphorous. However, the extent and types of soil
degradation vary in different land uses.