Review on the Work Done For the Last Decade on Acid Soil Management for Better Yields in Southwestern Ethiopia

Population is increasing exponentially over time but resources are limited. To support this population, increasing productivity of the resources is importantly inevitable. One of the resources, the base of production, is soil. Its fertility is declining due to expansion of soil acidity and its low inherent fertility status. Soil fertility management is therefore, a key for sustainable crop production for food security. Last10-15 years of research and its achievement in soil acidity management in annual crops by Jimma Agricultural research center have been reviewed. To fulfill the increasing demand for food and raw materials, soil health and fertility has remained as the major factor to increase and sustain crop yields. This calls for proper use of knowledge of soil acidity and its amelioration to maximize agricultural productivity. Farmers require simple and sustainable techniques to amend acid soils and improve yields of crops of their choices. Recommendations on reclamation of acid soils need to change with new developments, such as liming, use of acid-tolerant crop varieties and integrated soil fertility management. Liming has played an important role in raising soil pH and enhancing crop productivity. In Ethiopia, southwestern area the gap between potential and actual yield is very wide because of soil acidity and associated nutrient availability. Acidic soils are not responsive to the application of inorganic fertilizers without amendments-it is simply wastage of resources. Thus, developing effective and efficient acid soil management practices is indispensable for enhancing crop productivity and thereby sustaining yield gains. Natural Resources Management Research process, acid soil management research program of the Jimma Agricultural Research center has been conducting different research activities on soil acidity management to enhance, and sustain agricultural productivity in the country. Using amendments such as lime and organic fertilizer for acid soil management showed good result in maize and soybean productivity in acidic soils in Jimma and Illubabor. This review finding provides important information on management options to amend soil acidity and improve the entire fertility of soils, and other organic amendments that can be applied to remedy soil acidity to the desired pH level and improve soil quality. Integrated acid soil management enhances the stability of yields and maximizes nutrient use efficiency. The information contained in this finding serves the interests of policymakers, researchers, students, agronomists and users associated with acid soils management.