Land management and its impact on the fertility status of southern al Jabal al Akhdar, Libya

Abstract EN

Sustainable land management is a great challenge for land users and other stakeholders around the world.

Disturbance of dryland ecosystems can quickly lead to severe land degradation and thus desertification.

This study evaluated the management methods that have been adopted for the semi-arid slopes in the Southern Al Jabal al Akhdar, and their effects, by measuring some field and laboratory indicators, the soil fertility status, and some physical and chemical properties of the bare and cultivated areas.

The results indicated that there are relative differences in some soil quality-related parameters when cultivated and bare lands are compared.

Higher CEC values, as well as a significant increase in soil content of organic matter and total nitrogen, were recorded within the cultivated land compared to the bare land.

The study showed that the applied land management practices have improved some soil properties that are directly related to the production function and quality, as a result, more fertile and productive areas were available within these semi-arid cultivated lands.

Considering the output of the present research, it can put forward some recommendations to be used for strengthening sustainable land management practice and to relieve the negative impact of land degradation and soil fertility deterioration.

This recommendation could include adapting the recent agricultural technology, establishing sustainable land management practices, efficient use of both organic and chemical fertilizers.

In addition, more research for soil fertility management practices will be essential for the success of future soil conservation plans within these fragile areas.