Effects of Scattered Terminalia brownii Trees on Selected Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Yield of Teff (Eragrostis teff) in Tembaro District, Southern Ethiopia

Effects of Scattered Terminalia brownii Trees on Selected Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Yield of Teff (Eragrostis teff) in Tembaro District, Southern Ethiopia | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Effects of Scattered Terminalia brownii Trees on Selected Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Yield of Teff (Eragrostis teff) in Tembaro District, Southern Ethiopia Yared Mulat Tefera This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9001587/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Parkland agroforestry systems integrate scattered trees with cereal crops to provide productive, protective, and socio-economic benefits to local communities. However, the effects of specific tree species on soil properties and crop yields vary depending on species and management practices. This study evaluated the effects of scattered Terminalia brownii trees on selected soil physico-chemical properties and teff ( Eragrostis teff ) yield in Tembaro District, southern Ethiopia. Five isolated trees with similar age, height, DBH, and crown radius were selected on farmlands with homogeneous site conditions. Soil samples were collected from three radial distances (1.5 m from trunk, crown edge, and 15 m open field) at two soil depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm) from four directions. Teff grain and biomass yields were estimated using 1 m² quadrats at each distance. Results showed that soil texture, bulk density, total nitrogen, organic carbon, organic matter, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, cation exchange capacity, and pH were significantly influenced (P < 0.05) by radial distance from tree trunk. Soil moisture content was significantly affected by depth but not by distance. Surface soils (0–15 cm) had significantly higher nutrient concentrations than subsurface soils (15–30 cm). Teff grain and biomass yields were significantly higher (P < 0.05) under tree canopies than in open fields, with the highest yields at the crown edge (1353.4 kg ha⁻¹ grain; 5145.2 kg ha⁻¹ biomass). These improvements are attributed to higher organic matter inputs through litter fall, root biomass, and nutrient cycling under tree canopies. We conclude that retaining Terminalia brownii trees on croplands enhances soil fertility and teff productivity, supporting sustainable agroforestry practices in the region. Agronomy Forestry Agroforestry parkland system soil fertility Terminalia brownii teff yield Ethiopia Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9001587","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":598802254,"identity":"f590b8f6-75ad-43c1-aca2-af7618bb06f0","order_by":0,"name":"Yared Mulat Tefera","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA50lEQVRIie3PvarCMBTA8SOBuJzqavHzEVoKLorvIkJcfABHwVWcvXDlvkKn3jUQSBfF1bEidFLQxcVBE8TB5dDRIX8IZMiPcwLgcn1rCNAAYNreS7OiBIFz8SYF2ItgtxgJ0u0hO08UVv8WtyNCvxlLlmYk2YyjcJ0orGnvP0IQUSz5kJ4iBa97hoD2kjqCGsYSQ5rs8vLdkrbG3JCHIdUrTfaCM0sCjdwQaafQ3/f3OfPXyRhDLbr+bzCKfhQPVxSp7ETpck56rZZSee00HTSX6Ty7UKQjP/c0h1HvTW1ybZfL5XLZnowSSl6QU1BeAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9156-620X","institution":"Hawassa University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yared","middleName":"Mulat","lastName":"Tefera","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-01 12:55:18","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9001587/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9001587/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":104400920,"identity":"19b8b4a2-cf2b-4726-9d53-30604d91e821","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-11 12:11:26","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":332088,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"EsmaleFinal.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9001587/v1_covered_ac1adacf-f075-4ce5-af2e-15c35dda1304.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eEffects of Scattered Terminalia brownii Trees on Selected Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Yield of Teff (Eragrostis teff) in Tembaro District, Southern Ethiopia\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"Hawassa University","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Agroforestry, parkland system, soil fertility, Terminalia brownii, teff yield, Ethiopia","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9001587/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9001587/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eParkland agroforestry systems integrate scattered trees with cereal crops to provide productive, protective, and socio-economic benefits to local communities. However, the effects of specific tree species on soil properties and crop yields vary depending on species and management practices. This study evaluated the effects of scattered \u003cem\u003eTerminalia brownii \u003c/em\u003etrees on selected soil physico-chemical properties and teff (\u003cem\u003eEragrostis teff\u003c/em\u003e) yield in Tembaro District, southern Ethiopia. Five isolated trees with similar age, height, DBH, and crown radius were selected on farmlands with homogeneous site conditions. Soil samples were collected from three radial distances (1.5 m from trunk, crown edge, and 15 m open field) at two soil depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm) from four directions. Teff grain and biomass yields were estimated using 1 m² quadrats at each distance. Results showed that soil texture, bulk density, total nitrogen, organic carbon, organic matter, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, cation exchange capacity, and pH were significantly influenced (P \u0026lt; 0.05) by radial distance from tree trunk. Soil moisture content was significantly affected by depth but not by distance. Surface soils (0–15 cm) had significantly higher nutrient concentrations than subsurface soils (15–30 cm). Teff grain and biomass yields were significantly higher (P \u0026lt; 0.05) under tree canopies than in open fields, with the highest yields at the crown edge (1353.4 kg ha⁻¹ grain; 5145.2 kg ha⁻¹ biomass). These improvements are attributed to higher organic matter inputs through litter fall, root biomass, and nutrient cycling under tree canopies. We conclude that retaining \u003cem\u003eTerminalia brownii \u003c/em\u003etrees on croplands enhances soil fertility and teff productivity, supporting sustainable agroforestry practices in the region.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Effects of Scattered Terminalia brownii Trees on Selected Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Yield of Teff (Eragrostis teff) in Tembaro District, Southern Ethiopia","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-03-03 15:06:17","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9001587/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"e4f2ee8f-28ae-4533-8b79-30907d9a1a64","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 3rd, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":63720717,"name":"Agronomy"},{"id":63720718,"name":"Forestry"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-03-03T15:06:17+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-03-03 15:06:17","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9001587","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9001587","identity":"rs-9001587","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}