Redi, Musefa A; Leenaars, Johan G B; Mantel, Stephan; Heuvelink, Gerard B M (2026): A Database of morphological, physical and chemical properties, WRB classification, and root count for soil profiles from Central Ethiopia [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.995660
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Published: 2026-06-30 • DOI registered: 2026-07-01
Abstract:
The dataset comprises 50 soil profiles from maize- and wheat-based farming systems in Central Ethiopia. Soil profile data were collected during field campaigns conducted between 2023 and 2025. Profiles were described in the field to depths of up to 2 m and sampled for laboratory analysis to 150 cm depth. The dataset includes site descriptions, morphological horizon data, laboratory-measured physical and chemical soil properties, soil water retention characteristics, WRB soil classification, and root distribution observations. Field descriptions followed FAO (2006) soil description guidelines, and laboratory analyses were conducted using standard soil analytical methods. WRB soil classification followed the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (IUSS Working Group WRB, 2015), including the assignment of Reference Soil Groups and associated qualifiers. Root counts were conducted in 5 cm depth increments from 0 to 150 cm using a 5 × 5 cm grid, adopting the profile wall method as described by Böhm (1976) and Bublitz et al. (2022). The dataset was specifically collected as validation data for evaluating spatial maps of root-zone plant-available water holding capacity in Central Ethiopia. It may support improved understanding and modelling of soil processes, soil hydrology, and relationships between crop roots, soil morphology, and soil properties. Each data file includes a metadata sheet with variable definitions, units, and structure information to ensure consistent interpretation across dataset components.
Keyword(s):
Supplement to:
Redi, Musefa A; Leenaars, Johan G B; Mantel, Stephan; Heuvelink, Gerard B M (accepted): A soil profile dataset from Central Ethiopia: morphological, physical and chemical properties, WRB classification, and root count. European Journal of Soil Science
References:
Böhm, W (1976): In situ estimation of root length at natural soil profiles. Journal of Agricultural Science, 87(2), 365-368, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859600027660
Bublitz, Tábata Aline; Kemper, Roman; Müller, Phillip; Kautz, Timo; Döring, Thomas F; Athmann, Miriam (2021): Relating Profile Wall Root-Length Density Estimates to Monolith Root-Length Density Measurements of Cover Crops. Agronomy, 12(1), 48, https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12010048
FAO (2006): Guidelines for soil description (4th ed.). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO_2006.pdf
IUSS Working Group WRB (2015): World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014, update 2015: International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps. World Soil Resources Reports, FAO, Rome, 106, IUSS_Working_Group_WRB_2015.pdf
Project(s):
Land Soil Crop (LSC)
Coverage:
Median Latitude: 8.521538 * Median Longitude: 38.110532 * South-bound Latitude: 7.601738 * West-bound Longitude: 36.142774 * North-bound Latitude: 9.894360 * East-bound Longitude: 39.622048
Date/Time Start: 2023-09-15T00:00:00 * Date/Time End: 2025-04-15T00:00:00
Minimum Elevation: 1616.0 m * Maximum Elevation: 2883.0 m
Event(s):
LSC_CE_P_01 * Latitude: 8.186780 * Longitude: 38.839550 * Date/Time: 2023-09-15T00:00:00 * Elevation: 1662.0 m * Location: Africa, Ethiopia * Method/Device: Global positioning system (GPS)
Parameter(s):
| # | Name | Short Name | Unit | Principal Investigator | Method/Device | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Title | Title | Redi, Musefa A | |||
| 2 | File content | Content | Redi, Musefa A | |||
| 3 | Binary Object | Binary | Redi, Musefa A | |||
| 4 | Binary Object (Media Type) | Binary (Type) | Redi, Musefa A | |||
| 5 | Binary Object (File Size) | Binary (Size) | Bytes | Redi, Musefa A |
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0)
Status:
Curation Level: Basic curation (CurationLevelB)
Size:
21 data points