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
Data
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| 1 Title | 2 Content | 3 Binary | 4 Binary (Type) | 5 Binary (Size) [Bytes] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A soil profile dataset from central Ethiopia: morphological, physical and chemical properties, WRB classification, and root count | The dataset comprises 50 soil profiles from maize- and wheat-based farming systems in central Ethiopia. Profiles were described to depths of up to 2 m and sampled to depths of up to 150 cm. The dataset includes morphological descriptions, pedogenic horizon designations, root distribution observations, soil physical and chemical properties, soil water retention characteristics, WRB classifications, and field photographs. It provides a valuable resource for studies of soil-forming processes, soil hydrology, root-soil interactions, digital soil mapping, and the development of pedotransfer functions. | Dataset_Ownership_Information.xlsx | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet | 17.5 kBytes |
| Profile site description, central Ethiopia | This dataset comprises site-level descriptors for 50 soil profiles in maize- and wheat-based farming systems of central Ethiopia. Variables include geographic coordinates (WGS84), elevation, administrative location, crop type, slope gradient class, major landform class, slope position, surface coarse fragment cover, erosion severity class, natural drainage class, and depth to bedrock. Data were collected following FAO (2006) guidelines using field observation, GPS measurement, and direct soil pit measurement. Together with the morphology, soil properties, WRB classification, and root count datasets, this site description enables integrated analyses of soil formation, land evaluation, hydrological modeling, root-soil interactions, and pedotransfer functions. Sampling time: 2023 to 2025. | Profile_Sites.xlsx | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet | 31.6 kBytes |
| Soil morphology description of 217 horizons from 50 soil profiles in central Ethiopia | This dataset contains morphological descriptions for 217 genetic horizons from 50 soil profiles (0-200 cm depth) in central Ethiopia, sampled during 2023 to 2025. Variables include horizon designation, upper and lower depths, coarse fragment abundance/size/weathering, mottle abundance/size/prominence, moist consistency, moisture status, porosity, coatings abundance/contrast/nature, cementation degree/nature, nodule abundance/size/hardness/nature, and root abundance/size. Data were collected in the field following FAO (2006) Guidelines for Soil Description. | Profile_Morphology.xlsx | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet | 47.7 kBytes |
| Soil physical and chemical properties of 197 layers from 50 soil profiles in central Ethiopia | This dataset contains laboratory analytical data for 197 soil layers sampled from 50 profiles (0-150 cm depth) in central Ethiopia. Variables include particle size distribution (sand, silt, clay), texture class, bulk density, particle density, field capacity, wilting point, pH (H2O and KCl), electrical conductivity, exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K), CEC, effective CEC, base saturation, organic carbon, total nitrogen, C/N ratio, DTPA-extractable micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn), Olsen P, and porosity. Analyses followed standard laboratory methods. | Profile_Layers_Lab.xlsx | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet | 102.5 kBytes |
| WRB classification of 50 soil profiles in central Ethiopia | This dataset provides World Reference Base (WRB 2015) classification for 50 soil profiles in central Ethiopia. For each genetic horizon, diagnostic horizons, diagnostic properties, and diagnostic materials are identified. Each profile is assigned a Reference Soil Group (RSG) with principal and supplementary qualifiers. Classification follows IUSS Working Group WRB (2015) rules based on field morphology and laboratory data. | Profile_WRB_Classification.xlsx | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet | 38.5 kBytes |
| Root count observations from 43 soil profiles in central Ethiopia | This dataset contains root count observations from 43 soil profiles in maize- and wheat-based farming systems of central Ethiopia, sampled during 2023 to 2025. Roots were counted in 5 cm depth increments from 0 to 150 cm using a 5-5 cm grid template following the Böhm (1976) method as adapted by Bublitz et al. (2022). For each profile, maximum and effective rooting depths are reported. A total of 1,195 individual root count observations are included. These data support studies on root-soil interactions, crop water uptake modeling, and soil carbon dynamics. | Root_Count.xlsx | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet | 30.7 kBytes |
| Photographic documentation of 49 soil profiles in central Ethiopia | This PDF contains 2-5 field photographs per soil profile for 49 of the 50 profiles in central Ethiopia. Images show cleaned soil pit walls with horizon boundaries, scale bars, and site context. Photographs were taken during field campaigns in 2023 to 2025. These images provide visual validation of morphological descriptions and support re-interpretation of soil profiles. | Profile_Images.pdf | application/pdf | 11.1 MBytes |