South Asian Research Journal of Agriculture and Fisheries (SARJAF)
Volume-1 | Issue-1
Original Research Article
Impacts of Different Land Use on Some Selected Soil Physicochemical Properties in Federal Polytechnic Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria
Paul Omaye Joseph, Ojomah Frank Ojochegbe, Amhakhian Sunday Okonfor, Ukaha Chinwe Faith
Published : July 30, 2019
Abstract
The continuous use of land for agricultural production could lead to land degradation, nutrients depletion, declined crop production and environmental degeneration. This study was therefore conducted to investigate the impacts of land use on physicochemical properties of soils of oil palm plantation, cultivated land and fallow land. Twenty-one (21) soil samples were collected from each land use type at a depth of 0 - 20 cm, giving a total of sixty-three (63) samples, and bulk together to make three composite samples; one for each land use type, and analyzed for selected physical and chemical properties using standard methods. The results of the study, on one hand, revealed that organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable calcium, magnesium, potassium, CEC, PBS, organic carbon, exchangeable acidity and pH contents of the cultivated land were significantly (P<0.05) lower than the adjacent fallow land. On the other hand, the result revealed that exchangeable calcium, magnesium, potassium, CEC, PBS and exchangeable acidity contents of the oil palm plantation were significantly (P<0.05) lower than the adjacent fallow land. However, there was no significant difference between the fallow land and oil palm plantation in available phosphorus, exchangeable sodium, organic carbon, total nitrogen and organic matter. Available phosphorus and ECEC were high for all the land use types. The pH in all the land use types was moderately acidic. From the present study, it could be concluded that the soil quality and health were maintained relatively under the fallow land, whereas the influence on most parameters were negative on the soils of the cultivated land. The continuous cultivation of the land has degraded the soil properties and there is therefore the need to adopt appropriate management practices to achieve high soil quality and sustainable productivity.