EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LAND USE TYPES ON SOIL PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES IN EKITI STATE SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the impacts of varying land use/land cover types (croplands, forests, tree crop plantation and woodland/grasslands) on the physical and chemical properties of soils in Ekiti State, southwestern Nigeria. Soil sampling and field experiments were carried out across the different land uses and land cover types. Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used where there were “within the treatment variation” and “between the treatment variations”. Field experiments were carried out in 40 different locations in Ekiti State and surface composite disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected to depths of 30 cm from the study areas. Three sampling points were randomly selected per field location (20 m apart). The textural classification of the study areas was predominantly sandy clay loam. Land use types did not have significant effect on the soil pH (p>0.05). The Total N for all the land uses ranged from 0.04 - 0.86 %. Mean concentrations of SOC differed significantly among the various land uses. Mean SOC decreased in the order FOR > TCP > WGS > CP. The results of both physical and chemical properties of the soils of the study sites showed that the soil properties vary with different land use types. Therefore, assessment of physical, chemical properties of soil upon conversion of natural forest for agriculture is very significant to distinguish early variations in soil quali