Abstract:
This study was aimed at characterising and assessing the compaction
susceptibilities of forest soils in Owo Local Government of Ondo State Nigeria. It
was conducted in the perennial plantation of the study area. Forty five (45)
samples were collected from fifteen (15) sites. Many experiments were carried
out in the laboratory to determine the moisture content, bulk densities,
porosity, soil texture, chemical properties and soil compaction. Soil temperature
was the only data directly measured or observed on the field.
The study revealed that moisture content of soil in the Local Government
varies from site to site. Emule forest soil has highest value of moisture content
on average. Isuada and I1aleforest soil have the highest and the lowest soil
temperature respectively.
Bulk density derived from samples collected directly from the field were
plotted against the soil depth which revealed some useful information. The
compaction test results are useful in advising foresters on the risk of soil
compaction under diverse water, regimes and soil conditions. The information
presented in this study can be used as a guide on the relative importance of
applied pressure and water content on the compaction process
