EFFECT OF LONG-TERM TILLAGE PRACTICE AND CROPPING ON PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS IN SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANNAH AREA OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Agriculture is the bravado of most developing countries like Nigeria; thus, it is the key point for the existence of those living in the country. This is study is aimed at the effect of long-term tillage practice and cropping on physicochemical properties of soils in Southern guinea savannah area of Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from a continuously cropped rice field using the random uniform grid method at depths between 0 - 15 cm, 15 – 25 cm, 25 - 50 cm and 50 – 75 cm. Samples were collected in five replicates, mixed and homogenized. Soil samples collected at the 0 - 15 cm, 25 - 50 cm depth were Sandy clay loam while those of 15 - 25 cm and 50 - 75 cm depths are sandy clay and sandy loam. The soil hydraulic conductivity for the zone of 25 to 50 cm had values ranging between 0.23 and 1.51 cm/hr. while the fourth zone considered had values ranging between 0.49 and 0.77 cm/hr. It was concluded that the farmers should conduct physical and chemical analysis of the soils they wish to carryout farming activities to decide the type of fertilizer to be used.

Keywords

• agriculture
• cropping
• chemical properties
• land use
• physical properties