Physico-Chemical Properties of Soil Under Acacia Senegal (L) Willd Plantation in Sahel Zone of Nigeria
Abstract BackgroundAcacia senegal (L) Wild known as gum Arabic tree, is a nitrogen fixing tree and a drought resistant species with potentials to improve infertile soils is planted in Sahel zone of Jigawa State, Nigeria for the production of gum arabic. However, there is dearth of information on the soil physico-chemical properties under plantation. MethodsSoil samples were collected from four 30 x 30m plots in the plantation and another plot in open woodland (control). In each plot, three replicate soil samples were taken from 0-15cm, 15-30cm and 30-60cm soil depths analyzed for micro and macronutrients, while soil acidity was determined both in water and 0.01M CaCl2.ResultsThe general soil texture of the plantation is loamy sand but with slight textural differentiation under the open woodland. Results indicated that physico-chemical properties of soils under the plantation were significantly different at P < 0.05 compared with the control. The mean soil bulk density ranged from 1.6g/cm3 in the plantation to 1.8g/cm3 in the open woodland. The high values of soil bulk density might be ascribed to loss of organic matter as a result of soil erosion and animal grazing which are common occurrences. ConclusionFrom the result of the study soil physico-chemical properties under the plantation are high and have more beneficial effects on the trees unlike the open woodland.