Assessing Impacts of Different Land Use Types on Soil Properties ın Asa and Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria

Successful agriculture requires the sustainable use of soil resource, because soil can easily lose its quality and quantity within a short period of time. Agricultural practices, therefore, needed basic knowledge of sustainable use of land. This research was conducted in Asa and Moro Local Government Areas of Kwara State to assess the impacts of different land use types on soil properties in the study area. Six villages noted for farming were randomly visited and in each village, three farms planted each with maize-cassava intercrop, cashew plantation and natural forest were sampled at 0-20 cm depth for laboratory analysis of particle size, pH, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, exchangeable cations and extractable micronutrients. The bulk density at 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm and 10-15 cm depths were determined. Soil properties were analysed using descriptive statistics. The soil texture was sandy loam with soil pH ranging from slightly acid to acid (6.4 to 5.1). Irrespective of the local government areas and land use, organic carbon (1.83 g kg-1), Sodium (0.12 cmol kg-1), Nitrogen (0.12 g kg-1) and Phosphorus (6.15 mg kg-1) were low while Fe (134.80 mg kg-1), Mn (122.80 mg kg-1) and Zn (19.22 mg kg-1) were high. Across the local government areas, Potassium and Magnesium varied from medium to high while Calcium and Copper were low to medium. The bulk density range was medium to high (1.36 to 1.57 g cm-3) for cashew plantations and maize-cassava intercrop while it was medium (1.40 to 1.47 g cm-3) for natural forest. In conclusion, most of the cultivated soils were low in fertility, with low carbon stocks which is assumed to be due to emission losses arising from continuous cropping. The carbon sequestration status of land uses in the study area was very low. Management practices like composting, green manuring, use of organic fertilizer and residue retention is recommended.

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Soil Properties and Biomass Attributes in a Former Gravel Mine Area after Two Decades of Forest Restoration

Land ◽

10.3390/land9060209 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 209

Author(s):

Frederick Gyasi Damptey ◽

Klaus Birkhofer ◽

Paul Kofi Nsiah ◽

Enrique G. de la Riva

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Surface Mining ◽

Natural Forest ◽

Reference Systems ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Mine Area ◽

Ground Biomass ◽

Below Ground

The ongoing global deforestation resulting from anthropogenic activities such as unsustainable agriculture and surface mining threatens biodiversity and decreases both soil carbon and above-ground biomass stocks. In this study, we assessed soil properties and below- and above-ground biomass attributes in a restored former gravel mine area in Ghana two decades after active restoration with potted plants and fresh topsoil. We compared conditions to four alternative land-use types (unrestored abandoned gravel mine, arable land, semi-natural forest, and natural forest) representing pre- and post-disturbance as well as natural reference states. We hypothesized that soil properties and related levels of below- and above-ground biomass in the restored area share similarities with the natural reference systems and thereby are indicative of a trajectory towards successful restoration. Eight replicated subareas in each land-use type were assessed for a set of soil parameters as well as below- and above-ground biomass attributes. The soil properties characteristic for the restored area differed significantly from pre-restoration stages, such as the abandoned gravel site, but did not differ significantly from properties in the natural forest (except for bulk density and base saturation). Above-ground biomass was lower in the restored area in comparison to the reference natural forests, while differences were not significant for below-ground biomass. Silt and effective cation exchange capacity were closely related to above-ground biomass, while below-ground biomass was related to soil organic carbon, bulk density, and potassium concentration in soils. Our results suggest that major steps towards successful restoration can be accomplished within a relatively short period, without the wholesale application of topsoil. Improving soil conditions is a vital tool for the successful development of extensive vegetation cover after surface mining, which also affects carbon sequestration by both above- and below-ground biomass. We emphasize that the use of reference systems provides critical information for the monitoring of ecosystem development towards an expected future state of the restored area.

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Effect of Slope Aspect and Land Use Types on Selected Soil Physicochemical Properties in North Western Ethiopian Highlands

Applied and Environmental Soil Science ◽

10.1155/2020/8463259 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Gebretsadik Melak Tamene ◽

Hailu Kindie Adiss ◽

Melese Yigzaw Alemu

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Physicochemical Properties ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Slope Aspect ◽

Strong Positive Correlation ◽

Soil Physicochemical Properties ◽

Land Use Types

Recent research findings imply that the slope aspect has a great impact on soil genesis and soil microclimate. The microclimate has a significant effect on the soil geobiochemical processes taking place in the soil. However, the slope aspect impact on soil properties has not been yet studied well in Ethiopia, particularly in the northern highlands. This research was initiated to link selected soil physicochemical properties with slope aspects under different land use practices. The research was conducted in Gumara-Maksegnit watershed located at the upper Lake Tana basin, Ethiopia. Four slope aspects, eastward (Ew), northward (Nw), southward (Sw), and westward (Ww), and three land use types at each slope aspect, cropland (Cl), forest land (Fl), and grazing land (Gl), were considered. In total, 36 undisturbed soil samples for bulk density and 36 disturbed soil samples for selected soil properties were collected. Soil particle size (texture), bulk density, electrical conductivity (EC), soil pH, available phosphorus (av. P), available potassium (av. K), total nitrogen (TN), and soil organic carbon (SOC) were analyzed. The resulting analyses showed no significant variation (p<0.05) across both slope aspects and/or land use types for soil pH and EC, whereas the slope aspect showed a significant effect (p<0.05) on SOC, TN, av. K, and av. P. The highest significant (p<0.05) mean value of SOC was observed in the Ww (3.04%) followed by Nw (2.52%) but SOC was not significant (p<0.05) between Sw and Ew. While the highest av. K (1233.2 centimole/kilogram) and av. phosphorus (35.76 ppm) were observed in Nw slope aspect, the highest TN was in the Ww slope aspect (0.24%). The significant effect (p<0.05) of land uses can be summarized as Fl > Gl > Cl for SOC and TN. A strong positive correlation was observed between SOC and TN (R2 = 0.997) and av. K and av. P (R2 = 0.58) at p<0.05. Generally, the slope aspect, land use types, and their interaction had a significant effect on soil physicochemical properties.

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Effects of landscape positions on soil physicochemical properties at Shenkolla Watershed, South Central Ethiopia

ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH ◽

10.1186/s40068-021-00222-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Belayneh Bufebo ◽

Eyasu Elias ◽

Getachew Agegnehu

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Physicochemical Properties ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Landscape Position ◽

Soil Reaction ◽

Soil Physicochemical Properties ◽

Cultivated Land ◽

Forest Land ◽

Land Use Types

Abstract Background Understanding the effects of landscape positions on soil physicochemical properties is crucial for improving the soil productivity and to ensure the environmental sustainability. Three land use types forest land, grazing land and cultivated land all within upper, middle and lower landscape positions were selected to determine the effects of landscape positions, land use types and their interaction effects on soil physicochemical properties. Twenty seven soil samples were collected from lower landscape, middle landscape and upper landscape positions at the depth of 0–20 cm in nine replications. In addition, undisturbed soil samples were taken using core sampler from each land use type under upper, middle and lower landscape positions for the ascertainment of bulk density and water retentive capacity. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to determine variations in soil parameters among landscape positions and land use types. A Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) analysis was conducted to determine the influence of independent (fixed) factors, on the soil properties (response variables). Treatment means comparison was determined using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 0.05 level of significances. Results The result indicated that among the soil properties sand (p < 0.001), silt (p < 0.001), clay (p < 0.001), bulk density (p < 0.01), water holding capacity at FC (p < 0.001), water retention at PWP (p < 0.01), Available water content (AWC) (p < 0.01), soil reaction (pH) (p < 0.05), Soil organic carbon (SOC%) (p < 0.01), Total nitrogen (TN%) (p < 0.01), available phosphorus (p < 0.05) and CEC (p < 0.001) have shown a significant variation among the landscape categories. Similarly, variation of sand (p < 0.001), silt (p < 0.001), clay (p < 0.001), bulk density (p < 0.01), water holding capacity at FC (p < 0.001), water retention at PWP (p < 0.001), Available water content (AWC) (p < 0.01), soil reaction (pH) (p < 0.01), SOC (p < 0.01), TN (p < 0.001) available phosphorus (AP) (p < 0.001) and CEC (p < 0.001) were also statistically significant among the land use types. Moreover, lower landscape position and forest land had high mean value of SOC, TN, AP, CEC, EB (exchangeable bases), and available micronutrients, whereas upper landscape position and intensively cultivated land had low mean value of SOC, TN, AP, CEC, EB (exchangeable bases), and available micronutrients. Conclusion Landscape positions, land use types and interaction effects of landscape position and land use types (LSP * LU) significantly affected soil properties. Soil with best quality was found in lower landscape position and forest land, while less quality of soil was found in upper landscape position and cultivated land. Thus, efforts should be made to improve the quality of soil under upper landscape position and cultivated land using biological and physical soil conservation measures.

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The Effects of Land use Change on the Some Soil Properties in Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria

10.12944/crjssh.1.2.04 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 74-79

Author(s):

ADEBAYO, W. O. ◽

OLOFIN, E. O.

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Local Government ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Local Government Area ◽

Residential Land ◽

Land Use Types ◽

Residential Land Use ◽

Effects Of Land Use

The aim of this research is to examine the response of some soil properties to the changes in land cover/land use in Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Land use changes as a result of human activities have been identified as one of the greatest pressures to soil and forest resources. The change from natural vegetation land use to built-up and agricultural land uses is becoming rampant in Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of land use change on the some soil properties. Two major land use types which include forest lands and residential lands uses were explored. Soil samples were collected at the depth of 0 on 30cm through the use of soil auger from ten different locations in each of the two land use types in the study area making twenty soil samples. The use of t-test statistical tool was implored on the laboratory results in order to test for the differences between the soil in forest and residential land use types. Results revealed that the soil physico-chemical properties differed significantly between the sites. Chemical properties of the soil were found to be generally low in residential land use while they were high in vegetation land use. Bulk density was high in residential land use while it was low in forest land use.

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Measurement and estimation of land-use effects on soil carbon and related properties for soil monitoring: a study on a basalt landscape of northern New South Wales, Australia

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr09146 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 48 (5) ◽

pp. 421 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Brian R. Wilson ◽

Phoebe Barnes ◽

Terry B. Koen ◽

Subhadip Ghosh ◽

Dacre King

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Condition ◽

The Other ◽

Soil Monitoring ◽

Soil Layers ◽

Land Use Types ◽

Equivalent Mass ◽

Optimum Sample

There is a growing need for information relating to soil condition, its current status, and the nature and direction of change in response to management pressures. Monitoring is therefore being promoted regionally, nationally, and internationally to assess and evaluate soil condition for the purposes of reporting and prioritisation of funding for natural resource management. Several technical and methodological obstacles remain that impede the broad-scale implementation of measurement and monitoring schemes, and we present a dataset designed to (i) assess the optimum size of sample site for soil monitoring, (ii) determine optimum sample numbers required across a site to estimate soil properties to known levels of precision and confidence, and (iii) assess differences in the selected soil properties between a range of land-use types across a basalt landscape of northern NSW. Sample site size was found to be arbitrary and a sample area 25 by 25 m provided a suitable estimate of soil properties at each site. Calculated optimum sample numbers differed between soil property, depth, and land use. Soil pH had a relatively low variability across the sites studied, whereas carbon, nitrogen, and bulk density had large variability. Variability was particularly high for woodland soils and in the deeper soil layers. A sampling intensity of 10 samples across a sampling area 25 by 25 m was found to yield adequate precision and confidence in the soil data generated. Clear and significant differences were detected between land-use types for the various soil properties determined but these effects were restricted to the near-surface soil layers (0–50 and 50–100 mm). Land use has a profound impact on soil properties near to the soil surface, and woodland soils at these depths had significantly higher carbon, nitrogen, and pH and lower bulk density than the other land uses. Soil properties between the other non-woodland land-use types were largely similar, apart from a modestly higher carbon content and higher soil acidity under improved pasture. Data for soil carbon assessment should account for equivalent mass, since this significantly modified carbon densities, particularly for the lighter woodland soils. Woodland soils had larger quantities of carbon (T/ha corrected for equivalent mass) than any other land-use type, and in order to maintain the largest quantity of carbon in this landscape, retaining trees and woodland is the most effective option. Results from this work are being used to inform further development the NSW Statewide Soil Monitoring Program.

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Estimating the Spatial Distribution of Soil Properties Using Environmental Variables at a Catchment Scale in the Loess Hilly Area, China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16030491 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 491 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Chenxia Hu ◽

Alan Wright ◽

Gang Lian

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Spatial Distribution ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Regression Models ◽

Dominant Factor ◽

Check Dam ◽

Catchment Scale ◽

Terrain Attributes ◽

Land Use Types

A comprehensive understanding of the spatial distribution and dynamic changes of soil properties are the basis for sustainable land management. Topography and land use types are key factors affecting soil property variability. This study analyzed the effects of land use types and landscape locations on soil properties, based on data from 111 points of surface soil (0–20 cm) in the Zhujiagou catchment on the Loess Plateau of Northwest China. Soil properties include clay, silt, bulk density (BD), soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). Land use types include slope farmland (SFL), terrace farmland (TFL), check-dam farmland (CDL), woodland (WL), shrub land (SL) and grassland (GL). Landscape locations include crest (CT), upper slope (US), middle slope (MS), lower slope (LS) and flat valley (FV). Topographical attributes were divided into primary and secondary (or compound) attributes. Correlation analyses were carried out between soil properties and terrain attribute, and multiple-linear regression models were established to estimate soil properties using land use types and topographic attributes as independents. Results indicated that significant differences in soil properties existed between six land use types, except for bulk density. Higher values of clay, silt, SOM and TN occurred in soils from check-dam farmland, but lower values in soils from shrub land. Significant differences among landscape positions were observed for clay, BD, SOM and TN. Clay, SOM and TN contents on flat valley (FV) positions were higher than those of other positions. Different correlations were found between soil properties and terrain attributes. The regression models explained 13% to 63% of the variability of the measured soil properties, and the model for Clay had the highest R2 value, followed by TN, silt, BD, SOM and TP. Validation results of the regression models showed that the model was precise for soil bulk density, but the variation was large and a high smoothing effect existed for predicted values of other soil properties. For TP, the predicted result was poor. Further observations suggested that land use was the dominant factor affecting soil chemical properties. But for soil physical properties, especially for BD, topography was the dominant factor.

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Assessment of fertility status of soils under land use types in Egbema Area, Imo State, Nigeria

Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences ◽

10.4314/jafs.v17i2.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

C. Chikere-Njoku

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Fallow Land ◽

Cultivated Land ◽

Fertility Status ◽

Oil Palm Plantation ◽

Land Use Types ◽

Land Use System

The study was conducted to investigate fertility status under four different land use types (oil palm plantation, pineapple orchard, cassava cultivated land and fallow land use system) in Umuekem, Ohaji/Egbema of Imo State, Nigeria. Composite samples were collected from various depths (10-15cm, 15-30cm, 30-45cm) across these land use patterns and analyzed in the laboratory using the standard procedure. Data generated were subjected to statistical analysis. Results obtained showed significant differences (p ≥ 0.05) in silt-clay ratio, bulk density, total porosity, water holding capacity, soil pH, organic carbon, available phosphorus, TN and ECEC across the four land use types studied. The soils were predominantly loamy sand surface and sandy clay loam in the subsoil exception of pineapple orchard with sandy loam topsoil over sandy clay loam subsoil. The silt clay ratio (SCR) showed ranges of 0.10-0.30, 0.10-0.36, 0.07 – 0.30, and 0.06- 0.20 in land use types of oil palm plantation, pineapple orchard, cassava cultivated land and fallow land respectively. The bulk density ranged of (1.61 – 1.77 g/cm3) for oil palm, (1.34 – 1.58 g/cm3) for pineapple (1.42 – 1.49 g/cm3) cassava and (1.45 – 1.48 g/cm3) in forest land use system. The soils of the four land use types were generally acidic. The mean values of soil pH (H20) were oil palm plantation (5.11), pineapple orchard (5.03), cassava cultivated land (5.35) and fallow land (5.40). The soil pH recorded low variation in all the land use types. The organic carbon and total nitrogen recorded high variation (>52.57% < 85.67%, >79.19 < 95.77) in all the different land use types. Calcium-magnesium ratio (Ca: Mg) recorded high variation (37.36%) in forest land use system, low variation (18.77%) in pineapple orchard and moderate in cassava (27.51%) and oil palm plantation (28.23). The low Ca: Mg ratio inhibits uptake and causes Ca deficiency thereby resulting in low fertility status of the soil. C: P recorded high variation (≥ 53.77% ≤ 77.73%) in all the studied land use types. O.C correlated positively and highly significant with available phosphorus, ECEC and T.N. The findings also indicated that bulk density correlated positively with ECEC and percentage base saturation. It is recommended that land use approach should be adopted for effective and sustainable management of the soil fertility. Keywords: Fertility status, Soils, Land use types

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Effects of Land Use Types on Selected Soil Properties in Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Applied and Environmental Soil Science ◽

10.1155/2020/7026929 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Daniel Jaleta Negasa

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Lower Layer ◽

Cultivated Land ◽

Exchangeable Sodium Percentage ◽

Exchangeable Sodium ◽

Land Use Types ◽

Sodium Percentage ◽

Central Highlands ◽

Effects Of Land Use

Rapid land use changes have been observed in recent years in central Ethiopia. The shift from natural ecosystem to artificial ecosystem is the main direction of change. Therefore, this study was initiated to assess the effects of land use types on selected soil properties in Meja watershed, central highlands of Ethiopia. The randomized complete block design, including three adjacent land use types as treatments with three replications and two soil depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm), was applied in this study. There were significant differences in some soil properties among the three land use types. Lower soil pH and electric conductivity were observed in cultivated land soils than Eucalyptus woodlots soils. This has indicated the worsening soil conditions due to the shift from Eucalyptus woodlots to cultivated land. Less decomposition rate of the Eucalyptus leaves and debris collection for fuel could result in lowest soil organic carbon at the upper layer of Eucalyptus woodlot soils. However, the highest soil organic carbon at the lower layer was observed in Eucalyptus woodlot soils. The presence of highest soil potassium, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable potassium in cultivated land soil was related to application of artificial fertilizers. Grassland soils have highest exchangeable sodium at the lower layer while highest soil carbon and sum cations at the upper layer, which can be related to the grass root biomass return and less surface runoff on grassland. There was the highest exchangeable sodium percentage on Eucalyptus woodlot soils at the upper layer; it can be due to the less surface nutrient movement and growth characteristics of the tree. The soils in cultivated land was shifted to more acidic and less electric conductivity.This shift can lead to soil quality deterioration that affects the productivity of the soils in the future.Nutrient leaching, application of artificial fertilizer, soil erosion, and continuous farming have affected the soil properties in cultivated land. The presence of highest exchangeable sodium percentage and lowest sum of cations at the upper layer of soil in Eucalyptus woodlot should be noted for management and decision makers. The previous negative speculations on Eucalyptus woodlots which can be related with the soil texture, soil moisture, bulk density, total nitrogen, exchangeable magnesium, calcium, and available sulfur should be avoided because there were no significant differences observed among the three land use types in the study area. The study recommends further studies on the effects of Eucalyptus on soil properties by comparing among different ages and species of Eucalyptus. Finally, planting of Eucalyptus on central highlands of Ethiopia should be supported by land use management decision.

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