Volume 11, Issue 23, January - June 2025

Evaluation of structural stability, soil properties, quality and quantity of organic materials in soils of different history

Nweke IA¹, Nwosu VT², Okafor JM², Maduke CO²

¹Department of Soil Science Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra, Nigeria
²Department of Soil and Land Resource Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Land use practices influenced soil nutrients, quality and quantity of organic materials. The soil used for the present study according FAO are classified as; Dystric nitosol from Oko, Orthic acrisol from Anaku, Orthic luvisol from Omor and Gyleic luvisol from Achalla. The land use system studied were forested (10 years) and cultivated soils. 0-25cm depth soil samples collected were air dried, sieved and used for soil properties determination. Results findings showed significant differences among the soil parameters tested. The percentage decrease in OM and CEC content in cultivated soils compared to forest soils varied from 31.9% - 64% (OM) and 10.96% - 33.94% (CEC). The Ca + Mg/Al3+ + H+ ratio was observed higher in forested soils and ranged between 4.33 – 90 as against the range between 3.38 – 11 recorded in cultivated soils. C/N ratio varied 10.3 – 10.15 (Forested), 6.54 – 9.98 (Cultivated) and N/P 1.36 – 1.41 (Forested), 1.39 – 1.41 (Cultivated) respectively. C/P varied from 13.81 – 14.27 (Forested) and 9.24 – 13.87 (Cultivated). Particulate organic materials tested all decreased following cultivation. Correlation matrix showed organic matter to be highly positively significantly (P < 0.01) correlated with OC, N and available P with N. The findings from this study proved that continuous cultivation cause depletion of soil nutrients, structural stability and the integrity of the soils. Thus, judicious and protective plan have to be employed in soils of southeastern, Nigeria that is so fragile to ensure food security.

Keywords: Food security, soil management, soil sustainability, soil mineralogy, soil erosion

Discovery Agriculture, 2025, 11, e7da3109

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v11i23.e7da3109

Published: 09 April 2025