Assessment of the Physical and Chemical Properties of Three Contrasting Soils Under Different Land Use Systems

This study was undertaken to evaluate the physical and chemical properties of three contrasting soils under four land use systems. The soil types considered were Vertic Cambisol, Haplic Lixisol and Ferric Luvisol while the land use types studied are cocoa plantation (CP), grazing land (GL), fallow land (FL) and cultivated land (CL). Soil samples were collected at 0-15cm and 15-30cm depths respectively from each of the locations. The soil samples were air dried and passed through a 2mm sieve and taken to the laboratory for analysis. The result of the study showed a higher sand content being recorded in Haplic Lixisol (CL) and Ferric Luvisol 2 (FL) followed by that of Vertic Cambisol (CP) and Ferric Luvisol 1 (GL) in the upper 0 to15 cm depth and lower 15-30 cm. The soil pH within the soil types and depths could be categorized as slightly acidic to moderately alkaline. The organic carbon content of the soils was generally low; it varied from 0.18% to 1.29 % for 0 to 15 cm depth with Vertic Cambisol (CP) having the highest value. The mean available P content was not significantly (P≤0.05) different among the soil and land use types. The total nitrogen recorded was generally low 1.006 - 1.304% at 0-15cm while at the lower depth it ranged between 0.566 – 0.768%. The exchangeable bases also decreased following cultivation. The result of the study shows that continuous cultivation without adequate management practices causes a decline in the physical and chemical properties of the soil.