Abstract
Knowledge of infiltration characteristics of soils is necessary for designing quality soil management and conservation practices on agricultural and urban lands. This is predicated upon accurate evaluation of the infiltration characteristics of the soil. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of three land use practices, namely, oil palm plantation (OP), bush fallow (FL) and continuous cultivation (CC) on the infiltration characteristics of soils formed on sandstone parent material in northern Akwa Ibom State, south-eastern Nigeria. Infiltration was measured with the double ring infiltrometer for a cumulative time of two (2) hours and the data generated fitted into the Philip two term infiltration equation. Results showed that differences in final infiltration rate (if) and cumulative infiltration (I) were significant (p≤0.05) between OP and FL. Also, there were significant (p≤0.05) differences between OP and CC in initial infiltration rate (io), final infiltration rate (if), cumulative infiltration (I), and sorptivity (S). However, the trend was OP>FL>CC. Differences between FL and CC were not significant. Generally, low infiltration characteristics were recorded in CC than in FL and OP and indicated the degradative effect of continuous cultivation on soil properties and crop production especially where crop residues are not incorporated into the soil. Results from OP and FL suggest that occasional fallowing may be necessary to alleviate infiltrationimpeding soil surface conditions and improve soil and water conservation for crop production in the study area in Akwa Ibom State. Keywords : Land use practices, infiltration characteristics, soil water storage, soil properties, sandstone parent material
Highlights
Soil water is one of the principal factors limiting the growth of plants in the arid and semi-arid environment where total crop water requirements usually exceed water supply, and in the humid environment where poor rainfall distribution and water management result in occasional water stresses (Musa and Adeoye, 2010)
Field Methods The study was conducted in land that was cultivated to oil palm (OP), three-year old fallow (FL), and under continuous cultivation (CC) which were widely separated in space in the area
The soil properties presented in the table are particle-size fractions, bulk density, total porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, available water content, water stable aggregates, and soil organic carbon content
Summary
Soil water is one of the principal factors limiting the growth of plants in the arid and semi-arid environment where total crop water requirements usually exceed water supply, and in the humid environment where poor rainfall distribution and water management result in occasional water stresses (Musa and Adeoye, 2010). An important soilecosystem function is the enhancement of soil water storage and minimization of runoff and erosion (Lal and Shukla, 2005) This process is controlled by soil biophysical interacting forces which create a stable soil structure with enough macropores to rapidly transmit water. Soil that is continually disturbed by tillage and other anthropogenic activities often loses its resilience and develops poor structural characteristics, including surface sealing and crusting, and reduced infiltration and high runoff and erosion. This is because intensified land use primarily affects soil’s intrinsic and dynamic properties including soil structure and structure-moderated soil properties.
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