Effect of land use type on organic C, physical properties and stability indices of soils in Nanka area, southeast Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted in Ifite-Nanka, Orumba North L.G.A. in Anambra state, Nigeria. The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of three land use types on soil organic carbon (SOC) and physical properties and to determine the factors that contributed to the stability of the eroded sites. Horizon variability of these soil parameters was also determined. The result showed that Oil palm plantation had significantly (p < 0.05) highest SOC value (0.51 %) followed by arable cropping (0.46 %) and least in cashew plantation (0.28 %). Oil palm plan- tation had the highest value of water stable aggregate (WSA) (15.35) followed by arable farm land (11.67) and least was cashew plantation but aggregate stabil- ity (AS) was highest in arable cropping. Along the profile, SOC was highest in A horizon and so was the WSA and AS. Among SOC, clay and sand content used in determining the stability of the soil, SOC explained 64.9 % and 45.5 % varia- tions in AS and WSA respectively. Collapsing the structural and stability indi- ces, more of the structural indices were improved in arable land use while more of the stability indices were improved oil palm plantation plots.