Abstract
In Antra watershed, land use system has an effect on soil fertility status where cultivated lands suffered in nutrient depletion. This study, therefore, was designed to investigate effects of different land use systems on soil fertility status of Nitisols of Antra watershed. Twenty-seven soil samples were collected depth wise (0 - 15, 15 - 30 and 30 - 45 cm) from cultivated, forest and grazing lands based on stratification. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Land use systems and soil depth showed variations in soil physicochemical properties. The maximum pH (5.03), OC (4.6%), total N (0.28%), available S (11.1 ppm), CEC (42.2 cmolc kg-1), soil exchangeable bases (Ca (22.2), K (0.76) and Na (0.58 cmolc kg-1)) and extractable micronutrients (( Fe (14.2) and Mn (24.1 ppm)) were observed on the surface layers of forest land while the minimum were recorded in cultivated land although relatively higher available P (5.5 ppm) was observed on the surface layers of cultivated land. The results revealed that soil fertility is low in cultivated lands than forest and grazing lands. Hence, it is possible to infer that forest lands were rich in plant nutrients while over cultivation depleted it which urges to take important measures for preserving remnant forests and maintaining the fertility status of cultivated soils in the study area.
Highlights
In Sub-Saharan Africa, soil fertility depletion is the fundamental cause for declining per capital food production as crop lands have a negative nutrient balance, with annual losses ranging from 1.5 - 7.1 t ha-1 of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) mainly due to crop harvest, leaching and low inputs applied to the soils [1, 2]
The maximum (33.9%) mean sand was observed on the surface layer (0 - 15 cm) of forest land followed by the surface layer of grazing land (26.6%) while the minimum (8.5%) in the sub-surface (15 - 30 cm) layer of cultivated land with an increase of 298.8% the overall mean is 19.7%
The overall mean clay content of the watershed is 48.2%, the highest (73.4%) mean was recorded in the sub-surface (30 - 45 cm) layer of cultivated land while the lowest (25.2%) on the surface layer of forest land by showing an increase of 191.3% which might be due to the high leaching of clay particles down profile in cultivated land and complexing agent of humus (OM) on the clay particles of forest land that reduce its leaching in suspension
Summary
In Sub-Saharan Africa, soil fertility depletion is the fundamental cause for declining per capital food production as crop lands have a negative nutrient balance, with annual losses ranging from 1.5 - 7.1 t ha-1 of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) mainly due to crop harvest, leaching and low inputs applied to the soils [1, 2]. Evaluating soil physicochemical properties is important to understand the potential status of nutrients in soils of different land use systems [4, 5]. Changes in land use systems and soil management can have a marked effect on soil fertility [6] mainly the conversion of natural ecosystem (forest land) to crop land results in declining soils physical, chemical and biological properties [7]. Deforestation and cultivation of virgin tropical soils often lead to the depletion of N, P, sulfur (S) and other plant nutrients that lead to aluminum (Al), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) toxicity which increase soil acidity [11, 12, 13], and reduce important microbial population
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
