Variations in selected physical proprieties of the soils of the sahel savannah as influenced by shleterbelt

Abstract

Infiltration rate, water content and textural properties of soils in the Sahel region of Nigeria as they are affected by shelterbelts were studied. The study was conducted on three measurement positions (60, 120 and 180 m) within the shelterbelt and the control was the unsheltered area. The site was situated on the southern fringes of the Sahara desert about 53 km from Sokoto metropolis. Infiltration rate was significantly different (P=0.05) when the open soil was compared with the control. Infiltration rate also showed significant difference between (60, 120, 180, m) measurement positions within the shelterbelt. The field capacity showed statistical improvement over the open soil and 60 m measurement position, which is the immediate vicinity of the shelterbelt. But there was no significant difference between 60 and 120 m and 120 and 180 mand 60 and 180 m measurement positions. Permanent wilting point showed significant difference between the open and the protected soil. The field capacity (FC) also showed significant difference between the open soil and the protected soil. But there was no significant difference among the blocks in the protected soil. Differences in sand, silt and clay contents of the protected soil differed significantly from the unprotected soil. The research showed immense benefit of the shelterbelt to soil physical properties.Keywords: Infiltration, water content, textural properties, Sahel, shelterbelt