Effect of Peasant Farmers Cultivation Practices on Chemical Properties of a Sandy Soil in Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

Maximization of agricultural crop production could require continuous cultivation likewise soil protection. Thus, an experiment was carried out in local farmers’ farm lands in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria to investigate the effect of different cultivation practices on chemical properties of a sandy soil. The experiment consisted of two treatments (cultivated and uncultivated lands) replicated 5 times. Measurement of chemical properties of the soil such as organic matter (OM), organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were made at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm soil depths. Data obtained was analyzed using two-sample t-test. The results revealed that, farmers cultivation practices has no significant (p> 0.05) effect on chemical properties of the soil. However, there was a slight deterioration in chemical quality of the soil (at 0-15 cm soil depth) due to long-term continuous cultivation. The study further revealed that, cultivation encourages redistribution of OM contents of the soil within measured depths. From the results, it can be concluded that, the farmers cultivation practice (1 camel traction, 1-2 hand hoe cultivation plus camel or cow dung manure application per year) is still normal soil tillage that is capable of maintaining the soil’s chemical quality for agricultural crop production over longer (20 -25 years) period of cultivation. It is however recommended that, periodic checking (5-10 years) of chemical fertility status of the soil (farms) should be encouraged.