Effect of Long-term Cultivation on Physical Properties of a Sandy Soil in Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in peasant (local) farmers’ farms in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto to investigate the effect of long-term cultivation (involving organic fertilization) on physical properties of a sandy soil in Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria. The experiment consisted of two treatments (cultivated and uncultivated lands) which were replicated 5 times. Measurement of Physical (texture, bulk density: Bd, total porosity: TP, and gravimetric moisture content: Øm) properties of the soil 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, long-term farmers cultivation practices has no significant (p> 0.05) effect on physical properties of the soil, except Øm, sand and silt contents. However, long-term continuous cultivation slightly deteriorated physical quality of the soil (at 0-15 cm soil depth), which is reflected by increased Bd, reduced TP and Øm contents of the soil. The study further revealed that, cultivation encourages redistribution of silt within measured depths. Cultivated soil had highest silt (103.40 g/kg) and lowest sand (876.60 g/kg) at the 0-15 cm soil depth compared to the uncultivated soil, while a reverse trend was observed at the 15-30 cm soil depth. From the results, it can be concluded that, the farmers’ long-term cultivation practice is still normal soil tillage that is capable of maintaining the soil’s physical properties for sustainable agricultural crop production over longer (20-25 years) period of cultivation.