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Variability in Soil Moisture Content of Eucalyptus camaldulensis In Plantation and Agroforestry Teaching and Research Plot at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria

Samaila, Abdullahi and Lawal, A. I.

Variability in Soil Moisture Content of Eucalyptus camaldulensis In Plantation and Agroforestry Teaching and Research Plot at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine soil moisture variation of Eucalyptus camaldulensis stands in Plantation and Agroforestry teaching and research plot, Department of Forestry and Environment, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. The University lies between 13008’04”N and13008’07” N latitude and 5012’45” E and 5012’48” E longitude in Sokoto state, Nigeria. The plantation/plot was divided into three subplots based on the existing variation in growth performance within the Eucalyptus stands, which could be a result of soil moisture variation and physicochemical properties and a control (samples collected outside the stands). The soil moisture variation was determined at various depths (0-30cm, 31-60cm, 61-90cm, and 91-120cm) within each plot. Analysis of variance was used to analyze the data collected using SAS version 9.0 and the means were separated using the least significant difference test (LSD). The results of the study show a significant difference between the treatments. The highest soil moisture content occurred in plot C (5.34%) at 61-90cm depth, followed by plot B (3.05%) at 61-90cm depth, while plot A (2.28%) recorded the least moisture content at 0-30cm depth. The mean soil moisture increases with an increase in depth, the result shows that the highest soil moisture occurred in depths 61-90cm. the result also revealed the soil in the experimental plots is loamy sand which differs significantly (P > 0.05) in sand clay and silt percentage along the plots. EC, OC, OM, and Available phosphorus (ppm) were found to have no significant difference where pH and TN differ significantly (P>0.05). Based on the findings of this study, it was discovered that soil moisture variation and physicochemical properties influence the growth and development of this species. The plot with good growth performance was observed to have high soil moisture content. It is therefore recommended that optimum soil moisture and physicochemical properties of a particular species should always be put into considerations before establishing plantation of any species.

Nigerian Journal of

Forestry

© 2025 by Forestry Association of Nigeria.

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