top of page
< Back

Physicochemical Properties of Soil under the Plantations of some Multipurpose Leguminous Tree Species

Baba, G.O., Bichi, A. M., Olaifa, R. K., Adeogun T. T. A. and Ali, M. E.

Placeholder Image

Rejuvenation of agricultural farming system to ensure continuous production and promoting soil fertility are panacea to fertility depletion, erosion and fertility management of agricultural land in arid and semi-arid Africa. This study examines variations in physicochemical properties of soils under stand of some leguminous tree species (Cassia siamea, Millettia thonningii and Acacia auriculiformis) at three soil depth (0-15, 15-30 and 30-45cm). Soil samples were collected at these three depths from plantation of each of the selected multipurpose tree species and subjected to laboratory analysis, and data obtained from soil physicochemical properties were subjected to analysis of variance using completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The results showed a decrease in organic matter, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus with increase in depth. Significantly higher OC (1.34%), OM (2.31%), and TN (0.78g/kg) were obtained from Millettia at 0-15cm while lowest amount was obtained from control (OC = 0.37%, OM = 0.64% and TN = 0.31g/kg) at 30-45cm. Similarly, highest amount of AVP (9.9g/kg) was recorded from Cassia at 0-15cm while lowest amount was obtained from control (1.89g/kg) at 30-45cm. Highest pH (7.30) was recorded from Cassia at 0-15cm, Millettia at 0-15 and 15-30cm and lowest pH was obtained from the control (6.10) at 30-45cm, while higher EC (0.55dS/m) and HC (4.77cm/s) were obtained from Cassia at 0-15cm and lowest obtained from the control (EC = 0.10dS/m at 0-45cm and HC = 0.51cm/s at 30-45cm) . Highest CEC (1.00cmol/kg) and ECEC (9.22cmol/kg) were recorded from Millettia at 0-15cm and 30-45cm and lowest was recorded from Acacia, Cassia and control (CEC = 0.40cmol/kg) at 30-45cm and Acacia (ECEC = 4.60cmol/kg) at 0-15cm, while highest ESP (6.19%) was obtained from the control plot at 0-15cm and lowest from Milletia (2.80%) at 0-15cm. Highest BD (1.60g/cm3) and PD (2.82g/cm3) was obtained from control field at 0-15cm and lowest was obtained from Millettia (0.86g/cm3 and 1.40g/cm3) at 0-15cm respectively. Variation in soil depth under each leguminous tree species had significant effect on physicochemical properties and this could form the basis for their selection in improving degraded soil and to improve soil fertility in the study area.

Nigerian Journal of

Forestry

© 2025 by Forestry Association of Nigeria.

bottom of page