Selected soil properties as influenced by cropping system and sampling depths in Igboora, Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT

 The influence of cropping systems on some selected soil properties was studied at Igboora, Oyo State, Nigeria. The cropping systems evaluated included monocropping, intercropping, and uncultivated land as control. Soil samples were collected from each of these cropping systems at two depths (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm) with four replications. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means separated using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 5% level of probability. The physico-chemical characteristics of the soil considered were significantly different among various cropping systems and soil sampling depth. The sand fraction of the soils decreased with soil depth while silt and clay fraction increased with soil depth. Except N, all other chemical characteristics of the soil (pH, OC and K) were highest in uncultivated cropping land. The values were 6.51, 1.7 % and 0.33 cmol kg-1 for pH, OC and K, respectively. However, available P was highest (4.93 mg kg-1) in monocropping. In addition, all chemical characteristics (OC, pH, N, P and K) were observed to decrease with soil sampling depth. This study concluded that both cropping systems and sampling depth affects the soil properties in the area.