Variability in the Physico-chemical Properties of Soils of Similar Lithology in Three Land Use Types in Ahiazu Mbaise, Imo State Nigeria

Variability in the physicochemical properties of soils of different land uses form from the same lithology was studied. Soil samples were collected from surface (0 – 20 cm) and subsurface (20 – 40 cm) depths from three land use namely fallow land, continuous cultivated land and mechanic village land. The soils were air dried, sieved with 2 mm sieve and subjected to routine laboratory analysis. Results obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant treatment means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 0.05 probability level. Relationship between selected soil properties were determined using correlation analysis. Results showed that the textures of the studied soils were not affected by land use practices. Bulk density increased with increase in depth with fallow land recoding the lowest values of 0.86 g/cm3 (0.-20 cm depth) and 1.06 g/cm3 (20 – 40 cm depth). Land use types significantly (P = 0.05) affected soil chemical properties such as soil pH, soil organic carbon, total N, available P and exchangeable cations with the highest values recorded in fallow land, followed by palm plantation and the least was continuous cultivated land. There were slight variations among soil properties in the three land use types studied. Significant positive and negative correlations existed and some soil properties. Good soil management practices such as organic fertilization, zero tillage and mulching is recommended especially in continuous cultivated lands.