The Impact of Cropping Systems on Fertility Status of Soil in Babanla Rural Area, Nigeria

This study was carried out to examine the impact of cropping systems on fertility status of soil in Babanla rural community of Kwara State, Nigeria. Two farms sites of mono cropping and mixed cropping and a fallow land (control) within the same ecological zone were used for the study. Sixty soil samples were collected from the three sites at 0-20cm depth from a 25m x 25m quadrat. Soil samples collected were subjected to laboratory analysis for essential soil chemical properties that are paramount to soil fertility. The results of the analysis revealed that the means values of the chemical properties decreases through fallow land to mono cropping and mixed cropping system. As a result of the reduction in the nutrient contents of the soils under the two cropping systems, when compared with the contents on fallow land, a significant variation in crop output is inevitable. This means that the cropping systems have effects on soil elements, fertility status and has implications for agricultural productivity. It is recommended that appropriate environmentally friendly soil management techniques suitable for each cropping system should be adopted by farmer to enhance soil fertility and sustain food production in the study area and Nigeria in general.