Abstract:
Land use changes implemented locally could have worldwide implications on soil physiochemical
properties, soil fertility, and soil erosion sensitivity. The effects of oil palm plantation,
forest, rubber plantation, mixed cropping, sole cassava and waste dump site soils were studied.
Results showed that soil organic matter was higher oil palm plantation and forest soils (32.5 g
kg-1
and 28.2 g kg-1
) respectively. Mixed cropping increased soil acidity by 45% compared to oil
palm plantation and forest soils. Available P and total N were 35.2 mg kg-1 and 1.3 g kg-1
respectively in oil palm plantation soils. These values were 42.5% and 68.5% higher than that of
rubber plantation soils. Exchangeable bases were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in oil palm
plantation, forested, and rubber plantation soils than mixed cropping and waste dumpsite soils.
Low base status in mixed cropping soils was attributable to constant removal of these elements
by plants over the years.
Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) as high as 21.11% and 10.11% were found in waste
dump site and soil cassava cultivated soils. There was generally, high tendency of clay deflocculation
in waste dump site, sole cassava, and mixed cropping soils, with adverse
implications on infiltration rate and flooding due to elevation values of sodium adsorption ratio
(SAR) and ESP. Oil palm and rubber plantations can be enhances soil organic matter and can be
used for arable crop production.
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