Abstract

The effects of some land use type, namely: maize, natural and cultivated pasture on the quality of a Typic Plinthustalf were investigated. It involved the collection of soil samples from experimental plots from the three land use types along three diagonal transects at 0 to 25 cm depth. Soil samples from each transect were bulked to form a composite. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated 3 times. Land use types were the treatments, while composite samples from respective transects were used as replications. A total of nine composite soil samples were collected and taken to the laboratory for routine laboratory analysis following standard procedures. Results revealed that irrespective of the land use types, soil texture was generally sandy loam. Soil reaction was neutral (pH 6.7), organic carbon and nitrogen were low. Potassium content was medium in natural pasture and maize field, but high in the cultivated pasture. Phosphorus was low in natural pasture and maize field but medium in the cultivated pasture. Land use had no significant (P≥0.05) effects on the distribution of sand, silt, clay, pH and potassium. Significant (P≤0.05) effects of land use were observed on organic carbon, total nitrogen and available phosphorus. While natural pasture showed potential for soil quality improvement, cultivated pasture and maize field would require the incorporation of organic matter and inorganic N-fertilizers to enhance the soil quality.

Key words: Soil quality, Typic Plinthustalf, land use types, soil properties, sustainable land management