Effects of agricultural management practices on selected soil physical and chemical properties in a derived savanna of South West Nigeria

Abstract

Fostering sustainable agricultural production systems requires an understanding of how common management approaches affect the physical and chemical characteristics of soil health. This research examined the effect of agricultural management practices on selected soil physical and chemical properties at the Teaching and Research Farm of the College of Agriculture, Osun State University, Ejigbo Campus, Ejigbo, Osun State. Agricultural management practices have profound impacts on both soil environment and agricultural productivity. Some selected soil physical and chemical properties examined were: aggregate stability, bulk density, porosity, hydraulic conductivity, moisture content, organic carbon, and soil pH. The results revealed that aggregate stability in organic farm (OF) and fallow land (FL) were higher than plots managed with synthetic fertilizer (IF) by 24.18 and 26.52 % (p < 0.05) respectively. In addition, soil managed with manure and FL had higher hydraulic conductivity and significantly different from soil that was managed with synthetic fertilizer by 73.83 and 75.83%, respectively. From a soil-fertility perspective, long-term organic soil management and fallow practices improve the C:N ratio, gravimetric moisture content, and organic matter content in the surface layer. In contrast, prolonged inorganic fertilization tends to reduce these properties, which can ultimately affect the ability to increase and sustain yield productivity. The low C:N ratio in soils treated with inorganic fertilizer accelerates microbial turnover of nitrogen and organic matter but does not support carbon sequestration. In contrast, soil management that incorporates animal waste in OF and FL improves soil health indicators and enhances carbon storage, contributing to environmental protection. Keywords: soil properties, hydraulic conductivity, manure, moisture content, aggregate stability