Aggregate Stability and Dispersibility Index of Soil in Relation to Land Use Management in Humid Tropics of Southeast Nigeria
Keywords:
aggregates, agriculture, dispersion, soaking, tillageAbstract
Soil aggregate stability and dispersibility are among the key indicators of soil health and productivity hence the aggregate stability and dispersibility of soil was evaluated in relation to land use management practices in Awka and Ifite Ogwari areas of Anambra State, Nigeria. The study made use of three land use practices namely arable land for cassava farming, rice farm and grassland. Auger and core soil samples were collected from each of the land use types in three replicates at 0-20 cm depth. Collected soil samples were subjected to laboratory analysis after which the results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. From the results obtained, the soils at Awka site had a sandy loam textural class while that of Ifite Ogwari had a clay textural class. Aggregate stability index (ASI) was generally low and ranged from 0.003-0.008 Jkg-1. Organic carbon ranged from 0.36-1.12% while dispersion ratio (DR) ranged from 56.67-83.14% of which cassava farm recorded the highest DR value at Ifite Ogwari site. The higher the DR the more the ability of soil to disperse and the more soil loss. Soil dispersibility increased as time intervals increased of which significant differences were obtained at 4hrs, 12hrs, 16hrs and 20hrs intervals except at 8hrs. Continuous land use without replenishing the organic carbon content of soils was observed to have led to the structural imbalance hence to improve the stability of the soils and ensure aggregate formation practices like residue management and organic matter incorporation must be adopted.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Nwosu T. V., Onunwa A. O., Nnabuihe E. C., Okafor M. J., Madueke C. O., Nwaiwu C .J., Ibigweh M .N., Chukwuma T. R., Ikot I. E., Igboka C. R., Obasi S. N. (Author)
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