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Effect of Maize Production on Soil Properties of Lands Under Gmelina Arborea and Tectona Grandis Fallows

MGBONU Kelechi, ZARMA Adamu Garba, and OKPOITARI Simeon

Abstract

The research evaluated effect of maize production on properties of soils under Gmelina and teak fallows. Soil properties were determined before planting and after harvesting of maize. The soil under Gmelina arborea had relatively better physico-chemical properties than the soils under Tectona grandis than the natural regrowth. The trends were ranges of 1.50-2.97% for organic matter; 0.04-0.07% for total N; 80.4-104.04 mgkg-1 for NO3-N; 527.40-653.40mg kg-1 for NH4-N; 11.00-41.00mgkg-1 for available P; 8.11-12.32 cmolkg-1 for Ca; 2.10- 2.91comlg kg-1 for Mg; 0.08-0.11cmolkg-1 for Na; 0.13-0.18 cmolkg-1 for K; 2.08-3.20 cmolkg- 1 for EA; 12.61-18.18 cmolkg-1 for ECEC; 78.03-85.77% for base saturation; 6.30-7.10 for pH; 1.31-1.62g cm-3 for soil bulk density; 77.40-84.00% for sand fraction; 4.24-8.72% for silt content; 11.76-17.88% for clay content. After maize harvest, soil properties were not reduced but rather improved such that organic matter increased from 2.14 to 2.34 %; total N from 0.055 to 0.061 %; available P from 31.81 to 32.63 mgkg-1 and ECEC from 15.24 to 17.32 cmolkg-1. The use of agro-forestry species, Gmelina arborea and Tectona grandis on Alfisols upheld the holistic sustainability concept of modern agriculture by improving the soil fertility and productivity.

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