Land Clearing Effect on the Variability of some Soil Properties of an Alfisol in South-Western Nigeria

Abstract

The variability of some soil properties of a mechanically cleared plot was compared with an adjacent plot under natural vegetation in an Alfisol of South-western Nigeria. The soil properties studied were pH, total N, available P, exchangeable acidity Ca, Mg, A/a, K and effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC), organic matter and particle size fractions. Land clearing increased the variability of total N, exchangeable acidity, Ca, Mg, Na and ECEC while it decreased that of available P, exchangeable K, organic matter and soil texture. The variability groupings differed between the plots for available P, exchangeable Mg and silt content. Results of t-tests showed significant differences between the plots for total N, exchangeable Ca and organic matter