Soil organic matter and soil structural stability under different landuses in Koupendri catchment, Benin Republic
1 Department of Soil Science University of Nigeria, 410001 Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
2 Department of Soil Science and Environmental Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki Ebonyi State Nigeria
3 University of Nigeria, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil Science, 410001 Nsukka, Enugu state, Nigeria.
4 National Institute of Agricultural Research of Benin Laboratory of Soil Sciences, water and environment, 01 B.P. 988 Cotonou, Benin.
* Corresponding author: chukwuebuka.azuka@unn.edu.ng
2 Department of Soil Science and Environmental Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki Ebonyi State Nigeria
3 University of Nigeria, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil Science, 410001 Nsukka, Enugu state, Nigeria.
4 National Institute of Agricultural Research of Benin Laboratory of Soil Sciences, water and environment, 01 B.P. 988 Cotonou, Benin.
* Corresponding author: chukwuebuka.azuka@unn.edu.ng
Abstract
Knowledge of contribution of land use to sustenance of soil organic matter (SOM) and soil structural stability is crucial to management of tropical soils for optimization of ecosystem services. The study evaluated SOM and soil structural stability in maize-sorghum (MS), fallow shrub land (FL) and rice field (RF) in Koupendri catchment, Benin Republic from which representative composite soil samples were collected at 0 – 20 cm depth and assessed. The SOM was highest for MS land use and significantly differed by 61 and 74% compared to RF and FL land uses. The indices for soil structural stability significantly (p
Keywords
Catchment
Indices
Land use
SOM
Soil structural stability