Physicochemical properties of soils of Farai and Ga’anda Sacred Forests, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This research was conducted to compare soil nutrient status of Farai and Ga’anda sacred forests of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Plot method was used for the data collection were a one-hectare 100m × 100m was marked out. Soil samples were collected from ten (10) auger points within established plots for physicochemical analysis. Student t-test was used to compare results from the two sacred forests. The highest values for soil physical parameters in the sacred forests were Farai; Sand 83.20%; Silt 27.6%; Clay 39.20%; BD 1.6g/cm3; porosity 50% and WHC was 16%, while that of Ga’anda were Sand 75.20%; Silt 21.6%; Clay 39.20%; BD 1.58g/cm3; porosity 50% and WHC was 15%. Similarly, the highest values for soil chemical parameters in the two sacred forests were Farai; pH 7.90; EC 0.42dS/m; OC 1.76%; TN 0.30%. AVP 13.76 ppm; Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, TEB TEA, ECEC and PBS highest values were; 6.40, 3.60, 1.70, 0.56, 10.12, 3.20 and 13.32 Cmol/Kg and 72.83%, while that of Ga’anda were pH 7.60; EC 0.29dS/m; OC 1.17%; TN 0.20%. AVP 12.57 ppm; Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, TEB TEA, ECEC and PBS highest values were; 6.40, 3.60, 1.00, 0.79, 10.43, 3.20 and 12.54 Cmol/Kg and 89.68% respectively. The Student t-test for the soil parameters between the two forests tested at (P ≤ 0.05) level of significance showed no significant differences in physical properties. The chemical parameters however showed significant differences only in OC, TN, TEA and PBS. Findings of this study have revealed high levels of some nutrients necessary for tree species flourishing while there were low levels of others. It is thus recommended that conservation of sacred forests particularly in the semi-arid regions of Nigeria should be encouraged as a means to conservation of the soils.