Evaluation of the Effect of Oil Palm on some Physical and Chemical Properties of Rhodic paleudults

Abstract

The study was carried out in an Oil Palm Plantation bearing 20 year old palm in an area of about 4.05 ha. The general objective of this study was to understand the variations that result in the soil (Rhodic paleudult) due to some physical and chemical properties resulting from the impact of oil palm trees planted on the soil over the years. Descriptive statistical analysis rated the status of total N as high, while available P and exchangeable K were rated low. Exchangeable Ca was rated high in the surface layer and subsoil while Mg was rated high in the surface but low at the subsoil. Variability in the contents of available P, exchangeable K, Ca and Mg was high, but moderate for total N. The experiment shows that oil palm does have remarkable influence on soil chemical properties. The high level variation in the organic carbon content, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and potassium observed could be attributed to oil palm impact on the soil as no fertilization have been carried out on this field for over fifteen years.