Status of soils collected under some agroforestry trees

Abstract

Soil the bed rock for natural provision of macro and micro nutrients for plant growth and development. A soil is considered unhealthy when it can longer supply required nutrients for plant growth due to over use or degradation. To mitigate soil low fertility, agroforestry method of raising trees and crops together makes nutrients available continuously for crop production, through dropping of its parts as litter which decays to add organic matter and nutrients to soil. Soils sampled with soil auger from seven agroforestry trees farm lands namely Gmelina arborea Roxb., Treculia africana Decne., Tectona grandis Linn. f., Pentaclethera macrophylla Benth., Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O’Rorke) Baill., Mangifera indica Linn., Annona muricata Linn. and Fallow farmland as control were evaluated for macro and micro elements using standard laboratory methods and results presented with the highest and smallest values from each parameters evaluated: pH: 5.6, 4.5(Fa and Pm);%N,OC:0.21,0.10(Pm, Fl and Ma),3.40,1.30(Pm and Ig);EC (µS/cm):151.0,88.0(Fl and Tg), P, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn (mg/Kg): 72.10, 19 .60 (Ta and Ma),111.02, 46.27 (Ta and Tg), 138.47,21.51(Pm and Am),1.53,0.80(Pm and Am), 8.08, 1.86(Ta and Mi); %Sand, Silt, Clay:88,70(Am, Ma and Tg), 16.50, 4.60(Ma and Tg, Am), 13.50,7.50 (Tg and Tg, Pm and Am); Ca, Mg, K, Na, Acidity, Al, ECEC(cmol/Kg)3.43, 0.59 (Ta and Tg),1.00, 0.24(Am and Mi), 0.15,0.07 (Pm, Ma, Ig and Am), 0.40,0.35(Tg, Ma, Ig and Am), 16.90,4.05(Tg and Am), 2.8,1.10(Tg and Am), 21.10,8.70(Tg and Am). We conclude by recommending agroforestry practice as way out of managing and sustaining soil health within the agroecosystems for continuous plant and food crop production as well sustaining the environment.