Influence of Nimbia forest biomass on soil properties in Southern Kaduna

Abstract

Changes in Forest biomass frequently influence the physicochemical composition of soil. In the Nimbia Forest Reserve, Southern Kaduna, certain physical and chemical soil parameters were investigated across changes in the forest biomass sequence. The objective was to ascertain how changes in forest biomass will impact on soil properties. In order to represent changes in forest biomass stages. Soil samples (0–20 cm depth) were taken from three different forest plots: (Plot A, Plot B, and Plot C). Between 2021 and 2022, soil samples were examined for the following soil properties: soil organic matter (SOM), soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), pH, NH4 +-N, available potassium (K), available phosphorus (P), and microelements (available copper (Cu), available zinc (Zn), available iron (Fe), and available boron (B)). The findings demonstrated that the changes in forest biomass had higher amounts of SOM, SMBC, Cu, Zn, Fe, and B. (Plot B). In contrast, P and pH were higher in the Plot A but lower in the Plot B. While SOM, Zn, Cu, Fe, and B increased with increasing forest biomass, pH, NH4 +-N, P, and K decreased. In the three different forest plots, the soil pH was less than 4.5, which showed that Nimbia's surface soil was acidic, a consistent tendency.