COMPARISON OF PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS UNDER FORESTED AND CROPPED LANDS

Abstract

A study was conducted in the Department of Range and Wildlife Management, University for Development Studies, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Nyankpala Campus, Tamale, Ghana during the year 2012. The aim was to assess the fertility status of cropped and forested land soils. The soil chemical and physical parameters determined were pH, organic carbon, available phosphorus, total nitrogen and texture (sand, silt and clay). A grid sampling was employed for collection of soil samples from one hectare each of cropped and forest lands. The results revealed higher levels of total nitrogen (0.22%), available phosphorus (11.09 mg/kg) and organic carbon (2.41 mg/kg) under forested land as compared to cropped land which had total nitrogen (0.07%), available phosphorus (4.67 mg/kg) and organic carbon (0.68 mg/kg) with significant differences (p<0.05). However, soil pH of under forested land (pH 5.28) was significantly (p<0.05) lower (acidic) compared to cropped land (pH 6.8). The textural class of forested land was clay loam and that of cropped land was loam. It is recommended that farmers in study area should adopt tree retention land use system that will help improve the nutrient status of their cropped lands