Faculty of Agriculture, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria, Africa

Soil science department, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria, Africa
Soil organic carbon ,Bulk density ,WSA ,

Soil quality indicators or parameters are essential tools for assessing agronomic productivity and ascertain temporal changes in soil properties in relation to land use. This study was conducted within the area councils of federal capital territory Abuja, Nigeria to: identify key soil properties that impact soil quality and agronomic productivity and evaluate the soil quality parameter inter-relationship. Bulk and core samples were collected from 0-20 cm depth from the farmers’ fields, in order to determine soil quality parameters. Soil organic carbon, total Nitrogen (TN), magnesium, potassium, bulk density, WSA, DR and CEC were all responsive to land use: P = 0.002, P = 0.005, P = 0.017, P = 0.044, P = 0.04, P = 0.001, p=0.051, and p=0.041 respectively, other indicators show no significant difference. Soil under both cashew and mangoes plantations have highest values of soil properties followed by both cowpea and cassava plantation while rice plantation has the lowest soil quality indicator properties among all the ten different land use types studied. The results indicated that land use types had a significant effect on soil quality properties, and also interrelationship between land use type and soil properties.

4 , 12 , 2014