2010 · 50 citations · 0 references
Abstract: The infiltration characteristics of soils under four different land use practices were studied in Owerri, Southeastern Nigeria. The land use practices considered were: arable crop land, bush fallow, continuously cultivated land and pineapple orchard. The study aimed at examining the effect of various farming practices on infiltration and determine the degree of relationship between infiltration rates and selected soil properties under different land use practices. The experiment was arranged in a random complete block design which was replicated thrice. The infiltration rates of the soils were measured using the double-ring infiltrometer. Soil samples from these areas were analysed for selected soil physicochemical properties. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance, coefficient of variation and correlation and regression analysis.Results showed that bush fallow land had the highest average infiltration of 264 mm/hr while arable crop land experienced the least average rate of 164 mm/hr. From the analysis of variance, there was a highly significant difference (p=0.01) in infiltration rates among treatment means. The coefficient of variation was found to be 3.35%. There were appreciable relationships between steady infiltration rates and soil organic matter, bulk density and total porosity in the order r=0.963,-0.898 and 0.899, respectively. Bulk density, however, was found to be negatively correlated with the infiltration rates, sand and clay%, respectively, however, showed an insignificant relationships (p=0.05) with infiltration rates in the order of r=0.026 and 0.085. It was therefore suggested that marginal lands that are fragile and prone to soil erosion and other soil degradation problems be reverted to bush fallow for organic matter build-up.