ASSESEMENT OF SOIL QUALITY UNDER DIFFERENT AGRICULTURAL LAND USE TYPES IN PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU UNIVERSITY ANYIGBA, KOGI STATE.

ABSTRACT The study was conducted to assess the soil quality of three different agricultural land use (oilpalm plantation land, Cassava land and grassland) in within Prince Abubakar Audu UniveristyAnyigba, Kogi state. The objectives were to assess and evaluate the physicochemical properties of the soil in relation to agricultural land use practices and to provide recommendations for improving soil management practices that enhances soil fertility and quality. The results revealed that the entire soil unit were dominated by sand texture with a textural class of Loamy-sand. The pH ranged from slightly acidic to near neutral, the percentage organic carbon and organic matter content was less than 3%, similarly, total nitrogen and available phosphorus was low, low ECEC generally but when compared, ECEC is significantly higher in oilpalm plantation land than cassava and grassland, exchangeable acidity is lower in oilpalm plantation land but slightly higher in cassava land and grassland. The soil quality was observed to be higher in grassland due to relative high level of organic matter, exchangeable calcium, potassium and total nitrogen, and with a moderate to neutral level of acidity and hence rated high (SQ3). And oil palm plantation land and cassava land were rated moderate (SQ2) with 56.25% and 43.75% respectively. The low fertility and quality status of the soil studied could further be buffered by improving on the farm practices such as incorporation of organic manure, fallowing, or integrated fertility management.