Influence of farming systems practices on physicochemical properties of soils in wet and dry season in University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

We evaluated the impact of cultural practices on arable cropped farmlands of more than 5 years of slash, burn, continuous mixed cropping of crops on physicochemical properties of soils in University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 22 cultivated arable farmlands and 3 fallow control sampled in June 2020 as wet and January 2021 as dry season 0-15cm depth from 7 auger borings taken randomly from each of the 22 cultivated and 3 fallows farmlands. Samples air dried in laboratory, prepared for analyses, sent to Fatlab in Ibadan Nigeria. Parameters evaluated for physical properties: sand, clay and silt and for chemical properties; pH, Ca, Mg, K, Na and the trace metals; Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn; available P, OC, ECEC, Acidity and Al. The results revealed sandy loam, differences between the mean values for wet season were slightly higher from the dry season, for example pH, Ca, Mg, K, Na, ECEC, Cu, Silt and Clay. The mean value of P in wet season was 5 times higher than dry season. N in wet and dry season mean value were 0.16% respectively; OC was higher in dry season indicating soil healing process before next season cropping. Slight trace of Al in dry season. However, it was significant (p<0.05) between dry and control season, comparison between wet and dry season revealed P, OC, Mg, K, Na, N, Sand and Clay significant (p<0.05). It was observed slash, burn, continuous tillage, mixed cropping of crops and times of the year influence soil physicochemical properties in arable farmland in humid high rain forest.