COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF SELECTED TREE LEGUMES ON PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF AN ALFISOL IN EKITI STATE

Abstract

Soils in the tropics commonly suffer from multiple nutrient deficiencies due to continuous cultivation. The negative impact of in organic fertilizer on soil and environment appears to have made its application on soil to be less effective. This study thus examined the effect of tree legumes on physio-chemical properties of an alfisol. Soil samples from three year fallows of Senna siamea, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala and natural fallow were collected at 0- 15 cm and 15-30 cm depth. The samples were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. The result revealed that leguminous species improved the textural class of the soil from loamy sand to sandy loam at 0-15 cm depth. Bulk density along the soil depth increases under agroforestry species fallows than the natural fallow. Chemical properties along the soil depths significantly (p < 0.05) improved under leguminous fallows with pH range (7.02-7.19), N (0.61% - 2.79%) and P (211.71ppm - 242.11ppm) when compared with the soil under natural fallow with pH (5.96 - 6.77), N (0.10% - 0.73%) and P (206.15ppm-224.88ppm) Also there is a significant reduction in values of Na (66.29ppm- 50.48ppm ) and K (75.52ppm -52.22ppm) in soils under agroforestry species along the soil depth, when compared with natural fallow Na(74.21ppm - 67.83ppm) and K (90 .0ppm - 76.66 ppm).