Abstract:
The
influence
of land
use
on soil
organic
carbon
and
microbial
biomass
distribution
in some
selected
areas
of Sokoto
Nigeria
was
investigated.
Four
different
types
of land
use
were
selected
(irrigated
area,
permanent
crop
area,
windbreak
area
and
arable
area).
Four
profile
pits
were
excavated
and
described
from
each
of the
four
different
land
use
types.
Soil
samples
were
collected
from
each
horizon
for
laboratory
analysis
and
total
microbial
biomass
determination
by the
use
of Nutrient
Agar.
The
results
shows
that
variation
exists
in the
soil
organic
carbon
(SOC),
pH,
particle
size
distribution
and
microbial
biomass
from
the
different
land
use
types.
Irrigated
area
was
found
to have
the
highest
soil
organic
carbon
(30.17gkg"l)
followed
by permanent
crop
area
(28.97gkg·
I
).
The
bacteria
population
was
found
to be higher
in the
arable
land
area
(1.2
x 10
8
cfu/g)
followed
by windbreak
area
(1.0
x 10
8
cfu/g).
The
pH
of the
soils
ranged
from
very
strongly
acid
(4.63)
to moderately
acid
(6.05).
The
textures
of the
soils
in all
the
four
(4) land
use
areas
were
sandy
and
loamy
sand.
The
study
provides
some
baseline
information
regarding
the
causes
of variation
in soil
organic
carbon
and
microbial
biomass
from
different
land
use
types
in this
environment.
However
further
research
is
required
for
in-depth
understanding
of the
underlining
processes
that
regulate
soil
microbial
biomass
and
organic
carbon
variation
as influenced
by land
use.
