Agronomy journal, Vol. 75 No. 1, 2013.
Original scientific paper
LAND DEGRADATION ASSESSMENT UNDER DIFFERENT USES: IMPLICATIONS ON SOIL PRODUCTIVITY AND FOOD SECURITY
B. A. Senjobi
O. T. Ande
A. O. Ogunkunle
Abstract
Land use type is one of the critical factors affecting land degradation and soil productivity. The extent to which it influences land degradation and productivity has not been fully ascertained. This has been necessary for this study with the aim of assessing the extent to which land use influences crop productivity. Soil degradation levels were assessed using direct observation. The land use types studied were arable cropping (land use 1), oil palm (land use 2), and building sites (land use 3). Rank ordered correlation was used for the data analyses.
Direct observation showed that physical and biological degradations were more severe than chemical degradation in all the land uses. Degradation processes were more prominent in land uses 1 and 3 than 2. Land use was found to be significantly (P< 0.01) correlated with land degradation (r = 0.47) at all sites. The degradation level ranked from moderate to high due to inappropriate land uses and soil types.
However, since degradation processes were very high in all land uses, there must be careful choice of appropriate use of land in order to reduce degradation and enhance soil productivity.
Keywords
land degradation; land uses; direct observation; soil productivity and food security
Hrčak ID:
108589
URI
Publication date:
13.9.2013.
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