Physico-chemical properties of soils of cashew (Anacardium occidentale) plantations in Nigeria
2018
Oloyede, A. A. | Adeyemi, E. A. | Akanbi, O. S. O. | Olaniyi, O. O.
To know the nutrient dynamics of soils under cashew plantations of different ages and natural forest in Ochaja area of Kogi State, soil samples were collected from cashew plantations established in 1976, 1999, 2009 and adjacent forest in 2014. Physical and chemical analyses were carried out on the soil samples. Results revealed high soil pH in older plantations (7.63-7.33) which were higher than in natural forest and lowest (6.98) for the 2009 plantation. Higher N, organic carbon and organic matter were recorded under the 1976 and 1999 cashew plantations compared with the 2009 plantation and natural forest. Highest K content was obtained in 1976 and 2009 plantation (127.5 and 122.5 mg kg(-1)), with similar trend for the Na and Mg contents. The soil Ca content was similar across the cashew age series and forest soil. Available phosphorous was highest from the 1999 plantation (18.63 mg kg(-1)) and least for the natural forest (14.78 mg kg(-1)). The soil physical properties showed that sand was highest in the 1999 plantation (50.37%) and natural forest (49.6%) with the least in 2009 plot (43.48%). Highest silt (31.53%) was found in the 1976 plot and natural forest (29.35%) with the least from the 2009 plot. The clay content was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the 2009 plot compared to others. The overall nutrients composition points to cashew as a good fallow tree crop especially at older age when rehabilitation by replanting or coppicing of old and unproductive stands become inevitable. Rehabilitated plantations may therefore need little or no fertilization.
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