ABSTRACT
The experiment was conducted at the Ugbowo Campus of University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria to determine the Macronutrient status of four different land use types (Fallow, forest, office and orchard) in the University of Benin, Benin City. Soil samples were obtained from the four land use types namely; Fallow, forest, office and orchard at depth of 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm at 3 different locations which served as replicates. The samples were collected with soil auger and then taken to the laboratory for analysis using standard procedures. Some of the parameters analyzed for were; pH, TOC, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, H, Al and particle size distribution. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) while Duncan’s new multiple range test was used to separate means at 5% level of significance. The result shows that sand fraction dominated the soils across all land use types with textural class Loamy sand and Sand. The pH of the soil increased with increasing depth while TOC and all the macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca Mg) decreased in values with increasing depth. The pH level of the soils varied with soil depth across all four land uses ranging from slightly acid (6.34) in office land use to moderately acid in forest (5.61), fallow (5.67) and orchard (5.76) land uses respectively at the top soil. Forest land use had highest significant values (p<0.05) in TOC (19.67 g/kg), N (0.93 g/kg) and K (0.42 cmol/kg) at the top soil (0 – 15 cm). Highest available P content was recorded in orchard land use with moderate value (18.17 cmol/kg) at the top soil. While office land use had highest significant values (p<0.05) in Ca and Mg than other land uses at both depths. Generally from the result obtained, Forest land use recorded highest nutrient content than other land uses followed by orchard and office land uses while fallow land use had the lowest nutrient content.
