URBAN LAND USE EFFECTS ON SOIL MORPHOLOGICAL PROPERTIES IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out to assess urban land use effects on soil morphological properties in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to examineif any significant relationship exists between soil quality indicators as well as alsodetermine the various ways urban land use affects soil morphological properties. Ninesoil samples (0-20 cm depths) were collected using systematic randommethodologyfromthe different land uses. Auger points on each of the land uses were examined toidentifythe morphological properties. The morphology, physico-chemical properties of thesoilscollected were analyzed in the laboratory using standard procedures, and data obtainedwere subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results obtained indicated significant differences (P < 0.05) in available P, sand and clay amongst and between the studiedsites. The soil reaction was high while the structure was generally weak and subangular. Thearea was strongly dominated by sand fraction. Basic soil organic matter was moderate. The study concluded that while land use had significant effect on the quality of soilsinsome locations, on the other hand, it had least significant effect in some other locationsinthe study area. The study therefore provided baseline information for future researchefforts on morphological properties of urban land uses. The study recommendedthat further detailed studies could be conducted to examine the effects of urban landuseonsoil morphological properties in specific time period to give sound conclusionstosustainable land use.