THE EFFECTS OF TILLAGE ON SELECTED HYDRO-PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL IN NJIMTILO, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

This research was conducted during the rainy season of 2025 to evaluate and compare the effects of two land use systems on selected soil hydro-physical and chemical properties at the Kashim Ibrahim University Research Farm, Maiduguri, Nigeria. The experimental design involved systematic sampling of both land use systems, with detailed laboratory analyses conducted on selected soil parameters. Physical properties assessed included particle size distribution, bulk density, water holding capacity, wet aggregate stability, and infiltration characteristics. Hydrological properties investigated include: Infiltration characteristics and water holding capacity. The chemical properties analyzed comprised of soil pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases (calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium), and cation exchange capacity. Findings on particle size analysis revealed that both soils had sandy clay loam surface texture. Soil bulk density was lower under cultivated soil (1.05 g/cm3) relative non-cultivated soil (1.38 g/cm3). Water holding capacity was twice higher under the non-cultivated soil (50.71%) than under the cultivated soil (25.04). Surface soil layers with the non-cultivated soil were generally more stable than those of the cultivated soil on account of higher proportions of large size aggregates. The cultivated soils demonstrated higher organic matter content, higher available phosphorus, and higher contents if exchangeable calcium, magnesium and potassium and as well as higher CEC compared to the non-cultivated soil. It can be concluded that the resulting improved soil environment under the cultivated is likely to translate to healthy plant growth and development leading to higher yield of crops.