The Effect of Burnt and Un-burnt Land on Soil Physicochemical Characteristics in Ekeya-Okobo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Slash and burn method of land clearing is an integral part of the traditional farming system widely used as a means of land clearing to pave way for crop production in southern Nigeria. This management has both beneficial and detrimental effects on soil and its properties. Based on this, effects of fire on soil quality dynamics was examined during slashing and burning of the plots at the depths ranging between 0-15, 15-30cm respectively. The soil sample point s was chosen using a simple random sampling and the soil sampled were analyzed for the selected physical and chemical characteristics. ANOVA was used for significance difference between soil from burnt and unburnt plots using statistical package for social science (SPSS), and significant means were compared using Duncan multiple range test. Paired t-test was used to compare means of the unburnt and burnt plots. At the depth of 0-15cm, the unburnt plot recorded decrease in pH(H₂O) 5.6, pH ( KCI)4.9, increase in sand, silt, K and base saturation, while burnt plot recorded increase in clay, SOC, SOM ,TN , Avail P., Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺⁺, Na⁺ and EC (H⁺+Al³⁺). At the depth of 15-30cm, unburnt plot recorded low pH in H₂O and Kcl, silt, Mg and EC while burnt plot recorded highest values in other selected parameters than unburnt plot. Between the two plots sampled, changes of physical and chemical parameters were significant at the P :< 0.05 probability level, (F_tab = 4.60 Fcal= 1.597Ω 1.6). Based on this, there is a need for environmental education for farmers in the area to know the implications of burning of farmland on soil ecosystem and environment as a whole for soil sustainability that will boost food production.