The Effect of Agricultural Practices on the Soil

Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:


EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Agriculture has had a significant effect on the


world's landscape for decades. Over the years agricultural practices have seen


dramatic changes that have caused a great impact on the soil leading to its


degradation.

mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:


minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";


mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:


EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">

minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:


AR-SA">Food and fiber productivity soared due to new technologies,


mechanization, increased chemical use, commercial seeds, fertilizers, fuel, and


governmental policies that favored maximizing production. Although these


changes have had many positive effects on farming, there have also been


significant costs. Prominent among these is the degradation of soil (Lal and


Stewart, 1990).

TITLE PAGE                                                                                                                  i

TABLE OF

CONTENT                                                                                                   ii

CHAPTER ONE

1.0             

Introduction                                                                                                    1

1.1             

Problem Statement                                                                                         4

1.2             

Scope Of The Study                                                                                         4

1.3       Justification of the

Study                                                                                 4

1.4       Objective of the Study                                                                                    5

CHAPTER TWO

2.0       Literature Review                                                                                           6

2.1       Agriculture practices                                                                                      6

2.2       Effects of agriculture practices on soil

fauna in agro- ecosystems               8

2.2.1    Tillage and crop patterns                                                                               8

2.2.2    Crop rotations                                                                                                 9

2.2.3    Fertilizer application                                                                                       11

2.2.4    Pesticides application                                                                                     14

2.3       Agricultural practices and their impact

on soil quality                                  15

2.3.1    Irrigation                                                                                                         17

2.3.2    Organic amendments                                                                                     21

2.3.3    Liming                                                                                                             23

2.4       Soil Erosion                                                                                                     24

2.5       Soil Properties                                                                                                 27

2.5.1    Physical Properties                                                                                         27

2.5.2    Chemical Properties                                                                                       31

2.5.3    Biological Properties                                                                                      33

CHAPTER THREE

3.0       Materials and Methods                                                                                  36

3.1       Study site                                                                                                         36

3.2       Study site Description                                                                                     36       

mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">3.3       Geology

                                                                                                          38       

3.4       Soil sampling and test                                                                                     38

REFERENCE                                                                                                                 41