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Soil organic C, N, S and P after forest clearance in Nigeria: mineralization rates and spatial variability
Author(s) -
MUELLERHARVEY I.,
JUO A. S. R.,
WILD A.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 0022-4588
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1985.tb00360.x
Subject(s) - mineralization (soil science) , spatial variability , nutrient , environmental science , soil science , zoology , organic matter , agronomy , soil organic matter , environmental chemistry , hydrology (agriculture) , chemistry , ecology , soil water , geology , biology , mathematics , statistics , geotechnical engineering
SUMMARY Measurements were made in southern Nigeria of soil organic C, N, S and P after forest clearance and cultivation of the site over a period of 22 months. Sampling depth, initially 0–10 cm, was adjusted as soil bulk density increased. Assuming a first order decay equation, the resulting mineralization constants for C, N, P and S were 0.179, 0.193, 0.136 and 0.262, giving half lives of 3.5, 3.3, 4.7 and 2.3 years. The amounts of N and P mineralized in the surface soil layer were equal to or exceeded the uptake of N and P by one crop of soybeans and three crops of maize. The observations are discussed in relation to a model that might be used for the more effective use of nutrients after a forest fallow. Also reported is the spatial variability of the soil C, N, S, organic P and total P at the time of forest clearance. Total and organic P had a high long‐range variability which is related to the clay content. C, N and S had high short‐range variability which is attributed to the vegetation.