An Evaluation of The Influence of Land Use and Parent Material on Soil Quality in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This research examined how land use and parent material affect soil quality in Akwa Ibom State. Three types of parent materials coastal plain sand, sandstone/shale, and beach ridge sand along with three land use categories cultivated land, fallow land (unused for 3–5 years), and oil palm plantations were considered. For each parent material, composite soil samples were collected from a depth of 0–30 cm using a soil auger, and undisturbed core samples were taken to measure bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity. In total, 27 soil samples were analyzed in the laboratory. Findings indicated that soils developed on coastal plain sand had the highest levels of silt and clay content, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and exchangeable potassium. Sandstone/shale soils followed, while beach ridge sand had the lowest values across most parameters. Among the land use types, oil palm plantations showed superior soil properties, including greater silt and clay content, organic matter, and higher concentrations of exchangeable calcium and potassium. These were followed by fallow lands, with cultivated lands showing the poorest soil quality. The combined effect of parent material and land use showed that soils on coastal plain sand, regardless of the specific land use (cultivated, fallow, or oil palm), exhibited the highest overall soil quality. These soils demonstrated better water and nutrient retention, larger rooting volume, improved aeration, reduced erosion risk, higher cation exchange capacity, greater nutrient availability, and more active biological processes. Soils from sandstone/shale were moderately suitable, whereas beach ridge sand soils were the least favorable. The study recommends enhancing existing soil fertility management strategies, particularly the increased use of organic inputs like compost, manure, and household waste, while minimizing synthetic fertilizer use to sustainably improve soil health and productivity in the region.