CHANGES IN PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL INFLUENCED BY BUSH BURNING IN ALI-OGO EKOLI IN EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA



ABSTRACT
The changes in physiochemical properties of soil influenced by bush burning in Ali-ogo Ekoli in Ebonyi state, Nigeria was studied during the 2012 cropping season. Soil samples were collected from the unburnt and burnt areas of Ali-ogo Ekoli at the depth of 0 – 30cm. The soil samples were analyzed in the laboratory after which data was analyzed using ANOVA and mean differences were separated using F-LSD (P = 0.05).
Result on particle size distribution showed that burning increased sand and clay fraction, while silt fraction declined with burning in the unburnt area of Ali-ogo Ekoli. Result on chemical analyses indicated that there was reduction in some chemical properties in the unburnt area while some chemical properties were increased by bush burning in the burnt area. Also, the result on some selected heavy metals showed that some selected heavy metals (Bo, Fe, Mo) were increased in unburnt area and decreased in the burnt area while Zn  increased in the burnt area and decreased in unburnt area. This shows that fire has both meritorious and deleterious effect in the soil.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Abstract
List of tables
Table of contents

CHAPTER ONE
1.0       INTRODUCTION
1.1 Main objective
1.2       Specific Objective

CHAPTER TWO
2.0             LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1.0        Effect of bush burning on soil physical properties
2.1.1       Soil texture
2.1.2       Soil colour
2.1.3       Infiltration rate
2.1.4       Bulk density
2.1.5       Total porosity
2.1.6       Moisture content
2.1.7       Soil temperature
2.1.8       Soil aggregate and particle size
2.2.0 Effect of bush burning on soil chemical properties
2.2.1 Soil pH
2.2.2 Organic matter
2.2.3 Nutrient dynamics
2.2.4 Macro – nutrients
2.2.5 Micro – nutrients
2.2.6 Exchangeable acidity
2.3       Effect of bush burning on heavy metal accumulation
In soil
CHAPTER THREE
3.0             MATERIALS AND METHOD
3.1 Study area
3.2 Soil sampling
3.3 Laboratory methods
3.4 Soil chemical properties
3.5 Heavy metal accumulations
3.6       Data Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR
4.0       RESULT AND DISCUSSION
4.1.0   The effect of bush burning on chemical properties of soil
4.1.1 Soil pH
4.1.2 Total nitrogen
4.1.3 Calcium
4.1.4 Available phosphorus
4.1.5 Magnesium
4.1.6 Potassium
4.1.7 Sodium
4.1.8 Exchange abreaction
4.1.9 Effective cation exchange capacity
4.1.10 Exchangeable Sodium percentage
4.1.11 Exchangeable acidity
4.1.12 Base saturation
4.1.13 Organic carbon
4.2.0   The effect of bush burning on soil selected physical
4.2.1 Bulk density
4.2.2 Total porosity
4.2.3 Hydraulic conductivity
4.2.4 Moisture content
4.2.5 Sand, silt and clay
4.3.0   The effect of bush burning on soil selected heavy metals
4.3.1 Zinc
4.3.2 Boron
4.3.3 Iron
4.3.4 Molybdenum

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0       SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1       Summary
5.2       Conclusion
5.3       Recommendation
References

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Effect of Bush Burning on Soil Chemical Properties
Table 2: Effect of Bush Burning on Soils Selected Properties
 Table 3: Effect of Bush Burning on Soil Selected Heavy Metals
CHAPTER ONE
1.0                                                 INTRODUCTION
            Soil which has over the years been a basic resources for agricultural production and the most important possession and asset of farmers, is made up of different features and characteristics that make it unique, (Brady and Wiels, 1999). Under natural condition, the level or rate at which soil build up nutrients are anchored on the differences that exist between the additions and losses of organic matters, physical, chemical properties and other variables that form soil.
            These additions could be from animal and plant decay while losses are caused by immobilization and to a certain degree burning. Sometime burning leads to leaching causing soil nutrient loss beyond the root zone. The soil organic matter is also a characteristics constituent of the soil ecosystem and it controls the soil physical, biological and chemical properties (Olayinka, 1990).
            Fire is the most fundamental and effective cultural and land treatment tool in the hands of humans (Goldammer and Grulzen 1993). Earliest evidence of the use of fire dates back to 1.5million year’s age, when natural fire regimes were successfully altered by humans (Brain and Sillen, 1988). Large areas of forest formation have been shaped and maintained by anthropocentric fires, and in most regions of the world, human caused fires are more important that natural fires. (Goldammer and Grutzen, 1993). Burning destroys the litter layer and so diminishes the amount of organic matter returned to the soil. The organisms that inhabit the surface soil and litter layer are also eliminated. For future decomposition to take place, energy has to be invested first in rebuilding the microbial community before plant nutrients can be released. Fallow lands and bush are burned before cultivation; this provides a rapid supply of phosphorous to stimulate seed germination. However, the associated losses of nutrients, organic matter and soil biological activities have long-term consequences. Bush burning is a typical type of cultivation practiced in Ali-Ogo Ekoli in Ebonyi state, South East Nigeria. The system involves essentially cutting and burning of the vegetations before cultivation.  
            Burning of vegetation in these areas has a catastrophic effect, affects the ecosystem and physiochemical properties of the soil (Ketterings and Bigham, 2000). Much attention has not been paid to the effect of bush burning on physical and chemical properties of the soil in this area. The effects of the heating processes caused by severe bush fire on soil are a result of burning severity, which is determined by the peak temperatures and duration of fire (Certini, 2005). Low to medium fire severity resulted in darkening of the topsoil while high severity fire (>600oc) cause pronounced reddening of the topsoil, (Ketterings and Bigham, 2000).
      With a review of bush burning on soil properties, Certini (2005) concluded that low to moderate severity fires result in a renovation of the dominate vegetation by the elimination of undesired species and transient increase in pH and available nutrients in the soil, while severe burning generally lead to a great significant loss of organic matter, deterioration of both structure and porosity, leaching and erosion, among others. Burning influences soil temperature, which in turn affects crop physico-chemical processes such as seed germination, root growth, plant development and bio-microbial activity based on the fact that there is dearth of information on the effect of burning on the soils of Ali- ogo (Potter and Neary, 1987)

1.1       Main objective
The main objective of this research was to determine changes in physico-chemical properties of Ali – ogo soil resulting from bush fire.

1.2       SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE
The specific objectives are to determine the,
i.          Changes in physical properties of the soil
ii.         Changes in the chemical properties of the soil
iii.       Effect of bush burning on heavy metal accumulation in soil  

A RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR OF AGRIC (B. Agric)
 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOIL AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT, FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
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