The Effect of Land Use on Soil Health Indicators in Peri‐Urban Agriculture in the Humid Forest Zone of Southern Cameroon

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify the effect of different land uses in peri-urban agriculture on the soil properties. Soil health indicators were evaluated in the top 10 cm at five tilled agricultural sites involving different cropping systems and use of agrochemicals within the peri-urban agricultural areas of Yaounde, Cameroon, and compared with a native forest land. The experimental data showed that the selected indicators were sensitive to cropping practice. Most cropped land had significantly higher total C, available N and P concentrations, soil pH, electrical conductivity, salinity, biomass C and P, dehydrogenase, b-glucosidase, and acid phosphatase activities. Land producing corn (Zea mays L.) and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) differed from that producing tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), but cultivation of these crops has significantly impacted native soil quality. However, phenol oxidase, microbal biomass C/organic C (C mic /C org ), and microbial biomass C/microbial biomass P (C mic /P mic ) were negatively affected. These appeared to be more consistent indicators of negative management causing changes to soil health and may be suitable for an early appraisal of soil health.

Land‐Use Effects on Soil Nutrient Cycling and Microbial Community Dynamics in the Everglades Agricultural Area, Florida

“…However, in the present study, we did not find any such correlation. The MBC to organic matter ratio is thought to be indicative of the organic-matter quality and availability (Monkiedje et al 2006). Our results showed that the ratio was greatest in turf and lowest in pasture (Table 2), which probably suggested that turf had the most chemical diversity in organic-matter sources and efficiency of C utilization and that conversely the pasture soil had the least.…”

“…Therefore, changes in land uses with different intensity or history of agricultural practices consequently results in distinctive changes in microbial community composition and function (Grayston et al, 2004). Land-use changes can also disrupt carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics and organic-matter storage in soils across a range of habitats (Garcia-Oliva, Lancho, and Montano 2006; Monkiedje et al 2006), which are commonly viewed as major factors causing shifts in microbial community composition (Schimel and Bennett 2004;Cookson et al 2007). …”

Seasonal dynamics, slope aspect and land use effects on soil mesofauna density in the mid-hills of Nepal

“…Slight 294 F. Begum et al differences in P could be due to inputs of organic manure and chemical fertilized in main cropping season (premonsoon) on agricultural land. Monkiedje et al (2006) found significantly higher available P and pH in cropland than in the forested soils. Available P was also somewhat higher on the north-rather than the south facing slope.…”

Indicadores de salud y calidad de suelos en cuencas hídricas en Bogotá

“…La actividad fenoloxidasa esta relacionada con la taza degradación vegetal en el mantillo, por lo que está influenciada directamente con el tipo de vegetación y su expresión está ligada a la disponibilidad de nutrientes. Se ha observado (Monkiedje et al, 2006) que el incremento de nutrientes (nitrógeno y fósforo) en el suelo, por diferentes prácticas agrícolas orgánicas y convencionales, tienen efectos negativos sobre la actividad fenol oxidasa. En ecosistemas acuáticos naturales la introducción de dichos nutrientes, tienen influencia negativa sobre la actividad fenol oxidasa (Penton y Newman, 2008) la que se vio acompañada de disminución en la diversidad vegetal.…”

“…Posiblemente existe una relación entre la actividad deshidrogenasa y los contenidos de carbono activo que se determinaron en el sistema Córdoba-Juan Amarillo, relación que anteriormente ha sido documentada (Caravaca et al, 2005;Jezierska-Tys y Frńc, 2009;Peruzzi et al, 2011), también se han observado (Monkiedje et al, 2006) incrementos…”