Study on the potential of aerial cropping system in land degradation rehabilitation in south western Nigeria

A study of two degraded soils (Alfisol and Ultisols) from two agro-ecological zones (Rainforest and Savanna) in Nigeria was examined to evaluate the influence of Aerial cropping system (AC) in the zones. This is a traditional soil and water conservation technique of naturally planted trees and shrubs in land degradation rehabilitation. The soil properties affected by this farming system include infiltration rates, aggregate stability, organic carbon, bulk density and particle size distribution etc. Samples were collected from soil under aerial cropping and non aerial cropping plots under maize/cassava intercrops. Soil samples were collected at 5 different depths of 0 – 10, 10 – 20, 20 – 30 and 40 – 50cm. The result shows improvement in soil properties under aerial cropping plots with non aerial cropping plots. Infiltration rates were significantly high in aerial cropping Alfisol and Ultisols. The values were….. for aerial cropping and ………for Non.AC Aggregate stability was significantly low in the ordinary plot. A considerable increase in organic carbon of up to 60% was observed with the aerial cropping plots. There was an increase in bulk density with soils of ordinary plot. Moisture content and yield of crops were significantly higher in the aerial cropping plots. Aerial cropping system prevents erosion, maintain soil cover, increase organic matter, fix atmospheric N and bind the soil particles together. This system considerably improves the degraded soil and enabled the sustainable use of the soil of the study site.