Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulfur Stocks in Soils under Different Land Use Systems at the University of Benin Nigeria.

Adams Emomu; Eseuwa Naomi Aigbobo; Bisola Elizabeth Olukini

doi:10.22146/ipas.109084

Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulfur Stocks in Soils under Different Land Use Systems at the University of Benin Nigeria.

https://doi.org/10.22146/ipas.109084

Adams Emomu^(1*), Eseuwa Naomi Aigbobo⁽²⁾, Bisola Elizabeth Olukini⁽³⁾

(1) University of Benin
(2) University of Delta, Agbor
(3) University of Benin
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

Understanding how land use and soil depth influence nutrient storage is essential for sustainable soil management in tropical ecosystems. This study quantified nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) stocks in soils under four contrasting land-use systems—arable, forested, sport, and plantain fields—within the University of Benin, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected at 0–30 cm and 30–60 cm depths and analyzed using standard laboratory methods. Nutrient stocks were calculated based on soil nutrient concentration, bulk density, and depth increments. Land use and soil depth significantly affected N and P stocks, while S stock variation at the surface layer was not significant. At 0–30 cm, the highest N stock (2,360 Mg ha⁻¹) occurred in arable land, likely due to continuous inorganic N fertilizer use, whereas plantain fields stored the highest P (2,354 Mg ha⁻¹) and S (164 Mg ha⁻¹), reflecting greater organic inputs and improved soil chemical properties. At 30–60 cm, N stock peaked in sport land (3,890 Mg ha⁻¹), possibly due to turfgrass management and regular biomass return, whereas forested land stored the most sulfur (433 Mg ha⁻¹), attributed to litter accumulation and microbial activity. Differences in nutrient stocks across land uses corresponded closely to variations in soil organic carbon, pH, and cation exchange capacity. These findings highlight strong land use–driven redistribution of essential nutrients in tropical Ultisols. Promoting land-use practices that enhance organic matter input—such as agroforestry, mixed cropping, or managed fallows—can improve nutrient storage, support long-term soil fertility, and strengthen nutrient cycling in degraded tropical landscapes.

Keywords

Arable, Forested, Land use, Nutrients, Sport land

Full Text:

PDF

References

Abera, A. and Wana, D. (2023). Effect of agricultural land management practices on the selected soil quality indictors: empirical evidences from the south Ethiopian highlands. Environmental Systems Research, 12(1), p. 2.

Azeez, J.O., Onasanya, O.O., Bankole, G.O., Aghorunse, A.C. and Salaudeen, G.T. (2024). Changes in soil nitrate, phosphate, and sulfate stocks as a function of forest litter type in a derived Savannah ecosystem of Abeokuta, southwest Nigeria. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 17(5), p. 146.

Bouyoucos, G.J. (1962). Hydrometer method improved for making particle size analysis of soil. Agronomy Journal, 54, pp. 464-465.

Bray, R.H. and Kurzt, L.T. (1945). Determination of total, organic and available forms of phosphorus in soil. Journal of Soil Science, 59, pp. 39-45.

Burakova, A. and Bakšiene, E. (2021). Leaching losses of main nutrients by incorporating organic fertilizers into light texture soils Haplic Luvisol. Environmental Engineering Research, 26(4), pp. 1-10.

Chave, J., Ejou-M, E.M.R,, Urquez, A.B., Chidumayo, E., Colgan, M.S., Delitti, W.B., Duque, A., Eid, T., Fearnside, P.M., Goodman, R.C., Henry, M., Martinez, Y.A., Mugasha, W.A., Muller-Landau, H.C., Mencuccini, M., Nelson, B.W., Ngomanda, A., Nogueira, E.M., Ortiz-Malavassi, E., Elissier, R.P., Ploton, P., Ryan, C.M., Saldarriaga, J.G. and Vieilledent, G. (2014). Improved allometric models to estimate the aboveground biomass of tropical trees. Global Change Biology, 20, pp. 3177–3190

Curk, M., Vidrih, M., Laznik, Ž. and Trdan, S. (2017). Turfgrass maintenance and management in soccer fields in Slovenia. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 26, pp. 191-197.

Day, P.R. (1965). Particle fractionation and particle size analysis. In, Methods of soil analysis Black, C.A. (Ed). Part 1 Agronomy, 9, pp. 545-547.

Emomu, A. (2022). Silicon sorption in soils overlying coastal plain sand, Imo shale and basement complex rock parent materials in Edo State, Nigeria. African Journal Of Sustainable Agricultural Development, 3(1), pp. 10-22.

FAO-Food and Agriculture Organization (2019). Measuring and modeling soil carbon stocks and stock changes in livestock production systems: guidelines for assessment (Version 1). In Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership. FAO, Rome, Italy, p. 170.

Gava, C.A.T., Giongo, V., Signor, D. and Fernandes-Junior, P. I. (2022). Land-use change alters stocks of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in Haplic Cambisol in the Brazilian semi-arid region. Soil Use Management, 38: pp. 953-963.

Guo, L.B. and Gifford, R.M. (2002). Soil carbon stocks and land use change: a meta-analysis. Global change biology, 8(4), pp. 345-360.

Habtamu, A., Heluf, G., Bobe, B. and Enyew, A. (2014). Fertility status of soils under different land uses at Wujiraba Watershed, North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 3(5), pp. 410-419.

Harefa, D. (2024). The Influence of Local Wisdom on Soil Fertility in South Nias. Jurnal Sapta Agrica, 3(2), pp. 18-28.

Huang, C., Zeng, Y., Wang, L. and Wang, S. (2020). Responses of soil nutrients to vegetation restoration in China. Regional Environmental Change, 20(3), p. 82.

Ibitoye, A.A. (2008). Laboratory Manual on Basic soil Analysis. Foladave Nigeria limited, pp. 34-35.

Jimoh, I.A. and Aliyu, J. (2024). Assessment of impact of land uses on soil carbon stock and quality. In Agroforestry to Combat Global Challenges: Current Prospects and Future Challenges (pp. 441-460). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.

Juo, A.S.R. (1979). Selected Methods for Soil and Plant Analysis. Manual Series No. 1, IITA, Ibadan.

Law-Ogbomo, K.E. and Osaigbovo, A.U. (2018). Productivity of cucumber (Cucumis Sativus L) and post-harvest soil chemical properties in response to organic fertilizer types and rates in an Ultisol. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 21(3), pp. 513-520.

Liu, J., Gou, X., Liu, J., Yin, D. and Zhang, D. (2024). Comparative Analysis of the Drivers of Soil Organic Carbon, Total Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Stocks in Different Coniferous Plantations on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 24(1), pp. 331-342.

Meyfroidt, P., De Bremond, A., Ryan, C.M., Archer, E., Aspinall, R., Chhabra, A., Camara, G., Corbera, E., DeFries, R., Díaz, S. and Dong, J. (2022). Ten facts about land systems for sustainability. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(7), p. e2109217118.

Miju, C., Kiflu, A. and Gizachew, S. (2025). Effects of land use/land cover change on soil physicochemical properties and soil carbon stock in Kochore district, southern Ethiopia. Arabian Journal of Geoscience, 18 (41), pp. 1-12.

Mirbakhsh, M., Brouder, S.M. and Volenec, J.J. (2022). Temporal Change of Carbon Stocks and Soil Health Indicators on a Long-Term Experimental Site: Annual Vs. Perennial Systems [Abstract]. ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD.

Mirbakhsh, M., Sohrabi Sedeh, S.S. and Zahed, Z. (2023). The impact of Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L.) on soil health. Black Sea Journal of Agriculture, 6(5), pp. 564-570.

Mitchell, J.K., Soga, K. and O'Sullivan, C. (2025). Fundamentals of soil behavior. John Wiley & Sons.

Murphy, J. and Riley, J.P. (1962). A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Analytical Chemistry ACTA, 27, pp. 31-36.

Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) (2018). Weather data (Temperature, Rainfall, Relative Humidity): 1993-2018. Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research Main Station, Benin-City, Nigeria.

Okebalame, C.B., Ogunezi, K.C., Agbo, I.C. and Asogwa, K.C. (2020). Influence of soil amendment with poultry droppings on the soil properties and productivity of cumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) on a degraded Ultisol in Nsukka Area, Southeast Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 30(2), pp. 85-94.

Orhue, E.R., Emomu, A., Obazuaye, E., Aimiesomon Michael Erhayimwen, M.A. and Bepo, G.A. (2021). Phosphorus Sorption in Soils Overlying Basement Complex Rock, Alluvium, Coastal Plain Sand and Imo Shale Parent Materials. Asian Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 7(3), pp. 41-54.

Orhue, E.R. and Emomu, A. (2022). Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin isotherm studies of silicon sorption on soils derived from three parent materials in Edo State, Nigeria. Agro-Science, 21(3), pp. 1-12.

Orhue, E.R., Bakare, A.O., Emomu, A. (2024). Zinc, Cobalt and Chromium status in soils under Citrus and Teak Plantation in University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development, 22(1), pp. 88-98.

Osman, K.T. (2016). Soils: principles, properties and management. Springer Science and Business Media.

Oyedele, D.J., Awotoye, O.O., and Popoola, S.E. (2014). Soil Physical and Chemical properties under continuous maize cultivation as influenced by hedgerow tree species on Alfisols in South Western Nigeria. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 4(8), pp. 736-739.

Padhan, D., Rout, P.P. and Sen, A. (2023). Changes in land use practices influence soil sulfur fractions and their bioavailability. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, p. 1233223.

Powlson, D.S., Poulton, P.R., Glendining, M.J., Macdonald, A.J. and Goulding, K.W. (2022). Is it possible to attain the same soil organic matter content in arable agricultural soils as under natural vegetation?. Outlook on Agriculture, 51(1), pp. 91-104.

Prasad, R. and Shivay, Y.S. (2018). Sulphur in soil, plant and human nutrition. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, 88(2), pp.429-434.

Rodrigues, C.I.D., Brito, L.M. and Nunes, L.J. (2023). Soil carbon sequestration in the context of climate change mitigation: A review. Soil Systems, 7(3), p. 64.

Rodrigues, J.R., Solander, K.C., Cropper, S., Newman, B.D., Collins, A.D., Warren, J.M., Negron‐Juarez, R., Gimenez, B.O., Spanner, G.C., Menezes, V.D.S. and Ríos‐Villamizar, E.A. (2024). Soil water percolation and nutrient fluxes as a function of topographical, seasonal and soil texture variation in Central Amazonia, Brazil. Hydrological Processes, 38(4), pp. e15148.

Sharma, P.K. and Kumar, S. (2023). Soil Physical Environment and Plant Growth. Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany: Springer.

Soil Survey Staff. (2003). Keys to Soil Taxonomy. 9th Edition, United States Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, p. 322.

Szogi, A.A., Shumaker, P.D., Billman, E.D. and Bauer, P.J. (2021). Leaching Potential of Phosphite Fertilizer in Sandy Soils of the Southern Coastal Plain, USA. Environments, 8(11), p.126.

Tan, K.M. (1996). Soil sampling preparation and analysis. In: African Research Review (Volume 3, 23-33). Mercel Dekkes Inc., New York, Basel, Hong Kong

Udo, E.J., Ogunwale, J.A., Fagbami, A., Ano, A.O. and Esu, I.E. (2009). Manual of soil, plant and water resources. Sibon books limited, p. 177.

Udoh, B.T. and Ibia, T.O. (2022). Fertility capability classification for agricultural land use planning in the beach sands area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Agro-Science, 21 (2), pp.74-78

Valencia, V.A.M., Casas, A.F., Pinto, D.J.M.P.M. and Rosas, R. (2025). Soil Organic Carbon Storage in Different Land Uses in Tropical Andean Ecosystems and the Socio-Ecological Environment. Preprints.org, pp. 1-13.

Walkley, A and Black, I.A. (1934). An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and the proposed modification of the chromic acid wet titration method. Journal of Soil Science, 37, pp. 29-38.

Wang, C., Mao, Q., Mori, T., Huang, J., Mo, H., Mo, J. and Lu, X. (2023). Resource allocation theory reveals sulfur shortage for microbes under phosphorus amendment in tropical forests with divergent land use history. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 184, p. 109126.

Yan, X., Yang, W., Muneer, M.A., Zhang, S., Wang, M. and Wu, L. (2021). Land-use change affects stoichiometric patterns of soil organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in the red soil of Southeast China. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 21(7), pp. 2639-2649.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/ipas.109084