Assessment of Soil Compaction Under Different Cropping Systems in Sokoto State, North West Nigeria

This study assesses the degree of soil compaction under contrasting cropping systems practised by farmers in Sokoto State, located in Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone. Soil compaction reduces root penetration, gaseous exchange, and water infiltration, collectively reducing crop productivity in fragile semi-arid soils where organic matter is naturally low and structural stability is limited. Using a comparative field design, soil compaction was assessed on plots under continuous cereal monoculture, cereal-legume rotation, permanent vegetable production, and fallow land across 15 farms in Bodinga and Dange-Shuni local government areas. Compaction was measured at 5 cm Soil Scienceh intervals to 30 cm using a cone penetrometer. Bulk density was determined at three Soil Sciencehs from undisturbed core samples. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was measured in the field using a double-ring infiltrometer. Findings revealed that permanent vegetable plots irrigated by motorised pumps showed the highest penetration resistance and bulk density, attributed to repeated foot traffic and machinery use. Cereal-legume rotation plots showed the lowest compaction indicators, attributable to the root architecture and nitrogen fixation benefits of legume phases. Fallow land showed significantly better infiltration rates than any cropped system. The study recommends the inclusion of legumes in crop rotation programmes, restricted machinery access to wet soil conditions, and the use of raised beds in irrigated vegetable production to reduce compaction risk in Sokoto State farming systems. Keywords: soil compaction, cropping systems, penetration resistance, Sokoto State, bulk density.