Assessment of Soil Physical Quality Under Different Irrigation Methods in Kano State, North West Nigeria

This study assesses soil physical quality under three different irrigation methods used in vegetable production in Kano State, located in Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone. Irrigation is a pillar of dry-season farming around Kano, but different irrigation techniques exert varying pressures on soil structure, compaction, and crusting, with long-term consequences for productivity sustainability. Using a comparative field design, soil physical quality was assessed on plots under furrow irrigation, drip irrigation, and overhead sprinkler irrigation, operated for a minimum of three consecutive dry seasons. Four farms per irrigation type were selected in Kano North, Ungogo, and Dawakin Tofa local government areas. Soil bulk density, penetration resistance, aggregate stability, macroporosity, and hydraulic conductivity were measured at three Soil Sciencehs. Surface crusting was scored using a visual rating index after rainfall events. Findings revealed that furrow-irrigated soils showed the greatest bulk density (1.62 g/cm3) and lowest hydraulic conductivity (0.8 cm/hour) due to repeated ponding and puddling at the soil surface. Drip-irrigated soils maintained the best aggregate stability and highest hydraulic conductivity (3.4 cm/hour), attributed to lower surface disturbance and more uniform wetting. Overhead sprinkler plots showed intermediate physical quality but significant surface crusting susceptibility. The study recommends a transition toward drip irrigation for vegetable production in Kano State to reduce physical soil degradation while improving water use efficiency in a region facing severe water scarcity. Keywords: irrigation methods, soil physical quality, Kano State, drip irrigation, soil compaction.