Assessment of Traditional Farming Practices and Their Influence on Soil Properties in Adamawa State

This study assesses traditional farming practices in Adamawa State, North East Nigeria, and examines their influence on key soil physical and chemical properties. Traditional agricultural practices including shifting cultivation, mixed cropping, fallow systems, and organic matter management reflect generations of farmer knowledge about sustainable land management, but their influence on measurable soil quality indicators has received limited scientific documentation in the Adamawa State context. This study uses a comparative soil sampling design in Yola South, Song, and Gombi local government areas, collecting samples from farms under three contrasting traditional management systems: short fallow rotation (less than 2 years), long fallow rotation (more than 3 years), and continuous cultivation. Soil organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, pH, and bulk density are measured at 0 to 20 centimetre depth from 60 sampling points. A structured survey of 120 farmers documents management practices. Findings reveal that long fallow rotation maintains significantly higher soil organic matter at 2.8 percent compared to 1.4 percent in continuous cultivation farms. Short fallow rotation shows intermediate soil quality. Soil bulk density under long fallow is 18 percent lower than continuous cultivation, indicating better soil structure. Traditional intercropping and crop residue retention are significantly associated with higher soil organic matter levels. The study concludes that traditional long fallow rotation and crop diversity practices support soil quality maintenance in Adamawa State. It recommends documentation and adaptation of these practices into improved agroforestry extension recommendations.

Keywords: traditional farming, soil properties, fallow rotation, Adamawa State, soil organic matter.