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Differential Impacts of Cropland Expansion on Soil Biological Indicators in Two Ecological Zones

Author

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  • Dora Neina

    (Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 245, Ghana)

  • Eunice Agyarko-Mintah

    (Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 80, Ghana)

Abstract

Agricultural expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa is characterized by different farm ages in smallholder communities. This study investigated changes in microbial indices broadly (i) at the reconnaissance survey level in four agro-ecological zones and (ii) in different farms at the forest (Dompem) and forest–savanna transition (Adansam) zones, as influenced by the duration of cultivation. Soils from one-year (first cultivation of cleared forest/fallow), three-year, five-year, and ten-year farms were analyzed for basic soil properties, active or labile carbon (POXC), basal respiration (BR), microbial biomass (C mic ) using permanganate oxidizable C, alkali trap, and chloroform fumigation incubation. In both study levels, POXC content was <1% of soil organic carbon (SOC) in all zones, higher in the wet agro-ecological zones, and positively correlated with SOC ( r = 0.70, 0.81; p < 0.01, p < 0.001). Dompem SOC and BR declined by 1–23% and 6–25% ( p < 0.001), respectively, in the first three years; C mic ( p = 0.002) and %C mic /SOC ( p = 0.610) decreased from three-year farms onwards. Conversely, the Adansam SOC, BR, C mic , and %C mic /SOC rather had irregular trends. The microbial indices were influenced by exchangeable acidity, the sum of exchangeable bases, and effective cation exchangeable capacity negatively or positively, followed by SOC, pedogenic compounds, particularly dithionite-citrate iron (Fe d ), oxalate iron (Fe ox ), and lastly, soil pH. Therefore, understanding the degree, direction, and changing aspects of these drivers of soil ecosystem services is necessary for sustainable soil management practices in different agro-ecological zones.

Suggested Citation

  • Dora Neina & Eunice Agyarko-Mintah, 2023. "Differential Impacts of Cropland Expansion on Soil Biological Indicators in Two Ecological Zones," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:10:p:8138-:d:1148934
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nugun P. Jellason & Elizabeth J. Z. Robinson & Abbie S. A. Chapman & Dora Neina & Adam J. M. Devenish & June Y. T. Po & Barbara Adolph, 2021. "A Systematic Review of Drivers and Constraints on Agricultural Expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Richard D. Bardgett & Wim H. van der Putten, 2014. "Belowground biodiversity and ecosystem functioning," Nature, Nature, vol. 515(7528), pages 505-511, November.
    3. Dora Neina & Eunice Agyarko-Mintah, 2022. "Duration of Cultivation Has Varied Impacts on Soil Charge Properties in Different Agro-Ecological Zones of Ghana," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, September.
    4. Barbier, Edward B., 2020. "Long run agricultural land expansion, booms and busts," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    5. Luciene Gomes & Silvio J. C. Simões & Eloi Lennon Dalla Nora & Eráclito Rodrigues de Sousa-Neto & Maria Cristina Forti & Jean Pierre H. B. Ometto, 2019. "Agricultural Expansion in the Brazilian Cerrado: Increased Soil and Nutrient Losses and Decreased Agricultural Productivity," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-26, January.
    6. Diana H. Wall & Uffe N. Nielsen & Johan Six, 2015. "Soil biodiversity and human health," Nature, Nature, vol. 528(7580), pages 69-76, December.
    7. Dora Neina & Barbara Adolph, 2022. "Sulphur Contents in Arable Soils from Four Agro-Ecological Zones of Ghana," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-14, October.
    8. Victoria Janes-Bassett & Richard Bassett & Dmitry Yumashev & Gordon Blair & Jess Davies, 2021. "Mapping regional impacts of agricultural expansion on terrestrial carbon storage," Regional Studies, Regional Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 336-340, January.
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