Studies of Physicochemical Properties of Rhizosphere of Elaeis guinensis in Ayingba

Abstract

The physicochemical properties of rhizosphere of oil palm (Elaeis guinensis) were studied for a period of 28 days. Soil samples were collected weekly from five Faculties of Kogi State University, Anyigba namely Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (FAS), Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH), Faculty of Law (FL), Faculty of Natural Sciences (FNS) and Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) and analysed for pH, moisture, organic carbon, organic matter content, nitrogen and available phosphorus. The pH ranged from 6.07±0.18 to 6.47±0.09. The moisture content, organic carbon, organic matter content and phosphorus were high. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in pH, organic carbon, organic matter content, nitrogen and phosphorus concentration of the soil samples. However, there was no significant difference in the moisture content of the soil sample analysed. The results indicate that the oil palm rhizosphere soil is fertile and may favour the growth of soil organisms.