EFFECT OF INITIAL LAND PREPARATION METHODS ON SELECTED SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES IN AFRAM PLAINS, GHANA

Abstract
The objective of the study was to determine the most appropriate methods of initial land preparations in Afram Plains based on their effect on selected soil physical properties such as dry bulk density, porosity, hydraulic conductivity and available water content. The study
also sought to estimate the cost of preparing farm lands in the Afram Plains. The study was conducted in Odumesua in the Afram Plains District sampling soil from fields prepared with three identified and categorized systems of land preparations. These
were Slash and Burnt cleared land with no-tillage (SBNT), manually cleared land with conventional tillage (MCT) and bulldozed land with conventional tillage (BCT). The soil properties were determined at 0-40cm depths at intervals of 10 cm for analysis. Financial
cost of these land preparation methods was also estimated from machinery input cost derivatives and information gathered from local farmers.  Dry bulk density, porosity and hydraulic conductivity were significantly (at p ≤ 0.005 level) affected by the land preparations methods. At different depths of sampling, hydraulic conductivity was not significantly (at p ≤ 0.005 level) affected. However, available water content was not significantly affected by both factors (land preparation methods and depth of sampling). Dry bulk density at 1.5g/cm3 reduced by 3% and 16% in MCT and BCT respectively compared with the UNCULTIVATED and SBNT. The results showed that agricultural lands prepared by bulldozing or stumps excavation and conventional tillage operations (BCT) was most appropriate using fertile agricultural soil indicators of soil physical properties. The results also indicated that it costs three times more in preparing
lands employing heavy tractors like the bulldozer compared to the traditional methods of using human labour with simple tools.