B.L. Abdulrahman, A.A. Mustapha
Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria
(Manuscript received 30 June 2025; accepted for publication 8 December 2025)
* email: aamustapha.ssc@buk.edu.ng
Abstract. Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a crucial role in maintaining soil quality, fertility, and overall ecosystem stability. However, continuous intensive cultivation, deforestation, bush burning, and poor land-use practices have significantly degraded soils, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, reducing their capacity to store organic carbon. The system of rice intensification (SRI) involves the adoption of certain management practices for rice cultivation to provide a better growing environment for the crop. Soil was sampled from rice growing belts in Kana and Jigawa states from about 25 different farms. The soils were analyzed before and after the adoption of the SRI to compare the difference in soil properties. The results showed significant difference in the particle size distribution after adoption of SRI with increase in both sand and clay content by 8.48% and 3.15%, respectively. Similar positive increase was observed in the concentration of available phosphorous, effective cation exchange capacity and micronutrients. However, the concentration of organic carbon and pH was found to decrease with adoption. It can be concluded that SRI improves soil properties.