ABSTRACT
This experiment was conducted in the University of Benin, Benin City to ascertain the micronutrient status of soils under different land use in the Ugbowo Campus of University of Benin. Four land use types were carefully selected: which were Arable land, Commercial land, Fallow land and sports land. Three different sites were also carefully selected on each land use (replicates). Auger points were taken at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths for each location. Samples collected were labeled and taken to the laboratory for analysis. Parameters measured include; pH, total organic carbon (TOC), boron (B), chlorine (Cl), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn) as well as sand, silt and clay contents. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance, while means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Results show that in the 0-15 cm depth, arable land had the highest significant (p˂0.05) values of chlorine (2.25 mg/kg), copper (32.16 mg/kg), iron (74.33 mg/kg), manganese (10.41 mg/kg) and molybdenum (0.67 mg/kg). Fallow land had the highest values of boron (12.50 mg/kg) and zinc (20.73 mg/kg) and least significant value of chlorine (1.38 mg/kg) at 5% level of significance. Commercial land had the least significant difference of molybdenum (0.50 mg/kg) while sports land also recorded the least significant values of boron (8.95 mg/kg), copper (24.90 mg/kg), iron (52.20 mg/kg), manganese (8.41 mg/kg) and zinc (19.03 mg/kg) at 5% level of significance. In the 15-30 cm depth, boron (B) content did not record any significant difference across the four land uses. B, Cl, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Mo recorded their highest significant values (6.02 mg/kg, 1.23 mg/kg, 23.98 mg/kg, 25.52 mg/kg, 5.61 mg/kg and 0.32 mg/kg) respectively in the arable land. Zinc recorded its highest value (17.17 mg/kg) in the fallow land. All the micronutrients recorded their least significant difference in the sports land
