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ABSTRACT
This experiment was conducted in the plantain farm of the University of Benin, Benin City, to determine the monosaccharide content of the soil and its relationship with selected physical and chemical properties of the soil in the plantain farm. Soil samples were collected from different points in the farm; soil auger was used in making borings point at depth intervals of 0-15 cm, 15-30 cm and 30-45cm on each point in the farmland. Samples were bulked into 3 different composite times making a total of 9 samples. The samples were analyzed in Soil Science Laboratory using standard procedures. Some of the parameters analyzed for are: pH, Total nitrogen, Available phosphorus, sand, silt and clay content, percentage of organic carbon, organic matter and monosaccharides: mannose, glucose, xylose, arabinose and galactose.
Results showed that the soil Arabinose constituted the dominant monosaccharide in the soil while glucose was the least monosaccharide in the soils. The pH of the soil ranged from moderately acidic (5.4) to neutral (6.8) as depth increased, total nitrogen was below critical level and the soil had moderate organic matter content suitable for arable crop production. Sand dominated the surface horizon when compared to silt and clay which were dominant in the lower depths of the soil. Monosaccharide contents were poorly correlated and predicted by the soil physical and chemical properties however mannose and xylose/mannose ratio showed a significant positive correlation with available phosphorus, galactose+mannose/xylose+arabinose ratio showed a negative significant correlation with silt and available phosphorus.
