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This research aims to quantify how soil microbial properties respond to decomposed oil palm leaf litter across different slopes and depths.

June 28, 2026Open Access

Toposequence-Depth Dynamics of Soil Microbial Biomass, Enzyme Activities and Fertility Indices Under Decomposed Oil Palm Leaf Litter in Ibiae Plantation, Nigeria

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Randomized trial quantifies soil microbial and enzyme responses to oil palm leaf litter in plantation, indicating fertility restoration potential.

This research aims to quantify how soil microbial properties respond to decomposed oil palm leaf litter across different slopes and depths.
Soil samples were collected from lower, middle, and upper slope positions at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths.
Adjacent non-oil-palm soil served as a control sample.
Standard soil analytical and microbiological protocols were used to analyze microbial population, biomass carbon, nitrogen, and enzyme activities.
All plantation soils were sandy loam, with stronger fertility signals from residue-influenced surface soils.
Soil pH ranged from 5.5 to 6.2; organic carbon and phosphorus were highest at the lower slope surface horizon.
Bacterial counts dominated the community, and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen decreased with depth.

Peter et al. (2026) studied this question.

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Randomized trial quantifies soil microbial and enzyme responses to oil palm leaf litter in plantation, indicating fertility restoration potential.