Knowledge of the infiltration characteristics of soils could play a significant role in the choice of appropriate soil management practices that is capable of alleviating the production constraints of soils. The infiltration characteristics of soils in Owerri under four different lands uses viz: secondary forest, plantain plantation, continuously cultivated land and the grazing land was investigated with the aid of a double ring infiltrometer. Results showed that the secondary forest, plantain plantation, continuously cultivated land, as well as the grazing land all, recorded low infiltration rates of 26.54 mm/hr, 26.0 mm/hr, 18.87/hr and 21.35 mm/hr respectively. There were also significant differences in the soil physical and chemical properties notably the hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, water content, organic matter, total nitrogen, as well as available phosphorus (P<0.05). The results obtained suggest that the inherent land uses in the area affected the infiltration of water as well as the soil quality indices. Land use practices that will improve the organic matter, as well as the water transmissivity of the soils such as conservation tillage, fallowing and controlled grazing, should be adopted and sustained.

The variability of organic matter across four contrasting land uses namely oil palm plantation OPPL, sand mining site SM,  tenuously cultivated land CCL and primary Forest (PFL) were evaluated in Imo State. Results obtained showed that the percentage of sand decreased down the depths in all the land uses: PFL, CCL, OPPL, SM which were 76.6, 76.1, 77.7 and 70% respectively. The soils ranged from sandy loam to sandy clay loam in texture. The SM had the highest mean bulk density of 1.76 g/cm3 against the lowest mean value of 1.52 g/cm3 in the PFL. Similarly the PFL had the highest mean percentage organic matter of 2.12% as well as the lowest coefficient of variation 7.8% compared to the high coefficient of variations observed in the other land uses. The sand mining had 68% coefficient of variation while the CCL, OPPL had coefficient variations of 58% and 52% respectively indicating high variations .There was little or no variations in the percentage total nitrogen as well as available phosphorus in the PFL compared to the high variation in the other land uses. Land uses that depleted the essential nutrients in the soil should be avoided. Mulching and conservation tillage that tends to restore the soils nutrient ability should be adopted and sustained.