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 interaction of land use and time on some soil water transmission properties and fertility status of an Ultisol was examined. Results indicate that the texture of the soils ranged from sandy loamy to sandy clay loam and was unaffected by land use and time. The bulk density varied significantly across the land uses with the Sand mining site SM having the highest bulk density of 1.7 and 1.78 g/cm3 in the first and second years respectively. The Primary forest, PFL had the lowest BD of 1.50 and 1.78 g/cm3 in the first and second year of studies respectively. Similarly the percentage porosity varied significantly across the four land uses and has its highest value of 43.1 and 42.3% in the first PFL of the first and second year studies. Also the saturated hydraulic conductivity KSat and moisture content MC were significantly different across the four land uses, the Ksat was highest in the PFL in both first and second year of studies (17.2 and 14.7 cm/min), the least Ksat values of 6.70 and 5.88 cm/min occurred in the 1st year sand mining site SM. Similarly there was a significant difference (P>0.05) in the percentage organic matter OM, Total nitrogen N, available phosphorous P, exchangeable acidity, Percentage base saturation BS, and CEC across the land uses, however the total N was only significant in land uses PFL and not in the other land uses. Generally the soil quality indicators ranged from low to moderate in ratings and have affected productivity of recent in the area. Appropriate land uses that will restore the productive potentials of the soil should be adopted and sustained. Similarly the organic matter of the soils should be improved on as this will go a long way in improving appreciably the poor soil water transmission properties.