Assessment of Soil Moisture Variability and Its Relationship with Climate Under Different Land Uses in a Tropical Region

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Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Water Resources Management and Agrometeorology, Michael Okpara, University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

2 Department of Water Resources Management and Agrometeorology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess soil moisture variability in relation to climate across different land uses in a tropical region, to evaluate the variations in climate and soil moisture under grassland, forest land, and continuously cultivated land. Soil moisture was measured weekly at two depths (0 – 20 and 20 – 40 cm) for the period of January 2024 to December 2024. Meteorological data (rainfall, temperature, sunshine duration, and soil moisture) in this study were obtained by remote sensing from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Line graph analysis was used to explain the variations of soil moisture and climate under different land use, while regression analysis showed the relationship between soil moisture and climate. The study showed that land use influenced atmospheric temperature, rainfall, and sunshine duration, with continuously cultivated land recording the highest temperature (29.38°C). Forest land received higher rainfall (458.95 mm month¯¹) than grass land and continuously cultivated land. The study also showed that forest land maintained higher soil moisture (1.88 kg kg¯¹) levels than other land uses. Land use systems significantly influenced sunshine duration, with continuously cultivated land recording the highest sunshine duration (5.04 hours day¯¹). The result also showed that soil moisture exhibited a negative relationship with sunlight duration and atmospheric temperature, and had a strong positive relationship with rainfall. The findings of this study can be used as important implications for sustainable land management practices, particularly in regions with limited water resources.

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Main Subjects

Sustainable Earth Trends

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 September 2025

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