strong influence on bulk density especially in the top
0–10 cm layer, which was significantly greater under
cocoa at 3 years than the primary forest soil probably
due to the human traffic associated with tree plantations
management operations (Lemenih et al. 2005).
There were no differences in percentage silt
contents between the land-uses though sand and clay
percentages differed. Management practices following
forest conversion did not affect particle size and
overall, soil texture was similar across the different
land-uses. Using the USDA triangular soil classification
chart (Anderson and Ingram 1998), soils on all
sites were similar and were classified as silty loam.
The similarity in textural composition of the soils
under the various age categories suggests that the soils
were formed from similar parent materials under
uniform environmental conditions and similar management
practices.