The study assessed the use of soil improvement practices among arable crop farmers in
Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from
one hundred and twenty farmers randomly from six communities through the use of
structured interview schedule. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and correlation
analysis. The results show that most of the farmers were between the ages of 21 and 60 years
with mean age of 43.5. The large household size of respondents indicates that farmers
depended more on family members for labour. The soil improvement practices which were
mainly used by the respondents were: bush fallowing, mixed cropping, mulching, animal
droppings and application of NPK fertilizer. The use of compost, superphosphates were not
common among the arable crop farmers in the study area. Majority (72.5%) of the
respondents preferred using planting systems as soil improvement practices. The .result of
the correlation analysis shows that there was significant relationship between respondents’
farming experience, level of education and the use of soil improvement practices at P = 0.05
and P = 0.01 respectively. The numbers of soil improvement practices used was determined
by the years of formal education and years of farming experience. There was a significant
relationship between the level of skill and knowledge of respondents in any soil improvement
practice (r = 0.772; P = 0.01). This implies that the use of any of the soil improvement
practice is determined by the level of knowledge and skill of the farmer on that practice. It
was recommended that farmers should be trained in skills and knowledge of different
planting systems, preparation of organic practices and proper use of both organic and
inorganic fertilizers.