ABSTRACT
The present study showed that land use has a significant influence on the chemical and physical properties of soils and hydrological processes in the research area. One major impact of cultivation is the reduction of total porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity due to reduced abundance and activity of soil organisms. The increased surface runoff, reduced FC (due to soil loss), and evaporation caused an increase in water yield in the catchment area used for agriculture. The sustainability of existing plantations may be improved by greater organization of agricultural activities and the adoption of agro-ecological land-use zoning.
