Characterization of soils along a toposequence of gboko-north in Benue state, Nigeria, and its relation to potential agricultural landuse
2018
Usman, J. | Idoga, S. | Usman, M. | Ogbu, O.J.
Detailed soil survey of a toposequence of some selected soils of Gboko-North in Benue State, Nigeria, was studied with the view to establish its influence on soil properties and its relationship to potential crop production. Three soil profile pits were sunk along the toposequence at the seasonally flooded toe slope (valley bottom), middle slope and the crest. The soils were characterized based on their morphological, physical and chemical properties. Generally, the clay content ranged from 8.0% to 20.3%. The clay content distribution increased with depth in pedons 1 and 3 while pedon 2 had no definite pattern of distribution of the clay content. This could be attributed to some pedogenic processes such as lessivage, eluviation and illuviation. The soils were generally coarse-textured and slightly to moderately acidic in reaction (pH5.00–6.40). They had low organic matter contents ranging from 0.19% to 0.86% and high base saturation of 75.7% to 78.3%. Total nitrogen and phosphorus were inadequate with low exchangeable cations. Based on the physical and chemical characteristics, the soils of the seasonal flooded slope were classified as Typic Epiaqualfs/Epigleyic Stagnosols. The middle slope soils were classified as Eutric Haplustept/Eutric Haplic Luvisols while the soils of the crest were classified as Arenic Haplustalfs/Eutric Luvisols. Land characteristics such as mean annual rainfall, temperature, relative humidity, topography, coarse fragments and base saturation were not major limitations to the common crops area. The soils at the valley bottom were recommended for water loving crop such as wetland rice on account of water availability throughout growing season whereas the soils of the middle slope and the crest were suited for all arable crops cultivation.
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