Soil Characterization And Land Suitability Evaluation

Soil Characterization And Land Suitability Evaluation

Abstract

The land at Anuka, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State in Southeastern Nigeria, under thesub-humid tropical climate was estimated for sludge( Zea mays), cassava( Manihot esculenta), yam( Dioscoreaspp.) and oil painting win( Elaeis guineensis) civilization. Data were attained by field study and laboratory analyses. Six pedons were dug and described two pedons each for sludge and oil painting win fields, and one each for yam and cassava fields. These pedons were dug to represent slice units. Auger samples were also purposefully collected from the slice units at depths 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm. This was to probe the nutrient spread in the area. Soil samples from the pedogenetic midairs of the pedons were collected after profile description, reused and anatomized. The pedons were designated P01 = cassava field, P02 and P03 = sludge fields, P04 = yam field, and P05 and P06 = oil painting win fields. The textural classes of the soils included flaxen complexion gault , flaxen gault , flaxen complexion, gault , complexion gault and complexion, but the dominant textural class is flaxen complexion gault . The overall results showed that the soils are acidic; the phosphorus content is generally low; organic matter ranged from0.42-4.31, dwindling down the profile depth and is medium(>2.0) for epipedons. interchangeable bases are generally low low interchangeable Ca(<3.2 cmol kg- 1), low to medium interchangeable Mg(0.2-3.2 cmol kg?

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, veritably low interchangeable Na(<0.70 cmol kg) and deficient interchangeable K(<2.0 cmol kg). Total nitrogen content is relatively low to veritably low(0.042< N<0.196). The soils met the criteria for bracket as Typic Dystrustults( P01, P03, P04, P05 and P06) and Aquic Argiustults( P02)( Soil Taxonomy), identified to Acrisols( FAO/ UNESCO). The results showed that although climate and geomorphology are optimum or near optimum, there was no current largely suitable( S1) soil unit for sludge, cassava and yam civilization by both parametric andnon-parametric styles of felicity evaluation. still, soil units.

Chapter One

Preface

It’s important that the land that will be used for agrarian product should be used according to its capacity for optimization and sustainability of soil productivity( Adeboye, 1994). This becomes veritably vital at this time when perfection husbandry is gaining wider acceptance and the applicability is particularly further now in the developing world where the use to which a land is put is veritably frequently not related to its capacity( Senjobi, 2001).

A major problem of agrarian development in Nigeria is poor knowledge and appraisal of felicity of parcels of land for agrarian product. The result is poor ranch operation practices, low yield and an gratuitous high cost of product( Aderonke and Gbadegesin, 2013). Land evaluation using a scientific procedure is essential to assess the capabilities and constraints of a given land parcel for agrarian purposes( Rossiter, 1996). The knowledge of soil limitations arising from land evaluation reports points at upgrading similar limitations before, or during cropping period( Lin etal., 2005). thus, soil as a main medium for civilization needs to be assessed( surveyed characterized) scientifically. The performance assessment is grounded on corresponding rates of different land units in specific area with the conditions of factual or implicit land application types. This assessment results in bracket of lands as to their felicity to produce specific crops or combination of crops( Ezeaku, 2011).

Soil felicity evaluation involves characterizing the soils in a given area for specific land use type. The felicity of a given piece of land is its natural capability to support a specified land use similar as rain- fed husbandry, beast product, forestry, etc. The main ideal of land evaluation is to prognosticate the essential capability of a land unit to support a specific land.