Characterization and classification of soils along a toposequence in Eziama Ikeduru, Imo State, South-Eastern Nigeria

• Authors: Okechukwu Uzoma Iheme , Ejike Joel Ejiako , Uzochukwu Godfrey Nwakanma
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Inherent physical, chemical and morphological properties of soils in a place greatly determine the agronomic activities carried out in the place. Soils with high ECEC, high base saturation, low bulk density, high organic matter content, high silt clay ratio, etc. show high soil fertility. The toposequence in Eziama, Ikeduru which was formed from coastal plain sand was delineated into three physiographic units, summit middle slope and valley bottom. One profile pit was studied in each of the units. The profile pits were described with the procedure as recommended by Food and Agricultural Organization and soil samples from identifiable horizons were subjected to laboratory analyses. Coefficient of variation was used to measure the variation amongst selected properties. Selected soil properties were also correlated to measure the relationship existing between these properties. The data obtained showed that the color varied from dusky red (2.5 YR 3/2) to red (2.5 YR 5/8) and generally became brighter down the profiles. The texture ranged from sandy clay loam at the B horizons to sandy loam at the A horizons. The silt clay ratio ranged from 0.039 to 0.549, showing that more advanced weathering has taken place in the soils of the studied area. Organic carbon ranged from 1.2 to 13.6 g/kg and generally decreased down the pits. Total nitrogen was generally low and ranged from 0.34 to 1.1 g/kg. The ECEC of the area was also low, indicative of effects of leaching which is predominant in soils formed on coastal plain sands. The percentage base saturation ranged from 23.3 to 66.98%. The pH ranged from 5.37 to 4.82 (strongly acidic to very strongly acidic). The C:N ratio ranged from 3.4 to 16.59. The fertility status of the soils was generally low due to the low Ca:Mg ratio, low K:Mg ratio, high C:N ratio, low pH., the soils belong to the soil order Ultisols. The soil at the summit was classified as Inceptic hapludult, that of the middle slope as Typic hapludult and that of the valley bottom as Arenic paleudult.

Keywords

EN

Characterization; Classification; ECEC; Toposequence

Discipline

• ENVIRONMENT_&_ECOLOGY: ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

• Publisher: Scientific Publishing House „DARWIN”
• Journal: World News of Natural Sciences
• Year: 2023
• Volume: 47
• Pages: 84-103

Contributors

author

Okechukwu Uzoma Iheme

• Department of Soil Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

author

Ejike Joel Ejiako

• Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

author

Uzochukwu Godfrey Nwakanma

• Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurum, PMB 121, Effurum, Delta State Nigeria

References

• [1] Abayneh Esayas, (2001). Some physicochemical characteristics of the Raya valley soils, Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Natural Resource, 3(2): 155-171
• [2] Ahukaemere, C. M. (2018). Suitability evaluation of some soils of South-Eastern Nigeria for oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and cocoa (Theobroma cacao) cultivation. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 21, 3355-3361
• [3] Ahukaemere, C. M., Eshett, E. T., & Ahiwe, C. (2014). Characterization and fertility status of wetland soils in Abia State agro-ecological zone of southeastern Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science 24(1), 147-157
• [4] Ahukaemere, C. M., & Akpan, E. L. (2012). Fertility Status and Characterization of Paddy Soils of Amasiri In Ebonyi State, Southeastern Nigeria. PAT, 8(2), 159-168
• [5] Akpan-Idiok, A. U. (2012). Physicochemical properties, degradation rate and vulnerability potential of soils formed on coastal plain sands in southeast, Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Research 7(7), 358-366
• [6] Akamigbo F.O.R.(1999) Influence of land use on soil properties of the humid tropical agroecology of southeastern Nigeria. Agric J. 30: 59-76
• [7] Audu, S. D., & Lekwa, G. (2014). Characterization and Classification of Soils Along a Toposequence in Ajata-Ibeku Abia State South Eastern Nigeria. The International Journal of Science and Technoledge, 2(5), 379
• [8] Bekele, T. (1994). Phytosociology and ecology of a humid Afromontane forest on the central plateau of Ethiopia. Journal of Vegetation Science 5(1), 87-98
• [9] Belay, T. (1998). Pedogenesis and soil-geomorphic relationships on the piedmont slopes of Wurgo Valley, Southern Welo, Ethiopia. SINET: Ethiop. J. Sci. 21(1): 91-111
• [10] DeFrees, D. J., Loew, G. H., & McLean, A. D. (1982). The rotational spectra of HCNH/+/and COH/+/from quantum mechanical calculations. The Astrophysical Journal, 257, 376-382
• [11] Eshett, E. T., Omueti, J. A., & Juo, A. S. (1990). Physico-chemical, morphological, and clay mineralogica properties of soils overlying basement complex rocks in Ogoja, northern cross river state of Nigeria. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 36(2), 203-214
• [12] Esu, I.E,. Akpan-Idiok, A.U. and Eyong, M.O. (2008). Characterization and classification of soils along a typical Hillslope in Afikpo Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Nigeria Journal of Soil and Environment 8: 1-6
• [13] Fageria, N. K. (2012). Role of soil organic matter in maintaining sustainability of cropping systems. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 43(16), 2063-2113
• [14] Hughes, M. W., Almond, P. C., Roering, J. J., & Tonkin, P. J. (2010). Late Quaternary loess landscape evolution on an active tectonic margin, Charwell Basin, South Island, New Zealand. Geomorphology, 122(3-4), 294-308
• [15] Lawal, B.A., Tsado, P.A., Eze, P.C., Idefoh, K.K., Zaki, A.A., Kolawole, S., (2014). Effect of Slope Positions on some Properties of Soils under a Tectona grandis Plantation in Minna, Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. International Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry Volume 1, Issue 2, 37-43
• [16] Mohammed Assen. P.A.L., Leroux, C.H., Barker, and Heluf Gebrekidan, (2005). Soils of Jelo micro catchment in the Chercher highlands of eastern Ethiopia: I. Morphological and Physiochemical Properties. Ethiopian Journal of Natural Resources, 7(1): 55-81
• [17] Nelson, D. W and Sommers, L. E (1996). Total carbon, organic carbon and organic matter. In: Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 3. Chemical Methods. Soil Science Society of American Book series. Nsukka. pp 103.
• [18] Onweremadu, E.U. Eshett, E.T. Osuji, G.E. Unamba-Oparah, I. Obiefuna J.C. and Onwuliri, C,O.E. (2007). Anisotropy of Edaphic Properties in slope soils of a University Farm in Owerri, Southeastern Nigeria. Journal of American Science, 3(4), 52-61
• [19] Onweremadu, E. U., Onyia, V. N., & Anikwe, M. A. N. (2007). Carbon and nitrogen distribution in water-stable aggregates under two tillage techniques in Fluvisols of Owerri area, southeastern Nigeria. Soil and Tillage Research, 97(2), 195-206
• [20] Orji, U. E. N. and Obasi S. N. (2012) Properties and classification of erosion prone soils of ukpor, Nnewi South L.G.A. Anambra State Nigeria. International Journal of agric. and Rural Dev. Vol. 15(2): 1079-1084
• [21] Popova, Z., Kercheva, M., & Pereira, L. S. (2006). Validation of the FAO methodology for computing ETo with limited data. Application to South Bulgaria. Irrigation and Drainage: The Journal of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, 55(2), 201-215
• [22] Richardson, C. J., Flanagan, N. E., Ho, M., & Pahl, J. W. (2011). Integrated stream and wetland restoration: A watershed approach to improved water quality on the landscape. Ecological Engineering, 37(1), 25-39
• [23] Rogobete, G., & Grozav, A. (2013). Soil genesis and problematic soils. Research Journal of Agricultural Science, 45(2)
• [24] Wilding, L. P. (1985). Spatial variability: its documentation, accomodation and implication to soil surveys. In Soil spatial variability, Las Vegas NV, 30 November-1 December 1984 (pp. 166-194)

• Document Type: article