Indian Journal of Agricultural Research

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Research Article

Indian Journal of Agricultural Research, volume 55 issue 6 (december 2021) : 709-714

Soil Characterization and Classification in an Upland of Southern Guinea Savannah Zone of Nigeria

T.S. Babalola, K.S. Ogunleye, O.J. Omoju, U.C. Osakwe, A.O.A. Ilori
1Kabba College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria.
Cite article:- Babalola T.S., Ogunleye K.S., Omoju O.J., Osakwe U.C., Ilori A.O.A. (2021). Soil Characterization and Classification in an Upland of Southern Guinea Savannah Zone of Nigeria. Indian Journal of Agricultural Research. 55(6): 709-714. doi: 10.18805/IJARe.A-627.

ABSTRACT

Background: Soil characterization and classification is the foundation for sustainable land use and management. Upland soils are important in areas of high elevation and undulating terrain. This study characterized and classified Soils of an upland in southern guinea savannah of Nigeria.
Methods: The prominent elevation points of the area were read with GPS device and four locations identified were labelled: UP1, UP2, UP3 and UP4. Profile pits were dug in each location, described for the morphological properties and sampled for laboratory analysis of soil physico-chemical properties.
Result: The soils were slightly to strongly acidic with pH of 5.29 to 6.11, had low organic matter ranged of 1.52 to 1.79% and low soil nutrient reserve with the effective cation exchange capacity (CEC) of 5.9 to 9.26 mol kg-1. In-situ soil development, transportation and deposition of materials were the major soil formation processes in the area. The soils were classified as Alfisols and were marginally suitable (S3) for yam.

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