ABSTRACT
A study was conducted to characterize, classify and assess the potential of the soils of a toposequence for sustainable crop production in Okwulaga Afaraukwu in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, Southeast Nigeria and lies between latitudes 50291-50421 N and longitudes 70291-70331 E. The toposequence was delineated into three physiographic units (upper slope, middle slope and lower slope). A modal soil profile was established in each of the units. The profiles were described morphologically and soil samples collected from the identified horizons were analyzed for physical and chemical properties. The soils were classified using the USDA Soil Taxonomy and World Reference Base. Also, the USDA land capability classification (LCC) was used to assess the potentials of the soils for arable and non arable crops production. Results revealed variations in morphological, physical and chemical properties of the soils. The soils of the upper slopes were well drained and deep, the middle slopes were well drain at the topsoil while the sub-soils were imperfectly drained and deep compared with the poorly drained soils of the lower slope whose depth was limited by high water table at the depth of 40cm. Particle-size distribution revealed dominance of sand fraction in the upper and lower slope positions (78.60-42.6 and 72.6 - 62.6 %), respectively. The middle slope region was dominated by clay fraction (50.2-66.2 %). The soils across the landscape were strongly to moderately acidic. Organic carbon was high in the upper and lower slopes but low in the middle slope position. Exchangeable bases were high in the middle and lower slope terrains but low in the upper slope position. Based on the USDA soil Taxonomy, three soil types were identified: Typic Paleudalfs (occupied the upper slope), Typic Hapludalfs (middle slope) and Gleyic Hamaquepts (lower slope). These were correlated (World Reference Base) as Luvisols,Lixisols and Fluvisols. Assessment of the land use potential of the study area for crop production revealed three land capability classes II (suitable for arable crops), IV(suitable for arable crops) and V(not suitable for arable crops) with texture, depth, wetness and slope as constraints. Generally, the soils differed in properties indicating their variation in productive potential and management requirements for specific agricultural use.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Table of content vi
List of tables vii
Abstract viii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Objective 2
CHAPTER TWO: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
2.1 Topography
3
2.1.1 Land Mapping Unit 5
2.2 Digital Soil
Mapping 6
2.3 Land Characteristics and Land
Qualities 7
2.3.1soil Classification 8
2.3.2 Usda Soil Classification 9
2.3.3. World Reference Base (WRD) 11
2.4 Correlation Between The Usda And Wrb System Of
Classification 12
2.5
Soil Survey Approach 12
2.5.1 Soil Survey For Crop Production 13
2.5.2
Soil Survey For Soil Protection And Conservation 13
2.5.2 Soil Survey For Decision Making 13
2.6 Land Evaluation 14
2.7 Methods of Land Evaluation 15
2.8 Land Capability Classification 15
2.8.1 Bulk Density 16
2.8.2 Measuring Bulk Density 16
2.8.3 Core Method 17
2.8.4
Soil Porosity 18
CHAPTER
3: MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1
Study area 19
3.2
Field work and soil sample collection 22
3.3
DATA ANALYSIS 22
3.4 Land evaluation 24
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1
Soil properties of the study area 26
4.1.1
Upper Slope (pedon 1) 26
4.1.2
Middle Slope (pedon 2) 31
4.1.3
Valley Slope (pedon 3) 32
4.2 Classification of Soils of the study area 34
4.2.1 Upper slope
position 35
4.2.2 Middle slope
position 35
4.2.3 Lower slope 35
4.3 Land capability classification (LCC) of soils of the study area 36
CHAPTER
5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1. Conclusion 38
5.2. Recommendations 38
REFERENCES
APPENDICES
LIST OF FIGURE
Figure
page
31: Map of the study area (Okwulaga
Afaraukwu) showing profile pit location 20
3.2 Position of the soil profile pit along the toposequence 21
LIST OF TABLES
Tables
Page
3.1: Simplified
conversion table of USDA land capability classification 24
4.2: Morphological properties of the soils of the study area 28
4.2:
Physical properties of the soils of the study area 29
4.3:
Some chemical properties of the soils 34
4.4:
Land capability indices of the study area 37
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Landform is one of the five basic components
of the soil forming factors (Hook and Burke, 2000) characterized by leaching
and redistribution of soil materials along landscape (Amunden, R, Harden, J.W. and Singer,M.J.,1994). Therefore, soil
chemical, physical and morphological and their characteristics, distribution patterns
over a landscape are influenced by topography (Esu, 2005).
Toposequence, according
to Juo and Moorman (1981), refers to a succession of sites from the crest down
the valley bottom that includes a variety of soil profiles that reflect the landscape
and the soil. Variations in soil characteristics occur both vertically and
laterally, depending on variables such as land scape location, soil formation,
and management methods (land use). Soil characterization provides fundamental
information needed to develop functional soil classification schemes and
evaluate soil fertility in order to discover some of the eco-system's unique
soil potentials (Lekwa, M.U., Anene, B.O. and Lekwa, G.,2004)
Physical factors like slope and elevation
gradients have a strong influence on land use patterns (Overmars and Verburg,
2005). When land is not used properly, it may speed up soil deterioration with adverse
impact on biological and physico-chemical characteristics of the soil (Salako,
F.K., Tian, G., Kirchhof, G. and Akinbola, G.E., 2006). Changes in soil characteristics
including horizon differentiations, textural contrasts, soil depth, and
chemical properties may be caused by landscape location, water velocity, variation in drainage
conditions, and mineral deposition (Olatunji,
O.O., Ogunkunle, A.O. and Tabi, F.O., 2007). Characterization and
classification of soils aid in the generation of data needed for land use
planning and soil management.
Soil characterization is
critical in soil surveys in order to create databases on the soil's
morphological, physical, and chemical characteristics and classify the soil. In
order to determine agricultural potentials, limitations, and management choices
for soils in a certain region, these data are critical, as they aid in
selecting the most appropriate farming operations (Karuma, A.N., Gachene,
C.K.K., Msanya, B.M., Mtakwa, P.W., Nyambilila, A. and Gicheru, P.T. 2015 and
Kebeney, S.J., Msanya, B.M., Ngetich, W.K., Semoka, J.M.R. and Serrem, C.K.
2015). It is because of these variations in soil properties due to topography
(toposequence) and the underlying material that the soil has such a diverse
composition (Chukwu and Ifenkwe,2012).Thus, a wider range of land uses, such as
arable crop production, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishing, have an
increased chance of arising as a consequence. Understanding the regular
patterns of natural soil bodies in the landscape requires an understanding of
the connection between landscape, landforms, and soil (Soil Science Division Staff,
2017).
There is a death of
information on the characterization, classification and agricultural potentials
of toposequences in Okwulaga Afaraukwu. The findings of the study will help
pedologists, agronomists, and geologists in the future when building a base map
of the study region. In addition, farmers will benefit from the study since
they will have more information about the soil and the land's carrying capacity
to enable them to manage the soil more wisely for long-term crop production.
1.1
OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The
general objective of the study was to characterize, classify and evaluate in a
general way, the suitability of the toposequence for most kinds of field crops.
1.1.1Specific Objective
i.
To characterize the soils
of the toposequence
ii.
To classify the soil using
the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) and World Reference Base (WRB) systems of soil
classification
iii.
To assess soil potential
through land capability classification (LCC) of the area for commonly
cultivated crops.
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