A clear understanding of soil characteristics and their appropriate classification are essential for efficient land use and increased productivity. The present study was carried out to obtain the fertility capability classification (FCC) of the soils overlying the basement complex in a toposequence in north eastern Nigeria and to serve as baseline data for soil management. Soils on four topographic positions identified on porphyritic granite (PG), pegmatite (PT) and granite-gneiss (GG) of the basement complex in Taraba State of Nigeria were assessed. Twelve pedons were studied in all, four along the toposequence on PG, PT, and GG. At the type and substrata type, sandy and loamy group dominated. Ustic soil moisture regime, exchange acidity (fixing available phosphorus) and low organic carbon limited the entire soils across the basement complexes restricting rainfed crop production to one season per annum except with irrigation practice. Poor drainage was a limitation across the soils on pegmatite. The FCC rated PG and GG soils as SLdeam (sand over loam and limited by moisture, effective cation exchange capacity, aluminium toxicity and organic carbon) and Ldam (loam type and substrata characteristics limited by moisture, aluminium toxicity and organic carbon), and PT and PT soils as Sdamg (sandy type and substrata type restricted by moisture, aluminium toxicity, organic carbon, drainage). Ridge construction, organic and mineral fertilizer applications are essential management practices required for sustainable use of these soils.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.