Knowledge of the soil minerals is an important index in understanding the soil fertility properties since mineral surfaces serve as both the source and sink of plant nutrients. Soils developed from contrasting parent materials viz: Coastal Plain Sand, Sandstone, Basalt and Shale at different soil horizons (0-20 cm, 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm) in South Eastern Nigeria were studied for mineralogical properties. Soil samples were collected from the different parent material in three replicates and a total of thirty six composite samples were collected. These samples were subjected to X-ray diffraction analysis with Siemens D5000 diffractometer using Cuką radiation with Iron(fe) filter (λ = 1.5409A) at 40kv and 30 mA, at a scan rate of 2° per minute. The experimental design was a 4 x 3 factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Statistical analysis revealed significant (P<0.05) variation in soil physical and chemical properties with parent material and soil depth except organic matter "OM", total nitrogen "TN", magnesium "Mg +2" total exchangeable acidity "TEA" and base saturation "BS" where variations were not significant. However, interaction between parent material and soil depth was only significant in influencing the Original Research ArticlepH. Top soil layers had a significant greater amount of OM, TN, AP, cations, Sand and Silt. Generally, soil of shale formation was superior, followed by basaltic soil in these soil fertility indicators, while soil of Coastal Plain Sand formation had the least amounts. Parent material and depth played dominant roles in the type and distribution of clay minerals in the study area. The concentration of these minerals varied with parent material and soil depth. Significant variations with parent material were observed in the minerals identified except in Halloysite and Chlorite where non-significant variations were observed. While variations with depth were statistically significant (P<0.05) in Chlorite, Geothite, Hermatite, Montmorillonite and Quartz, the influence of the interaction between parent material and soil depth were only significant in Gibbsite, Kaolinite and Montmorillonite. Soil derived from Coastal Plain Sand had, Kaolinite (9.94 to 28.83%) and Quartz (56.4 to 87.3%) as the dominant clay minerals and these decreased with depth. Soil formed in shale had mixed clay mineralogy of montmorillonite (14.37 to 21.88%), goethite (23.58 to 25.09 %), hermatite (20.39 to 24.19%), gibbsite (8.48 to 12.10%), kaolinite (6.89 to 3.56%) and others with depth. Soil formed in sandstone has Kaolinite accounted for 26.42 to 31.26%, goethite, 7.77 to14.87%, and quartz accounted for 35.4 to 51.8%. Other minerals identified were: hermatite (4.58 to 14.62%), gibbsite (1.70 to 5.23%), while soils derived from basalt had kaolinite (14.64 to 27.44 %), quartz (23.7 to 42.5%), hematite (11.0 to 23.14%), goethite (13.94 to 26.48%) as the dominant crystalline minerals present in the soil. The study concludes that the mineralogy of Southeastern Nigeria consists of quartz, kaolinite, hermati...

Knowledge of the infiltration characteristics of soils could play a significant role in the choice of appropriate soil management practices that is capable of alleviating the production constraints of soils. The infiltration characteristics of soils in Owerri under four different lands uses viz: secondary forest, plantain plantation, continuously cultivated land and the grazing land was investigated with the aid of a double ring infiltrometer. Results showed that the secondary forest, plantain plantation, continuously cultivated land, as well as the grazing land all, recorded low infiltration rates of 26.54 mm/hr, 26.0 mm/hr, 18.87/hr and 21.35 mm/hr respectively. There were also significant differences in the soil physical and chemical properties notably the hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, water content, organic matter, total nitrogen, as well as available phosphorus (P<0.05). The results obtained suggest that the inherent land uses in the area affected the infiltration of water as well as the soil quality indices. Land use practices that will improve the organic matter, as well as the water transmissivity of the soils such as conservation tillage, fallowing and controlled grazing, should be adopted and sustained.

This study was carried out at the teaching and Research farm, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Technology, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, to investigate the integrated effects of organics (lime, Inoculum) and mineral fertilizers, (single superphosphate and muriate of potash) on the growth, nodulation and yield of soybean. The input omission trial was composed of 16 treatment combinations of phosphorus (75 kg/ha), potassium (88 kg/ha), lime (1500 kg/ha), and inoculum (400g/100kg seed). Each set of 16 treatments were randomized and replicated 3 times. The soybean variety “TGX1951-3F” was planted in 0.5 m by 1 m plots with a seed spacing of 5 cm. Data on number of nodules and nodule viability at 45 days after planting, plant height at 90 days after planting, number and weight of 100 seeds per plot and yield per plot at harvest were collected and analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in R using the package “car” to test the main treatment effects, 2-way, 3-way, and 4-way treatment interactions in the omission trial. Results showed highly significant effects of treatments on the growth, nodulation and yield of soybean. The no input treatment generally had the most appreciable improvement in plant height, nodule viability, weight of 100 seeds and yield. Inoculated seeds had the highest number of nodules and percent nodule viability (5 and 69% respectively). . 2.12ton/ha yield generated by the no input treatment shows the potential for future higher yield especially when climatic and good agronomic strategies are employed.