Comparative Assessment of Some Physical Properties and Organic Matter Content of Soils Derived From Different Parent Materials in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study of soils derived from different parent materials is useful in formulating appropriate management schemes for soil health and agricultural production. A comparative assessment of some physical properties and organic matter content of soils formed from coastal plain sands (CPS), sandstone (SST) and river alluvium (ALV) was conducted in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Topsoil samples (0 – 30 cm) were collected from ten points in soils of each of the three parent materials for laboratory analyses. The soil samples were analyzed for texture, macro and micro aggregate stability indices, soil water characteristics, bulk density and organic matter. Data generated were subjected to Analysis of Variance to compare properties of soils of the different parent materials. Significantly different means were separated using the Least Significant Difference at 5% probability level. Results showed that soils of SST and CPS parent materials both had loamy sand texture while that of ALV soil was clay. Bulk density of ALV soil (1.20 Mg m-3) was significantly lower (p≤0.05) than those of CPS (1.55 Mg m-3) and SST (1.39 Mg m-3). Significantly higher (p≤0.05) mean weight diameter (MWD) (2.01 mm), aggregated silt+clay (51.96%) and clay flocculation index (89.00%) were observed in ALV soils than in CPS and SST soils while the dispersion ratio and clay dispersion index were significantly higher (p≤0.05) in CPS and SST soils than in the ALV soil. Alluvial soil had significantly higher (p≤0.05) saturation water content (SWC), field capacity (FC), permanent wilting point (PWP) and available water content (AWC) of 0.61, 0.45, 0.25 and 0.20 m3 m-3, respectively, than those of CPS and SST. Alluvial soil also had the lowest cumulative infiltration (3.05 cm) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (0.40 cm hr-1) relative to those of CPS and SST. The CPS soil had significantly lower (p≤0.05) organic matter content (2.07%) than SST (3.06%) and ALV (3.34%) soils. Cumulative infiltration (I) significantly and positively correlated with total sand (TS) (r = 0.710*) in the CPS soil, and Ksat (r = 0.681*), MWD (r = 0.829**) and CFI (r = 0.655*) in the SST soil. In the ALV soil, cumulative infiltration positively correlated with total porosity (r = 0.770**) and negatively with bulk density (r = - 0.770**). Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) had a positive correlation with SWC (r = 0.745*) and TP (r = 0.833**), but a significant and negative correlation with BD (r = - 0.833**) in SST soil. Field capacity (FC) positively and significantly correlated with TP (r = 0.638*) in CPS soil, and with MWD (r = 0.713*), CFI (r = 0.647*) and OM (r = 0.651*) in SST soil and with TP (r = 0.790**) and OM (r = 0.672*) in ALV soil. The correlations of FC with BD (r = - 0.638*) in CPS soil, with CDI (r = -0.647*) in SST soil and with BD (r = -0.790**) in ALV soil were significant and negative. MWD positively and significantly correlated with organic matter (r = 0.699*). The clayey ALV soil will be suitable for paddy rice production and dry season crops due to its higher water retention capacity than the CPS and SST soils which will be better utilized for vegetable crop production under irrigation. The CPS and SST soils can also be applied to intensive crop production under rain fed condition and supplemented with irrigation.

Physico-chemical properties of soils derived from different geologic formations in typical rainfall agro-ecological zone

“…The bulk density obtained across the different geologic formations implies that the soils formed within the study area had similar bulk density. The results indicate that the soils found within the study area have good function for water movement and soil aeration, which aids infiltration and reduce runoff and possibly erosion [7].…”

“…[6] studied the influence of parent materials on mineral association and sorption capacity of soils in Akwa Ibom state, using a profile pits. [7] in their study compared the physical properties and organic matters of soils derived from three (3) different parent materials of Akwa Ibom state. [8] modelled the erodibility of soils formed from different geologic formation of the study area, using some selected soil properties.…”

Studies on Heavy Metal Accumulation and Quality of Irish Potato (Solanum Tuberosum) Tubers Grown with Inorganic and Organic Fertilizers in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

“…Low crop yield as a result of nutrient deficiency has made it mandatory for farmers in Jos South Local Government area to use organic/inorganic fertilizer in order to increase crop yield. Nevertheless organic/inorganic fertilizers are costly, inadequate and their continuous use may results to soil acidity and heavy metals in humans (Oguike and Mbagwu 2009).…”

Shifts in functional traits and interactions patterns of soil methane‐cycling communities following forest‐to‐pasture conversion in the Amazon Basin

“…Land-use change affects several soil properties, including organic matter, carbon and nutrient cycling, pH, and soil structure and porosity (Oguike & Mbagwu, 2009) which are known to affect methanogenesis and methanotrophy (Serrano-Silva et al, 2014;Tate, 2015).…”

“…LUC affects several soil properties, including organic matter, carbon and nutrient cycling, pH, and soil structure and porosity (Oguike & Mbagwu, 2009) which are known to affect methanogenesis and methanotrophy (Serrano‐Silva et al, 2014; Tate, 2015). A better understanding of the abiotic and biological processes regulating soil CH 4 flux will allow the prediction of conditions (e.g., land‐use and management practices) that favour higher soil CH 4 oxidation rates and lower net CH 4 emissions (Fonseca De Souza et al, 2021; Tate, 2015).…”