Current and Potential Soil Suitability for Cassava for Sustainable Production in Varying Soils of Bayelsa State Nigeria

Abstract

Mangrove swamp deposit, Sombreiro Warri deltaic deposit, and Recent and sub-recent alluvial deposit soils of Bayelsa State were characterized and evaluated for arable crop cassava production. Results showed that there were variations in the soil physicochemical properties. Soils underlain by Mangrove swamp deposit being better than others since it had greater content of organic matter, total nitrogen, Ca and total exchangeable bases. It also recorded higher pH making it less acidic for crop production. The results of the current (actual) suitability map of the soils showed a wide range of moderate to marginal suitability scores for cassava production except in in soils of Otuoke (11.4 to 24.28%) indicating temporary nonsuitable (N1) for cassava production. However, the potential suitability map of the study area revealed that the soils were moderately suitable for cassava. The study also revealed that fertility is a major constraint to the production of cassava and managerial strategies capable of boosting fertility status should be employed for cassava production in this region.