Fourteen representative soils from inland flood plains in Southeastern Nigeria were studied to characterise forms (crystalline and amorphous) contents in iron and aluminium oxides. Total iron and aluminium, extracted using HCI after fusion with Na 2 CO 3 , ranged from 1.25 to 7.74 % by weight of dry soil, with a mean of 3.29 % for total Fe 2 O 3 and from 9.75 to 44.67 % with a mean of 26.04 % for total Al 2 O 3 . Broad textural grouping of the soils showed mean total contents of Fe 2 O 3 and Al 2 O 3 comparable to fine-textural soil, medium-textured soil, and coarse-textured soil. On the basis of drainage, mean contents of total iron and aluminum are, in a decreasing order : very poorly drained, poorly drained and imperfectly drained soil. Total free oxides (DCB extractable forms) averaged 0.59 and 0.16 %, for DCB Fe 2 O 3 and DCB Al 2 O 3 , respectively. The fine texture soil gave the highest mean value (0.90 %) for DCB Fe 2 O 3 , as compared to medium and coarse texture soils. Generally, values of oxalate extractable and pyrophosphate extractable Fe 2 O 3 were relatively low. The reactivity of the sesquioxides, measured using the ratio of oxalate extractable-to dithionite extractable iron and aluminum, tended to be high, indicating that much of the total free oxides exists mainly in the form of amorphous oxides and, which, impeded drainage. Active ratios of Al 2 O 3 were generally higher than those of Fe 2 O 3 . The extractability of total free iron ranged from 8.50 to 25.3 % while that of aluminum ranged from 0.26 to 1.84 %, suggesting a relatively less weathering of these inland plain soils (Wetland soils).
Key-words :Aluminum, iron, soil, inland flood plains, Nigeria.
RESUME
FORMES ET TENEURS EN FER ET EN ALIMINIUM DES PLAINES DES BAS-FONDS DU SUD-EST DU NIGERIA
Quatorze sols représentatifs des bas-fonds du Sud-Est du Nigeria ont été utilisés dans cette étude. Des échantillons de sols ont été caracteristisés au laboratoire pour déterminer les formes et les teneurs en oxydes, fer et aliminium libres. La teneur en fer et aliminium extractible par