Pedogenesis, weathering status and mineralogy of the soils on ironstone plateaux (laterites), Sokoto Nigeria

Abstract

Soils on four ironstone plateau near kalalawa, Adarawa, Bissalam and Tureta in Sokoto State were studied with the aim of a ascertaining their genesis, weathering status and soil mineral content. Morphological studies, total elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction were conducted for this purpose. The soils were found to have formed on weathered geological materials overlain by indurated ironstone crust. The geological weathered materials are Gwandu/kalambaina, Gwandu, Dange/Wurno and Gundumi formation on kalambaina, Adarawa, Bissalam and Tureta ironstone plateau respectively. The soils have good structural development and pronounced textural differentiation. The soils are well developed in terms of pedogenic processes (humification, mineralization, lessivation, homogenization and leaching) that have operated and are still operating to form the soils. Result of the silt/clay ratio, sesquioxide ratio and total Potassium, revealed a low weathering potential of the soils making them moderately weathered soils. The dominant mineral identified in the soils is quartz with kaolinite, feldspar and chlorite in trace amounts.

Properties, Genesis, Classification, Capability and Sustainable Management of Soils from South-Western Nigeria

“…Using World Reference Base (2014), the soils are classified as Ferric Lixisols and as Idesan series at local level. Yakubu and Ojanuga (2009) also obtained similar results in a similar study.…”

“…Different soil properties encountered along landscapes will affect pattern of crop production, soil physical properties such as clay content distribution with depth and sand content which have been shown to be highly correlated with soil genesis while soil organic matter has been shown to vary with slope position (Miller et al, 1988). Other studies which support the current study have been documented (Yakubu and Ojanuga, 2009;Ojetade et al, 2014;Esu et al, 2014;Fasina et al, 2007a). Sharu et al (2013) reported that coupling of soil characterization and classification provides a powerful resource for benefit of mankind especially in the area of food security and environmental sustainability while, Lekwa et al (2004) reiterated that soil characterization provides the basic information necessary to create functional soil classification schemes and assess soil fertility in order to unravel some unique soil problems in an ecosystem.…”

Crop yield potential as telltale indice of soil weathering extent and fertility status: The case of East African Highland Bananas

“…The fact that banana yield is better correlated with the TRB or MR than the CEC or the sum of exchangeable bases (S) would be due to the fact that low values of CEC (or even those of S) are observed in less altered soils (with high primary minerals content) as well as in highly weathered soils. Conversely, TRB, MR, non-exchangeable cations and total fraction of cations, the silt content (Yakubu and Ojanuga, 2013) and banana yield values are higher in young soils than in very old soils and this explains the better correlation between those parameters. At the same time, this would indicate that the prediction of a soil potential production based only the routine analysis parameter, that is, the CEC or the sum of the bases is distorted and the distortion appears to be reduced when the results of total analysis are considered.…”

Effect of long-term fertilizer application in maize crop growing on chemical element leaching in Fluvisol

“…Many studies have documented that the chemical composition of lysimetric water depends on the natural conditions -geology and hydrology of the land, soil type and climatic conditions, the form and amount of fertilizer used, and the processes of weathering (Atanassov et al, 1985;Meissner et al, 2010;Stoichev, 1997;Stoichev et al, 1996;Zhao, 2010). It is estimated that the rate of weathering of various minerals is a function of export of dissolved chemical elements draining the soil profile and are determined by the mineral and chemical composition of soil forming rocks (Chadwick and Chorover, 2001;Taylor and Velbel, 1991;Yakubu and Ojanuga, 2013).…”

“…Many studies have documented that the chemical composition of lysimetric water depends on the natural conditions -geology and hydrology of the land, soil type and climatic conditions, the form and amount of fertilizer used, and the processes of weathering (Atanassov et al, 1985;Meissner et al, 2010;Stoichev, 1997;Stoichev et al, 1996;Zhao, 2010). It is estimated that the rate of weathering of various minerals is a function of export of dissolved chemical elements draining the soil profile and are determined by the mineral and chemical composition of soil forming rocks (Chadwick and Chorover, 2001;Taylor and Velbel, 1991;Yakubu and Ojanuga, 2013).Some studies have been made on the climatic factors and changes that have a great impact on pedogenic weathering of minerals (White and Blum, 1995). Therefore (Atanassov, 1977), data on the content and migration of nutrients with infiltration water can provide objective information about the nature and trends in the weathering processes of soil minerals as a result of anthropogenic loading.…”