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

Abstract

Soils derived from some parent materials in South-Western Nigeria covering 219,580 ha of land were mapped at a scale of 1:50,000 using a combination of conventional and remote sensing methods of soil survey. The aim is to generate detailed information on the properties, genesis and land characteristics of these soils for their sustainable use and management. Seven soil series were identified and classified

Properties, classification, genesis and agricultural suitability of soils in a semiarid pediplain of North Cameroon

“…The Ap horizon had high sand content (39%), high quantity of coarse fragments (>50%), average clay content and weak lumpy structure. These properties make the soil very vulnerable to erosion as much as the fragments are easily detached under the impact of rain-drops or running water (Kim and Gilley, 2008;Fasina et al, 2015). The particles tend to lie in close contact due to low contents of bridging materials like organic matter.…”

“…Postharvest incorporation of plant residue into the soil instead of the usual burning of crop residue to stimulate the emergence of new flushes for grazing will stabilize the soil aggregates (Fasina et al, 2015). The problem of acidic pH could be solved by restoration of the cation balance through appropriate use of chemical fertilizers and liming (Verdoodt and Van Ranst, 2003;Asio et al, 2006;Fasina et al, 2015). DMC system is recommended because of the high content of coarse elements in the studied soils.…”

“…The accumulation of biomass on the soil surface in the DMC systems, while increasing soil biological activity, intensified the mineralization process of OM, leading thus to rapid mineralization of soil OM, which would therefore improve soil structure (García-Orenes et al, 2009;Costa et al, 2015;Tsozué et al, 2015) and plant nutrition (Chabanne et al, 2001;Séguy et al, 2001). Postharvest incorporation of plant residue into the soil instead of the usual burning of crop residue to stimulate the emergence of new flushes for grazing will stabilize the soil aggregates (Fasina et al, 2015). The problem of acidic pH could be solved by restoration of the cation balance through appropriate use of chemical fertilizers and liming (Verdoodt and Van Ranst, 2003;Asio et al, 2006;Fasina et al, 2015).…”

“…The low organic matter content has to be substantially increased through effective crop residue management with increased use of leguminous plants as well as judicious use of organic fertilizers (Fasina et al, 2015). It might also been increased trough the introduction of direct-seeding mulch-based cropping (DMC) systems (Brown et al, 2002;Ndah et al, 2015, Tsozué et al, 2015.…”

“…The particles tend to lie in close contact due to low contents of bridging materials like organic matter. The land on which most of the soils are situated should not be mechanically cleared as it is done now because this exposes the structurally imbalanced subsoil to erosion, leaching, degradation and compaction (Vásquez-Méndez et al, 2011;Fasina et al, 2015). Soil with higher clay particle content has more stable aggregates against wind erosion (Chen, 1991).…”