Properties and Conservation Needs of Wetland Soils along Kaduna River, Northern Guinea Nigeria
P. N. Eleke
Department of Agricultural Technology, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, Nigeria.
P. I. Ezeaku
Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
F. C. Okenmuo *
Department of Environmental Watershed Management, Pan African University of Life and Earth Sciences Institute, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to evaluate properties of wetland soils along River Kaduna and suggest management needs for environmental sustainability. Two sites were identified based on their use for arable agriculture and two profile pits were excavated in each. Soil samples were collected from the identified pedogenetic horizons. A total of 16 samples were bagged and subjected to physical and chemical analysis. The results showed that the soils were influenced by hydromorphic conditions which resulted in mottled colour features. The soils were predominantly sandy clay loam with silt and clay contents increasing at the lower horizons and otherwise for sand contents. Soil reaction ranged from strongly to slightly acidic at both sites (4.4-6.3). Organic carbon values were generally higher at the topsoils but do not follow any particular trend down the profiles. Total nitrogen was generally low while available phosphorus values ranged from low to moderate. Exchangeable bases were generally low except the magnesium contents which had high values. The cation exchange capacity was moderate to high while percentage base saturation ranged from low to moderate. For sustainable crop production in the study area, the application of organic matter complimented by split application of inorganic fertilizers is recommended.
Keywords: Crop production, environmental sustainability, land use, soil properties