Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

Characterization and Fertility capability classification was carried out on some soils in the rainforest zone of Edo state to assess the native fertility status of the soil. Different soil types were identified through rigid grid soil survey procedure that produced two mapping units in each of the site studied (Sites A and B). Each mapping unit was represented by a modal class profile, which was sunk, described, sampled and analyzed using standard laboratory methods. The results revealed that the entire study area had a sandy top soil (0 - 20cm) with sand fraction of particle size ranging from 660 to 960 gkg^{- ¹}, silt ranged from 10 to 44 gkg^{- ¹} and clay had values ranging from 30 to 320 gkg^{- ¹}. Soil pH ranged from very strongly acidic (4.86) to slightly acidic (6.38); nutrient reserve was equally low as expressed by the low potassium values (K <0.2 cmolkg^-¹) which ranged from 0.01 to 0.29 cmolkg^-¹; and low Organic Carbon values (1.30 to 23.13 gkg^-¹). The mean values ranged from 787gkg^-1- 886gkg^-1 for sand, 15 gkg^-1 - 26.8gkg^-1for silt and 88gkg^-1- 190gkg^-1for clay. The result of Fertility capability classification (FCC) showed that mapping units 1A (site A) and 1B (site B) were classified as FCC unit SSa-n-Kem; mapping units 2A (site A) and 2B (site B) were classified as SLa^-n^-Kem. This indicates that the soils of the study area are quite fertile and application of soil amendments, such as Organic fertilizers would enhance cation exchange capacity; biochar application would help to prevent high leaching rate of nutrients prevalent in the area and improve the inherent soil fertility.