Background and Objective: The amount of phosphorus (P) available for plant nutrition may be influenced by the different P fractions in the soil. Hence, an investigation of the different fractions of phosphorus in the soils of Jama'a and Samaru Kataf was carried out. Materials and Methods: In each location, 10 soil samples were collected and subjected to routine analysis and sequential extraction of phosphorus using the modified Chang and Jackson Method. Data were subjected to descriptive analysis as well as correlation. Results: The soils were found to be sandy loam and strongly acidic. The total P was 587.0 mg kgG 1 and 506.0 mg kgG 1 in the soils of Jama'a and Samaru Kataf, respectively. The fractions were observed to be in the order residual-P>calcium-P>occluded P>saloid-P>Fe-P>Al-P>occluded Fe and Al-P for soils of Jama'a while for Samaru Kataf, the fractions were residual-P>occluded P>Fe-P>calcium-P> Al-P>saloid-P>occluded Fe and Al-P. Significant and positive correlations was observed between pH KCl Al-P (r = 0.51*), Fe-P (r = 0.50*) as well as occluded Fe and Al-P (r = 0.49*) while the correlation was positive and highly significant with occluded P (r = 0.67**) and Ca-P (r = 0.74**). Conclusion: The high percentage of residual P observed in these soils is an indication of a high degree of weathering in both locations
Understanding the drivers of crop yields and variability is fundamental to closing yield gaps and ensuring global food security, especially in smallholder farming systems. This study identified the major socio-economic, soil and crop management factors contributing to sorghum yield variability and yield gaps in the sorghum belt of northern Nigeria. Data on socio-economic indicators, agronomic practices, soil fertility characteristics and yields were collected through integrated agronomic panel and crop cut surveys. These surveys were conducted in two agroecological zones (i.e., Sudan and Sahel savanna zones), the sorghum production belt in Nigeria, among 144 sorghum-producing households using a multistage balanced acceptance sampling procedure. Our results showed that sorghum productivity was relatively higher (43% more) in Sudan compared to the Sahel agroecological zone. Additionally, planting density was the main factor in reducing sorghum productivity across the two zones, with a 68% and 40% yield reduction for the Sudan and Sahel Savanna agroecological zones, respectively. This suggests innovative technologies that promote optimal planting density should be encouraged in farmer extension services to close the persistent sorghum yield gaps under smallholder farming conditions in the two agroecological zones.
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