Information about spatial distribution of soil qualities in a given area is a fundamental piece of land surface prerequisites for ecological purposes, agriculture and other land use systems. The utilization of numerical methods to portray soil properties and upgrade objectivity in soil-related decision making, was applied to soil samples collected from soil under the land use systems; excavation site (EX), refuse dump site (RD), forest land (FL), continuously cultivated land (CC) and 4-year bush fallow (4-BF) along Umuahia South LGA of Abia State in south eastern Nigeria. Geostatistical technique was applied to estimate the spatial distribution and produce soil maps for each selected soil properties. Results revealed that excavation site (1.70 Mg m-3) recorded a high bulk density, while the other land use systems had a moderate bulk density. The results showed that refuse dump site had a neutral soil reaction (7.02), slightly acidic reaction was recorded under 4-year bush fallow (6.00) and forest land (5.71). Continuously cultivated land had a moderately acidic soil reaction (5.41) and organic carbon content (1.48%). The result also revealed that forestland (2.97%) and refuse dump site (3.20%) had very high organic carbon content, while excavation site (0.38%) had very low organic carbon content. This study will help land owners/users in terms of choice and adoption of land for different uses in the area.
A survey of soils of Abocho, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, was conducted to characterize, classify and assess the potentials of the soils for sustainable crop production. The area was reconnoitered and three representative profile pits were dug and described according to international procedures and standard methods. Soil samples were analyzed for their physical and chemical properties and the land was assessed for its capability to produce commonly cultivated crops. Results revealed well-drained and deep soils. Texture showed loamy sand overlying sandy loam except few portions with loamy sand throughout the profile depth. Soils were very strongly - strongly acid (4.5-5.5) with very low (subsurface) to moderate (surface) organic carbon (5.25-14.21gkg-1). Available phosphorous was moderate (8.93-16.42 mgkg-1). There were generally low exchangeable bases and cations exchange capacity (CEC) values ranging from 2.67 to 6.05 cmolkg1. Typic Psammustepts and Typic Kandiustalfs were identified, based on the USDA soil Taxonomy and were correlated as Fluvisols and Lixisols respectively in World Reference Base. Land capability classification rated 67 % of the land area moderate (III) for arable crop production and 33 % for non-arable (V) with soil reaction and high sand fraction as constraints. Since the soils were low in fertility and highly acidic, the judicious use of lime and full complements of organic manure and fertilizers are recommended.
Article InfoAn in-depth knowledge on variations in soil heat transfer under different land uses is essential for proper understanding of the variations in thermal energy transfer under different human activities and modifications on land. This paper presents an investigation on the variations in soil heat transfer under different land use types in Abia State. This study evaluates three land use types: forest land (FL), continuously cultivated land (CC) and excavation site (EX). The parameters investigated in this study include; particle size distribution, bulk density, volumetric moisture content, atmospheric temperature, soil temperature, soil thermal conductivity, soil heat flux, soil volumetric heat capacity and soil thermal diffusivity. The results show that the different land use types studied influenced the soil heat energy transfer and had a significant effect on soil thermal properties. The results revealed that excavation site recorded the highest soil bulk density (1.70 Mg m -3 ) and soil temperature (42.6 o C) while forest land recorded the lowest bulk density (1.36 Mg m -3 ) and soil temperature (30.3 o C). The transmission of heat through a unit length of soil per unit cross-sectional area (2.476 W mk -1 ) was higher in forest land than the other land use types studied. Soil under continuously cultivated land recorded the highest volumetric heat capacity (1.407 J (m 3 K) -1 ). This study will help farmers and land owners in terms of choice and management of different land use types for agricultural and industrial purposes.
Assessment of some sesquioxides in the upland soils in southwestern Nigeria was undertaken to evaluate their degree of weathering under humid tropical conditions. Samples were taken from genetic horizons of eight soil profile pits sited at different physiographic positions along two toposequences in southwestern Nigeria. The samples were analyzed for gravel content, particle size distribution, bulk density, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available P, exchangeable bases, crystalline and amorphous forms of Fe and Al, using standard procedures. Sand fraction ranged from 31–76% (54.49±11.34), silt from 3–19% (10.21±3.61) and clay from 10–55% (35.3±9.7). Bulk density increased with profile depth, ranging between 1.12 and 1.64g cm-3 (1.39±0.13). The pH was low (4.2–6.1; 5.0±0.55), organic carbon content ranged from 0.75–15.99g kg-1 (5.79±3.49) with higher values in the surface horizons. Total nitrogen content ranged from low to medium (0.13–2.75g kg-1; 1.16±0.49) while available phosphorus ranged from 0.49–11.63mg kg-1 (4.30±3.57) across the horizons. Crystalline forms of Fe (Fed) and Al (Ald) ranged from 10.26–39.82g kg-1 and 0.41–1.80g kg-1, respectively while the amorphous forms (Feo and Alo) ranged from 0.41–2.60g kg-1 and 0.83–1.64g kg-1, respectively. The crystalline forms of Fed and Ald were more dominant over the amorphous forms of Feo and Alo. The argillic (Bt) horizons of pedons had significant accumulation of clay particles and free iron. The weathering indices of clay and free iron accumulation in argillic (Bt) horizons of the pedons indicated that the soils of the study area were well-drained, deeply weathered and intensely leached with few weatherable minerals available for plant uptake.
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