An Assessment of Soil Variability along a Toposequence in the Tropical Moist Semi-Deciduous Forest of Ghana

Awoonor, Johnny Kofi; Dogbey, Bright Fafali

doi:10.4236/ojss.2021.119023

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…So, while the optimal value is required for plants to do well, excessive pH levels inhibit plant root growth and development. In the long run, this poor growth and development limits crop yield [56]. It also concurs with the findings of Dakagan [53] where the same soil chemical properties mostly exhibited medium variability.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Distribution of Soil Chemical Properties of Smallholder Farms on Derelict Mined-Sites of Jos South LGA, Jos Plateau, Nigeria

Dakagan,

Tudunwada,

Ajiji

et al. 2024

AJSSPN

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Tin mining environments have constituted a degrading challenge to smallholder farmers whose lands have been overtaken. Attempts by smallholder farmers to restore the lands to farming are faced with soil productivity constraints. Yet, these farmers struggle to cultivate farms in-between the mined lands to meet up with subsistence food requirements. To date, the farmers have identified areas with low and high potentials due to years of continuous cultivation. This study was conducted in an environment that had undergone mining on a larger scale and is now undergoing surface mining on a small scale. Thirty-one (31) soil samples were taken at a depth of 0-20cm to investigate the spread of soil chemical properties on smallholder farms. Coordinates of the samples were acquired using GPS to create georeferenced continuous surfaces. The results indicated that the majority of the soil's chemical properties varied moderately. Organic matter (0.89-1.74%) and nitrogen (0.045 - 0.096%) needed mostly by crops were very low due to uninformed distribution of soil chemical properties. Geostatistics was used to generate continuous surfaces through Kriging. The small nugget effect showed spatial continuity between the neighboring points. Strong spatial dependence occurred for all soil nutrients tested, due to intrinsic soil properties such as soil parent material, topography, texture, and mineralogy. Generally, the spread of soil nutrients on the smallholder farm coincides with the smallholder farmers' identified potential areas. The study suggests that for proper nutrient interventions on the farms, distribution of soil nutrients on the farms should be done to avoid excesses and shortages of inorganic and organic interventions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Distribution of Soil Chemical Properties of Smallholder Farms on Derelict Mined-Sites of Jos South LGA, Jos Plateau, Nigeria

Dakagan,

Tudunwada,

Ajiji

et al. 2024

AJSSPN

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“…Parent material, terrain, temperature, vegetation, and human influences are among the components that affect the more sensitive soil qualities in the highland agro-ecological zone. Topography plays a significant role in the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil and plant growth processes because it connected to ecosystem function [50,5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Fertility Assessment and Mapping under Different Land Use Types along Toposequence at Danka Watershed in Dinsho Districts of Bale Highland Oromia, Southeastern Ethiopia

Eshetu,

Wogi,

Demissie

2024

IJPSS

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Soil fertility assessment and mapping bases, to increase fertilizer usage efficiency, decision-makers, planners, and soil management in undulating slopes farming of Ethiopian highlands like Bale Highland. The study aimed to assess and map soil fertility status along toposequence under different land use types at the Danka watershed of Dinsho District Bale Highland, Southeastern Ethiopia. Following the initial reconnaissance field survey, 54 composite soil samples were prepared from the three land use types (natural forest, grazing, and cultivated) at three slope positions lower (0 - 10%), middle (10 - 15%), and upper (15 - 30%) at a soil depth of 0 to 20 cm. Finally, the laboratory results were interpolated using the IDW interpolation technique in ArcGIS software 10.5 for the soil fertility status map and further analyzed using R software 4.1.1 Version for mean separation. The study findings indicate that the soil texture class of the study was loam to clay loam, clay loam, and clay to clay loam at the upper, middle, and lower slope positions, respectively. The finding revealed that the values varied from 5.81 – 6.66, 2.07 – 6.25%, 0.13 – 0.71%, 2.83 – 17.56 gm/kg, and 14.04 -38.80 cmol (+)/kg) for the soil pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and CEC, respectively. In this study, most of the soil fertility status of the Danka watershed was as follows: natural forest > grassland > cultivated land use types and lower slope > middle slope > upper slope positions. In conclusion, the main factors contributing to the area's declining soil fertility status were monocropping, total crop residue removal, soil erosion, nutrient leaching, and inadequate soil management. The results of the current study offer the basis for the work of farmers, planners, decision-makers, and other agriculture-related stakeholders. Integrated soil fertility management with biophysical soil conservation measures is advisable for cultivated land at all slope positions. Further, a study on slope position-based crop response fertilizer rating for agricultural precision and ensuring food security is recommended in undulating fields of the Danka watershed.

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“…The soil is an essential natural resource that is particularly necessary for human life because of its capacity to control Earth's ecosystem functions and to supply a range of food, feed, and fiber [1] and [2]. Topography has a major impact on the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil as well as plant growth processes that are related to ecosystem function [2,3,4]. Agricultural landscapes with high elevation and hill slopes, mid slopes, and foot slopes require different agronomic management and input levels due to their topography [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Slope Position on Soil Physicochemical Properties of Cultivated Land Use Type in Danka Watershed of Dinsho District, Bale Highland, Oromia, Southeast Ethiopia

Eshetu,

Wogi

2024

IJPSS

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Quantify and understand soil nutrient loss under different undulating topography farming bases for site-specific management and targeted fertilizer application rates. The study aimed to assess the effect of slope positions on soil physicochemical properties at the Danka watershed of Dinsho District Bale Highland, Southeastern Ethiopia. Consequent to the reconnaissance survey, soil samples were taken from the cultivated land use type in three replications at three different soil depths (0-0, 20-40, and 40-60 cm) and three slope positions (upper, middle, and lower), analyzed follow standard laboratory procedure and further analyzed using R software 4.1.1 version. The results showed soil physicochemical properties were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) influenced by the interaction between slope positions and soil depth. The results of soil physical properties varied from 1.29 -1.73 g cm-3, 2.47 – 2.74 g cm-3, 47.80 - 36.75%, 10.78 – 15.11%, 12.76 – 18.16%, and 4.06 – 8.16% bulk density, particle density, total porosity, FC, PWP, and AWHC, respectively. Selected soil chemical properties varied from 5.91 - 6.45, 0.64 - 3.20%, 0.04 - 0.25%, 1.14 - 5.60 gm/kg, and 10.24 - 37.24 cmol (+)/kg) soil pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and CEC, respectively. The values of exchangeable bases were concentration increased from the upper slope position toward the lower slope position and with increased soil depth. Soil micronutrients were increased with increased slope and decreased with increased soil depth. The lowest slope position had relatively better soil nutrient contents than other slope positions. It is advised that integrated soil fertility management, biophysical soil and water conservation, and slope-based, site-specific fertilizer rating for advance agricultural precision and ensure food security.

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An Assessment of Soil Variability along a Toposequence in the Tropical Moist Semi-Deciduous Forest of Ghana

Cited by 4 publications

References 64 publications

Distribution of Soil Chemical Properties of Smallholder Farms on Derelict Mined-Sites of Jos South LGA, Jos Plateau, Nigeria

Distribution of Soil Chemical Properties of Smallholder Farms on Derelict Mined-Sites of Jos South LGA, Jos Plateau, Nigeria

Soil Fertility Assessment and Mapping under Different Land Use Types along Toposequence at Danka Watershed in Dinsho Districts of Bale Highland Oromia, Southeastern Ethiopia

Effects of Slope Position on Soil Physicochemical Properties of Cultivated Land Use Type in Danka Watershed of Dinsho District, Bale Highland, Oromia, Southeast Ethiopia

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