Evaluation of Soil Suitability for Sesame (Sesamum Indicum) Farming in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study evaluates the soil suitability for sesame (Sesamum indicum) farming in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State. The specific objectives of the study were to identify the suitable soil for sesame farming in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba using expert Knowledge, to determine the concentration of soil nutrients for sesame farming in Gassol LGA and to compare the level of soil suitability for Sesame farming in Gassol LGA with that of FAO. The expert questionnaires were used to identify the preferred nutrients for sesame farming. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied to determine the weight of the different soil nutrients by pairwise comparison matrix. The soil samples were collected from the twelve (12) political wards of the study area. The soil samples taken from each ward were air dried, crushed and sieved using a 2 mm sieve and analysed using standard soil analytical procedures at the Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH) Yola. Soil pH was measured (soil: water ratio, 1:2) using a pH metre; total N content was determined by flame photometer. The study revealed through the pairwise comparison matrix that favourable average nitrogen in the area ranked first among the nutrients, followed by potassium, phosphorus, sulphur, electrical conductivity, organic matter, organic carbon and potential hydrogen. The Consistency Ratio (CR) of 0.05 was consistent with the experts’ judgement in determining the preference of soil nutrients for sesame farming in the Gassol area. The laboratory results indicated that potential hydrogen (6.0), electrical conductivity (0.2) and sulphur (5.5) are low in soil nutrients for farming sesame in the study area based on the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO 1976) standard. It further shows that organic carbon (0.5) and nitrogen (0.1) are very low in the soil for sesame farming in the study area while potassium (10.5) and organic matter (2.0) are high in the soil nutrient content of the study area. It was recommended that to ensure optimal sesame production, there is a need for awareness by farmers of the suitable site for sesame farming, and farmers need adequate knowledge of the appropriate fertiliser for sesame farming to improve the soil where the nutrients are low, It further recommends for access to farm inputs such as credit facilities, fertiliser, improve seeds and other infrastructural development for farmers.