Potassium status of some selected soils under different land‐use systems in the subhumid zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Twenty surface soils (0 to 15 cm), selected to represent a wide range of available potassium (K) status and three different land-use systems (fodder bank, continuously fertilized cropped land and fallow land) across the subhumid zone of Nigeria, were used for the investigation. Laboratory and greenhouse studies were carried out to assess their K status. Available, nonexchangeable, and total K were determined. The supplying power of the soils was assessed by exhaustive cropping in the greenhouse using Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano as the indicator plant. While 75% of fodder banks sampled had available K less than 0.20 cmol/kg, only 50% and 13% of continuously fertilized cropped and fallow lands, respectively, had available K less than 0.20 cmol/kg. Potassium weathering coefficient was highest at the lowest exchangeable K and highest [calcium (Ca) + magnesium (Mg)]/K ratio. Total K ranged from 2.30 to 47.06 cmol/kg, with available K forming 1.47% of the total K. The amount of non-exchangeable K released and taken up by stylo plant accounted for 23.3 to 83.6% of the total K uptake.

Assessing Soil Nutrients Variability and Adequacy for the Cultivation of Maize, Cassava, and Sorghum in Selected Agroecological Zones of Cameroon

“…In Cameroon, the rapid rise in population has led to increase pressure on available arable land. is has resulted in land degradation and subsequent soil fertility decline because of increasingly intense land use without sufficient organic and mineral inputs [5]. Under intensive farming systems, crops grown with inadequate supply of nutrients cause soil fertility deterioration and the emergence of multinutrient deficiencies in many places [6,7].…”

Effect of Altitudinal Gradient and Selected Land-use Systems on the Physicochemical Properties of Soils in the Eastern Flank of Mount Cameroon

“…Reported that the long-term cultivation of soils in the Dagdami river catchment in Turkey significantly (p<0.05) decreased the Soil Organic Matter content [11]. Reported that the physical and chemical properties of Andosols in Cameroon were significantly affected by the management strategies and crops under cultivation (Theobroma cocoa, Carica papaya etc) [12]. Similarly reported significant effect of eucalyptus on soil physicochemical properties in the North West region of Cameroon.…”

Spatial variability of selected physico-chemical properties of soils under vegetable cultivation in urban and peri-urban wetland gardens of Bamenda municipality, Cameroon

“…However, the increase in soil degradation has posed a serious threat to agricultural productivity (Vanlauwe et al, 2002). Some of the major factors of soil degradation are the decline in soil fertility as a result of the lack of nutrient inputs (Tening et al, 1995;Hartemink, 2010), the use of urban wastes (Alloway, 1995), inappropriate land use, poor management, erosion, salinization (Bationo et al, 2006) and climatic constraints.…”