ABSTRACT
SOIL FERTILITY EVALUATION OF AN INSTITUTIONAL COMMERCIAL FARM PLOT IN THE SOUTH-WEST ZONE OF NIGERIA
Journal: Plant Physiology and Soil Chemistry
Abidoye Racheal Ademidun, Akinbola Gabriel Emiola and Aremu-Dele Olufemi
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
DOI: 10.26480/ppsc.02.2024.100.104
Soil fertility evaluation is very important as a decision-making tool for the management of soil nutrients sustainably. The study was conducted to evaluate the soil fertility status of the farm plot around the Sport Complex area of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria using fertility rating and fertility capability classification. Based on an existing soil map of the site, composite samples were collected from ten sampling points at 0-15 cm, 15-30 cm and 30-45 cm depth across three mapping units (Iregun, Effon and Mamu Series). The soil samples were collected to analyze the chemical properties, particle size distribution, soil texture, bulk density, porosity, moisture content, Soil pH, Organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K, Na), exchangeable acidity (H+, Al3+), exchangeable cation exchange capacity (ECEC) and base saturation of the study area. Data generated were subjected to statistical analysis using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and treatment means separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 0.05% probability. Result shows the soils of the three mapping units were generally slightly acidic are predominantly loamy sand in texture. Major limitations observed in the study area are low CEC (e) and low nutrient reserves (k). The Fertility Capability Classification identified the Iregun and Mamu series as Sek (sandy, low CEC, low nutrient reserves) and Effon series as SLek (sandy with loamy substrata, low CEC, low nutrient reserves). The study highlights the need for improved soil management practices, such as incorporating organic manure and minimizing tillage, to enhance soil fertility and productivity.
Pages | 100-104 |
Year | 2024 |
Issue | 2 |
Volume | 4 |