Characterization, Classification and Suitability Assessment of Nigeria Soils: A Review

Effective soil management and conservation may be impossible without accurate soil characterization, classification and interpretation in relation to particular crop requirements. Proper management of soils is therefore indispensable because of its linkage to environmental protection, hunger eradication/food security, economic growth and poverty reduction among others. Research efforts on soil characterization, classification and suitability assessment for perennial crops are accumulating and have created opportunity for an extensive summary and future perspectives. The review shows that southwestern Nigerian soils underlain by metamorphic rocks of the Basement complex have been grouped into eight associations. Nigeria's southern soils consist of sandstone-siltstone intercalation, shale, basalt and basement complex material. The findings also demonstrated that while the Nigerian soils were moderate to marginally suitable, they had the potential to be highly suitable for growing different perennial crops provided the inherent limitations are taken care of. The dominant soil limitations recurring across the ecological zones include low fertility, unfavourable texture, slope, low CEC/ECEC, and dry season. Information on land evaluation for perennial crops in Northern part of the nation is limited. Thus, further studies should be carried out in the area with a view to encouraging establishment of tree crops by farmers. It was concluded that inadequate knowledge on suitability evaluation could lead to farmers cultivating soils that are unsuitable for their crops. Therefore, soil characterization and evaluation before crop production is very much recommended to avoid poor agronomic practices, excessive production costs, and low yields.