Research Article

Irrigation Suitability Ratings and Okra Productivity of Some Mid - Benue Trough Soils: a Comparative Analysis

Abagyeh S. O. I1*, Ibo P. I.2, Idoga S.1
1 Department of Soil Science, University of Agriculture Makurdi, Makurdi, Benue State
2 Benue Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, Makurdi, Benue State
* Corresponding author: abacks1959@gmail.com
Published: Apr, 2017
DOI: 10.67042/njss.2017.f4zds7ma
Pages: 230-244
Views: 478
Downloads: 598

Abstract

A detailed soil survey using grid method was conducted to characterize and rate irrigation suitability of soils and relate it with okra productivity under surface irrigation. Two soil profiles were dug at each site and morphologically described. Soils sampled from identified profile horizons were analyzed. Parametric evaluation method using the soil characteristics was employed. A 4×4×4 factorial experiment was laid out in RCBD with 4 okra varieties. There were 4 irrigation frequencies and 4 locations as treatments, replicated three times. Data collected were subjected to ANOVA using GENSTAT 5 Release 4.24 with means, separated by Fishers Least Significant Difference. Mean fruit yields were used for comparative analysis. Water from adjoining rivers were sampled and analyzed. Soils ranged from shallow (50 cm) to very deep (200 cm), textures from sandy loam to clay loam surfaces with weak fine crumb to weak fine to medium crumb (DFP), granular (KRD, MRB) and coarse subangular blocky (TRF) subsurfaces. Water infiltration ranged from 0.45 to 2.40 cmhr-1, hydraulic conductivity (1.06 to 23.34 x10-4 cmsec-1) pH (5.51-6.15), EC (0.12-0.18 dsm-1), Organic carbon (0.20-1.46 %) decreased with depth. Total nitrogen followed trends in organic carbon with available phosphorus ranging from 5.00 to 9.40 mgkg-1, CEC (5.31-7.76 cmolkg-1) and CaCO3 (0 - 5 %) and were generally very low to medium. Okra varieties productivity index (Pi) did not agree with the soil irrigation suitability ratings of KRD soils. The moderately suitable (S2) class for Makurdi and Logo varieties conformed to the irrigation suitability rating of DFP soils. The highly suitable (S1) rating for NH47-4, Makurdi and Logo was in conformity with the highly suitable class of the MRB soils. The Pi (57.07 and 47.65) for Makurdi and Yandev Serial also conformed to the Si of TRF soils. Location and variety highly influenced okra fruit yields but irrigation frequency had no drastic effect on fruit yield of okra. All irrigation water parameters examined conformed to the irrigation water standard. The soils characteristics ranged from very low to low. Both the soils and water were suitable for surface (gravity) irrigation. Parametric evaluation method was therefore, effective in the study area.

Keywords

parametric evaluation irrigation suitability ratings (potentials) irrigation frequency

References

  1. ADC (2010). Okra Agricultural Development Corporation Commercialization Bulletin #7. 18(1,2): 1-9
  2. Adeboye, O.C. and Oputa, C.O. (1996). Effects of gales on growth and fruit nutrient composition of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.Moench) Ife Journal of Agriculture.
  3. Ayers, S. R. and Westcot, D.W. (1987).Water Quality for Agriculture. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper. No.29 ref. 1, FAO/UN Rome.
  4. Bander, T. A., Waskom, R. A., Suthorland, P. I. and Davis, J. G. (2014). Irrigation Water Criteria, Soil and Crop Sciences, Revised 5/11
  5. Ezenwa, M.I.S. and Barrera, A.V. (1985).The Soil Survey of Ribako Forest Reserve.Tech. Report. Savanna series No 48, Forest Research Institute Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria.
  6. FAO (1976). A Framework for Land Evaluation. FAO Soils Bulletin 32: FAO, Rome 87.
  7. GENSTAT (2012). GENSTAT Discovery Edition 4.Release 12.2DE. Lawes Agricultural Trust Rothamsted Experimental Station, UK.
  8. IAO (2014). Land Suitability. InstitutoAgronomico per l'oitremare: (http://www.iao.florence.it/traning/remotesensing/)
  9. Idoga, S, and Egbe, M. O. (2012). Land use planning for vegetable farming in Benue state Nigeria. Global Journal of Science Frontier Research. Agriculture and Biology.12: 6-11.
  10. IITA(1979). Manual of Selected Methods for Plants and Soil Analysis. Manual Series No.1.
  11. Jamala, G. Y., P.G. Boni. P. Abraham and A. M. (2011). Soil status and yield response of different varieties of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) grown at Mubi floodplain, Northeastern Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Biotechnology and Sustainable Development. 3(7): 120-125.
  12. James, R. (2010) Irrigation Water Greenhouses and Nurseries. University Arkansas, Division of Agriculture, Agriculture and Natural Resources.
  13. Litz, R.E. (1997). The Mango: Botany, Production and Uses. Willingford: CAB INTL.
  14. Mass, E. V. (1984). Soil Tolerance of Plant.In: The Handbook of Plant Science in Agriculture. B R Christic (ed) Boca Raton, Florida CRC Press.
  15. Mohan, M. M. (2008). Characterization and Classification of Soils and Land Suitability of a Microwatershed in Hanagal Taluk. MSc. Thesis University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. Unpublished
  16. Rowe, D.R. and Abdel-Magid, I. M. (1995). Handbook of Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse.CRC Press Incorporation. 550pp.
  17. Salako, F. K. (1986). Rainfall Erosivity and Soil Erodibility Studies in Southeastern Nigeria. M. Sc. Thesis. Department of Soil Science, University Nigeria, Nsukka.
  18. Sawhney, J. S., Verma, V. K. and Jassal, H. S. (2000). Soil physiography relationship in Southeastern sector of submontane tract of Punjab. Agropredology, 10: 6-15.
  19. Schippers, R.R. (2000). African Indigenous Vegetables, an Overview of the Cultivated Species. National Research Institute Technical Centre, Agricultural. Rural Cooperation, Chattan. U.K. Pp 89-98.
  20. Sidhu, M. S. and K. Vatta. (2007). Development experience of Indian agriculture : An appraisal of post-reform period. Southern Economist, 11: 9-14.
  21. Singh, V. N. and Mishra, B. B. (1996). Pedogenic Characterization of some typic soils of Gandak command area of Bihar for evaluation of land suitability. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 44: 136-142.
  22. Sys, C., Van Ranst, E. and Debaveye, J. (1991). Land Evaluation, Part l, Principles in Land Evaluation and Crop Production Calculations. International Training Centre for Postgraduate Soil Scientists, University Ghent, http://www.plr.ugent.be/publicatie.html.
How to Cite

I, A. S. O., I., I. P., & S., I. (2017). Irrigation Suitability Ratings and Okra Productivity of Some Mid - Benue Trough Soils: a Comparative Analysis. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 27(1), 230-244. https://doi.org/10.67042/njss.2017.f4zds7ma

A. S. O. I, I. P. I., and I. S., "Irrigation Suitability Ratings and Okra Productivity of Some Mid - Benue Trough Soils: a Comparative Analysis," Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 230-244, April 2017. doi: 10.67042/njss.2017.f4zds7ma

Share this article:
Facebook X / Twitter LinkedIn
Download PDF Back to Articles