Research Article

Suitability Assessment of Soils Supporting Oil Palm Plantations in the Coastal Plains Sand, Imo State, Nigeria

Ukaegbu E.P.1*, Osuaku, S.K.1, Okolo, C.C.2
1 Department of Agric. Science, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri Imo State
2 Department of Soil Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State
* Corresponding author: emekaprosper2@yahoo.com
Published: Apr, 2015
DOI: 10.67042/njss.2015.rffmtgqp
Pages: 125-134
Views: 495
Downloads: 709

Abstract

Due to the declining yield of Oil palm, soils of the coastal plains sand of Imo State supporting oil palms were evaluated. A bulked sample was taken from each of the ten sites studied, at 0 – 20cm and 20 – 40cm depths and analysed in the Laboratory. Soils textures were dominated by sandy loam at the surface, but sandy clay loam at the subsurface. Ranges of values of parameters at the topsoil were: pH(4.1 – 5.6), ECEC (5.7 – 8.7cmol/kg), BS (36 – 87%), OM (1 – 4.7g/kg), TN (0.01 – 0.14g/kg), Av. P (6 –48mg/kg), Fe (0 – 233mg/kg), Cu (0 – 1.2mg/kg), Zn (0.3 – 14mg/kg), Mn (5.7 – 145.6mg/kg). Fertility Capability Classification (fcc) identified in the soils the condition modifiers – g (gley – in the valleys), e (low CEC), h (strong acidity), and k (low content of k). But by suitability rating, the main limiting factors were – OM (N), TN (S3/N), K (S3/S2). Generally, the soils were moderately suitable (S2) for oil palm cultivation. Slight drainage of sites on alluvium, moderate liming (particularly of alluvial soils), liberal application of nitrogenous fertilizer and moderate application of potassic fertilizer are recommended. The parametric method of assessment was more realistic than the non-parametric.

Keywords

oilpalm coastal plains sand soil properties suitabilityassessment.

References

  1. Abangwu, A.R., Udo, E.J. and Edward, D.G. (1978). The effect of liming of acid tropical soils on the yield response and nutrient uptake of two cowpea cultivars. Nig. J. Sci. 12:151-161.
  2. Adeniji, M.O., Udeogalanya, A.C., Okeke, G.C., Abdullahi, Y., Iheukwumere, C.A. (1991). Countdown to Senior Secondary Certificate Examination: Agricultural Science. Ibadan, Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Ltd. Pp 214.
  3. Black, C.A. (1965). Methods of Soils Analysis. Agronomy No. 9 Amer. Soc. of Agron. Madison, Wisconsin.
  4. Bouyoucos, G.J. (1951). A recalibration of the hydrometer method for making mechanical analysis of soils. Agronomy Journal 43:435-438.
  5. Bray, R.H. and Kurtz, L.T. (1945). Determination of total and available forms of phosphorus in soils. Soils Sc. 53:39-45.
  6. Chude, V.O., Malgwi, W.B., Amapu, I.Y., Ano, O.A. (2011). Manual on Soil Fertility Assessment. Federal Fertilizer Department in Collaboration with, National Programme for Food Security, Abuja-Nigeria. Pp 62.
  7. Dent, D. and Young, A. (1981). Soil Survey and Evaluation. George Allen and Unwin, London. 278pp.
  8. Enwezor, W.O., Udo, E.J. and Sobulo, R.A. (1981). Fertility Status and Productivity of the "Acid Sands", In: Udo, E.J. and Sobulo, R.A. (Eds). "Acid Sands" of Southern Nigeria, SSSN Special Pub. Monograph No. 1, 56-73.
  9. Enwezor, W.O., Udo, E.J., Usoroh, N.J., Ayotade, K.A., Adepetu, J.A., Chude, V.O. and Udegbe, C.I. (1989). Fertilizer use and Management Practices for Crops in Nigeria. Series No 2. Fertilizer Procurement and Distribution Division, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development, Lagos, Nigeria 163pp.
  10. FAO (1976). A Framework for Land Evaluation. FAO Soils Bull. 32. FAO, Rome. 87pp.
  11. F.A.O. (1987). World Soil Resources Report No. 60, FAO/UNESCO Soil Map of the World, Revised Legend. FAO, Rome, Italy.
  12. F.A.O. (1998). World reference base for soil resources. 84 World Soil Resources Report, Int. Soc. of Soil Science. Rome.
  13. Ibanga, I.J. and Udo, E.J. (1996). Soil Survey and Fertility Baseline Data Collection of Akwa Ikot Effanga Farm, Akabuyo L.G.A., Cross River State, Nigeria. National Agricultural Land Development Authority, Abuja.
  14. Ibanga, I.J. and Iren, B. (2006). Chemical properties and management of the 'Acid Sands' supporting oilpalm plantations in South eastern Nigeria. In, Asumugha, G.N., Olojede, A.O., Ikerogu, F.G., Ano, A.O., and Herbert U. (ed.) Repositioning Agriculture for Sustainable Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria. Proceedings of the 40th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Soc. of Nigeria, Held Oct. 16-20th, 2006 at NRCRI, Umudike, Abia State.
  15. Igbozurike, M.U. (1975). Vegetation Types. In Ofomata, G.E.K. Nigeria in Maps: Eastern States. Ethiope Pub. House, Benin City, Nigeria.
  16. Inyang, P.E.B. (1975). Eastern States of Nigeria: Climatic Regions. In: Ofomata, G.E.K. (Ed). Nigeria in Maps: Eastern States. Ethiope Pub. House, Benin City ….City Nigeria. P. 27-29.
  17. Jacquemard, J.C., Baudouin, L., Berthaud, A., Graille, J., Huquest, R., Mariau, D., Noel, J.M., Quencez, P and Taillez, B. (1998). Oilpalm (The Tropical Agriculturist). London: Macmillian, Basingstoke. pp 647.
  18. Jasbir, S., Sharma, R.L. and Sharma, V.K. (1988). Agro Environmental. Units and Agricultural Land-Use Planning. Vishal Publications, University Campus 81pp.
  19. Komolafe, M.F, Adegbola, A.A., Are, L.A., Ashaye, T.I. (1979). Agricultural Science for West African Schools and Colleges (2nd edn). Ibadan: Univ. Press Ltd. pp 228.
  20. Kyuma, K., Rosaki, T. and Juo, A.S.R. (1986). Evaluation of the Fertility of the Soils. In: Juo, A.S.R. and Low (9ed). The Wetland Soil and Rice in Subsahara Africa. Proceeding in International Conference of Wetland Soil Utilization for Rice Production in Subsahara Africa.
  21. Landon, J.R. [ED.] (1991). Brooker Tropical Soil Manual: A handbook for Soil Survey and agricultural land evaluation in the tropics and subtropics. John Wiley and Sons Inc., 605, Third Avenue, New York, USA, pp 474.
  22. Mclean, E.O. (1965). Aluminum. In: Black C.A. 9ed). Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2, Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, pp. 986-994.
  23. Meredith, R.N. (1965). A review of the responses to fertilizer of crops of northern Nigeria. Samara Misc. Papers No. 41, Zaria, Nigeria.
  24. Monanu, P.C. (1975A). Temperature and Sunshine. In Ofomata, G.E.K. (Ed) Nigeria in Maps: Eastern States. Benin City, Nigeria: Ethiope Pub. House.
  25. Monanu, P.C. (1975b). Rainfall. In Ofomata, G.E.K. (Ed) Nigeria in Maps: Eastern States. Benin City Nigeria: Ethiope Pub. House.
  26. Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) (1986). A manual on oilpalm production. pp 45.
  27. Ohajianya, D.O., Couto, W and Buol, S.W. (1982). The Fertility Capability Classification System. Interpretation, applicability and modification. Geoderma, 27:283-309.
  28. Orajaka, S.O. (1975). Geology. In Ofomata,, G.E.K. (ed). Nigeria in maps: Eastern States. Ethiope Pub. House, Benin City, Nigeria.
  29. Sanchez, P.A., Couto, W and Buol, S.W. (1982). The Fertility Capability Classification System. Interpretation, applicability and modification. Geoderma, 27:283-309.
  30. Savalia, S.G., Golakiya, B.A., Patel, S.V. (2009). Textbook of Soil Physics-Theory and Practices. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi, 353pp.
  31. Soil Survey Staff (2010). Keys to Soil Taxonomy (11th Edn). Basic System of Soil Classification for making and interpreting soil survey. Natural Resource Conservation Services, Agricultural Dept. Soil Survey Div., Washington D.C. USA.
  32. Udom, D.S. (2002). Declining Yield of Oilpalm: A case study of four oil palm plantations in Ikpoba and Cameroon. Niger Agric. J. 33:32-47.
  33. Ukaegbu, E.P. (2014). Soil Characterization and Land Evaluation of Owerri Agricultural Zone, Imo State Nigeria. An unpublished Ph.D Thesis. Dept. of Soil Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
  34. Walkley, A. and Black, I.A. (1934). An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chronic acid titration method. Soil Science 37:29-38.
  35. Young, A. (1976). Tropical Soil and Survey. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press.
How to Cite

E.P., U., S.K., O., & C.C., O. (2015). Suitability Assessment of Soils Supporting Oil Palm Plantations in the Coastal Plains Sand, Imo State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 25(1), 125-134. https://doi.org/10.67042/njss.2015.rffmtgqp

U. E.P., O. S.K., and O. C.C., "Suitability Assessment of Soils Supporting Oil Palm Plantations in the Coastal Plains Sand, Imo State, Nigeria," Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 125-134, April 2015. doi: 10.67042/njss.2015.rffmtgqp

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