Research Article

Suitability Evaluation for Elaeis Guineensis, Cocos Nucifera and Theobroma Cacao Cultivation on Some Soils of Isua Community in Edo State, Nigeria

Okunsebor F. E1*, Umweni A. S.1, Agege R. U2, Agbonfo, R.O2
1 Department of Soil Science and Land Management, University of Benin, Nigeria
2 Department of Soil Science and Land Management , University of Benin, Nigeria
* Corresponding author: faith.okunsebor@uniben.edu
Published: Aug, 2022
DOI: 10.67042/njss.2022.ygky5ggv
Pages: 65-75
Views: 531
Downloads: 729

Abstract

This study was conducted on a 128-hectare land in Isua community of Edo state to assess its suitability for Oil palm, Coconut and Cocoa cultivation. Rigid grid Soil survey methodology at detailed scale was done which produced four mapping units. The soils were classified according to USDA soil taxonomy and local series, three soil orders were classified in the study area (Entisols-Ahiara, Inceptisols-Kulfo and Ultisols-Orlu). Major limitations to assessment were climate (mean annual temperatures) and soil physical characteristics (texture/structure). Aggregate suitability rating (both actual and potential) showed that Orlu series (pedons 3 and 4 amounting to 56.73 ha) was suitable for all the crops, Kulfo series (pedon 2, covering 54.25 ha) was suitable for Coconut and Cocoa, Ahiara series (Pedon 1covering 17.13 ha) was not suitable for any of the crops. Thus, area occupied by pedon 1 should not be used for cultivation of any of the crops due to major limitation in texture. Moreover, both assessment approaches captured the major limitations, therefore, the use of any of the approaches employed in this study and for these crops becomes a matter of choice as both of them show no major differences in the application of their procedures.

Keywords

Cocoa. Coconut Community; Oil Palm Land Suitability Evaluation

References

  1. Anderson, F. and Ingram, I. (1993). Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility. A hand book of methods, 2nd edition. CAP International. 221pp.
  2. Bremner, J.M. (1996). Nitrogen-Total. In: Sparks, D.L. (ed). Methods of soil analysis. Part 5, Chemical Method. 2nd Edition. SSSA Book Series No 5, SSSA, Madison, WI 1085-1125.
  3. Egwu, J.A. (2015). Evaluating the University of Benin Proposed Farm Site for the cultivation of Oil palm and Cassava using two methods. An M.Sc Thesis Submitted to the School of Post Graduate Studies, University of Benin, Benin City. 150.
  4. Djaenudin, D., Marwan Subagyo, H. and Hidayat A. (2003). Land Suitability Evaluation with a Case Map of Aceh Barat District, Indonesian Soil Research Institute and World Agro Forestry Centre, Bogor, Indonesia.pp14-18.
  5. Gee, G.W. and Or, G. (2002). Particle size. In: Dane J.H. and Topp, G.C. (eds). Methods of soil analysis part 4. Physical methods. Soil science society of America Madison, WI, Book series No. 5 ASA ans SSA 225-293.
  6. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) (2006). Guidelines for soil profile description. 5th edition. AGLS, FAO Rome soils bull.
  7. Food and Agriculture organization (1984). Guidelines of Land Evaluation for Rainfall Agriculture. FAO Soils Bulletin 52. 237.
  8. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) (1976). A frame work for land evaluation. Soils Bulletin 32 (7):72.
  9. Fasina A.S., Omolayo O.S., Faladun A.A. and Ajayi O.S. (2007). Granitic derived soils in humid forest of south western Nigeria genesis classification and sustainable management. American-eurasian journal of agriculture and environmental sciences. 2(3) 189-195.
  10. International Institute for Tropical Agriculture -IITA (1979). Selected Methods for Soil And Plant Analysis. International Institute for Tropical Agriculture.3rd Edn., Dec., IITA, Ibadan. Pp: 34 Murphy, J. and Riley, J. P. (1962). A Modified Single Solution Method for The Determination of Phosphorus in Natural Water. Anal. Chem. Acta 27: 31-36.
  11. Maclean, E.O. (1982). Aluminium. In C.A. Black (Ed). Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2. Agronomy 9. American Society of Agronomy. Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
  12. Miller, R.H., Keeney D.R. (eds). America society of agronomy Madison Winscosin. Pp 15-72.
  13. NIFOR, (2017). Weather data (Temperature, Rainfall, Relative Humidity) for 2014 – 2017. Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research Main Station. Benin-City, Nigeria.
  14. Ogunkunle, A.O. (1993). Soil in Land Suitability Evaluation: An example with Oil palm in Nigeria. Soil use and Management 9: 75 – 80.
  15. Ogunkunle, A.O. (1983). Updating the Classification of Acid Sand Soils with Particular Reference to the Soils of NIFOR Main Station. Journal of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research vol.vi: 234-255.
  16. Olsen, S.R. and Sommers, L.E. (1982). Phosphorus. In: methods of analysis part 2. Page A.L.
  17. Oko-oboh, E., Sanjobi, B. A., Ajiboya, G. A., Oriasogie, P. O. and Ogbebhon, O. E. (2018). Suitability Assessment of Soils of NIFOR Sub-station Ohosi Edo State for Oil Palm (Elaeris guineensis) and Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Cultivation. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science 28 (1):218-228.
  18. Page, A.L. (Editor) (1982). Methods of soil analysis. Agronomy No. 9 Part 2. Am. Soc. Agron. Madison, Wisconsin.
  19. Peter, K.D. and Unweni, A.S. (2020). Characterization and Classification of soils developed from coastal plain sands and alluvium in Ighara local government area of rivers state, southern nigeria. Direct Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science 8(7): 246 - 256.
  20. Soil Survey Staff. (2014). United States Department of Agriculture Keys to Soil Taxonomy.12th Edition. National Resource Conservation Service, US Dept. of Agric. Washington DC. 353 pp.
  21. Sys, C. (1985). Land Evaluation. State university of Ghent, international training centre for post graduate soil scientists (ITC), II & III.
  22. Tan, K.H. (1996). Soil Sampling, Preparation and Analysis. Mercel Dekker Inc. 270 Madison Avenue, New York 10016.
  23. Thomas, G.W. (1982). Exchangeable Cation. In Page. A.L et al (eds) Methods of soil analysis. Part 2, Wisconsin. Agronomy Monographs No.9 Pp.159-165.ASA AND SSSA, Madison, Wisconsin.
  24. Unweni, A.S. (2007). Irrigation Capability Evaluation of Some Sedimentary Soils in Edo State, Nigeria. A Ph.D Thesis Submitted to the School of Post Graduate Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
How to Cite

E, O. F., S., U. A., U, A. R., & R.O, A. (2022). Suitability Evaluation for Elaeis Guineensis, Cocos Nucifera and Theobroma Cacao Cultivation on Some Soils of Isua Community in Edo State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 32(2), 65-75. https://doi.org/10.67042/njss.2022.ygky5ggv

O. F. E, U. A. S., A. R. U, and A. R.O, "Suitability Evaluation for Elaeis Guineensis, Cocos Nucifera and Theobroma Cacao Cultivation on Some Soils of Isua Community in Edo State, Nigeria," Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 65-75, August 2022. doi: 10.67042/njss.2022.ygky5ggv

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