Soil Science and Land Evaluation

Tillage plays a significant role in crop production, the study purpose was to determine the effect of tillage types: Flat till (FT), Mound till (MT) and Ridge till (RT) on the chemical properties, growth and yield of groundnut. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) to ascertain the effect of tillage types on soil chemical properties. Plant height, leaf area, weight (Fresh/Dry) and number of leaves were measured and subjected to ANOVA and treatment means were compared using FLSD (Fisher's Least Significant Difference). The results revealed that the different tillage types significantly improved soil pH {5.03 (FT)}, organic matter {3.25% (MT)}, available phosphorus {23.73mg/kg (FT)} and base saturation {77.79% (RT)}, cation exchange capacity {7.31cmol/kg (RT)}, and Nitrogen {0.22 (MT)}. The study established that leaf area {12.25 (MT)}, number of branches {16.83 (RT)} and plant height with value 52.92 (RT) compared to FT and MT. The highest yield observed was 0.28kg plant-1 (flat till), compared to 0.27kg plant-1 (ridge till), and 0.20kg plant-1 (MT) with a significant difference between tillage types (P<0.05). This study showed that flat tillage significantly improved the growth and yield of groundnut, and also enhanced chemical properties except for nitrogen.

This study was carried out to ascertain the characterization and classification of soils along river Donga in Donga local government area of Taraba State. Three profile pits were dug on the flat terrain for the physio-chemical properties of the soils. The pits were described and samples were collected for routine laboratory analysis for the selected physio-chemicals properties. Data collected were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance (ANOVA) The result of the laboratory analysis of the physical and chemical properties indicated that particle size distribution of sand particle dominated other fraction of fine earth materials. This can be attributed to the parent materials that gave rise to the soils.The pH (H2O) was slightly acidic in reaction in all the pedons studied (6.44, 5.82 and 5.67). The organic carbon content ranges from very low to low compared to the maximum level (5%) for tropical soils. Available phosphorus obtained exceeded the critical limits of 8.0 to >18mg/kg, which indicates that the available phosphorus were high. The exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K & Na) as indicated in the table 3 that Ca, Mg, K & Na were low in all the pedons studied. The results obtained from analyzed profile samples showed that percentage (%) base saturation values for all the pedons were high. The Correlation was done to determine non-significant and significant values among soil physio-chemical properties studied at 5% and 1% probability level. In addition, after the profile description and examination of the soil properties of the study area, the soils were classified using USDA soil taxonomy (2014). Pedons 1 and 2 are classified into the order of Alfisols and sub-group of Typical Haplustalf while pedon 3 is also classified into Alfisols but sub-group of Arenickandiustals (Hypereuticlixisels).

A soil map (1:50,000 scale) was recently produced in Sardinia (Italy) using a cost-effective GIS approach. In this study we aimed to verify, in two pilot areas and by means of statistical analysis, the effectiveness of the adopted methodology in representing and predicting the spatial distribution of soil types and properties. We focused on evaluation of 1) the influence of landforms and parent materials on soil types (WRB Reference Soil Groups) and selected soil properties and 2) the suitability of the adopted methodology for calibrating a model to predict land unit composition in terms of different soil types. Leptosols, Regosols and Cambisols were prevalent on slopes, with Leptosols being more frequent on convex slopes and Regosols and Cambisols on concave slopes. In flat areas, soil types mainly depended on the type and age of parent material, with Regosols and Cambisols prevailing on Holocene deposits and highly developed soils (mainly Luvisols) largely prevailing on Pleistocene deposits. On hard rock, Leptosols were very frequent on terrigenous metamorphic rock and frequent on granite. Besides Leptosols, Regosols occurred more frequently than Cambisols on both parent materials. Landforms strongly influenced soil depth and available water capacity. Soils on plains were deeper than those on slopes, where convex forms had shallower soils than concave forms. A similar trend applied to the available water capacity. The parent material had a significant effect on topsoil properties (thickness, texture, pH and organic carbon content) of soils belonging to the same WRB Reference Soil Group (analysis done on the most relevant WRB Reference Soil Groups, i.e. Leptosols, Regosols and Cambisols). We calibrated and tested stepwise multiple linear regressions (MLR) and general linear models (GLM) to predict the composition of map units in terms of different WRB Reference Soil Groups. The two models gave very similar results, with distinct distribution patterns that were coherent with the relationships observed between soil groups and specific combination of terrain attributes and parent materials. Results showed that both models were more reliable in predicting the absence rather than presence of a given soil type.

Predictive accuracy of a soil map is the scientific requirement for its use. To determine the extra information contained in a manuscript soil map (1:250,000) of Imo State, in the coastal plains sand zone of the state, its predictive accuracy was compared with that of the published (1:1,000,000) version. The study was done with 106 soil samples randomly taken in the location of study with the auger at two depths, 0-20cm and 20-40cm, which were analysed using standard laboratory procedures to determine physic-chemical propertiessand, silt, clay, silt/clay, pH, Exch. Ca, Mg, K, Na, Al, H, Al+H, ECEC, BS, ESP, OC, TN.. Data were statistically analysed using Coefficient of Variation (CV%), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with means separated at a 5% level of significance, and the technique based on relative variance (I-RV). Both maps had better predictive accuracy for alluvial soils than well-drained units delineated based on minor relief differences. Despite high within unit variation of properties, map units generally differed significantly at 5% in terms of sand, silt, silt/clay, Al, H, Al+H, ECEC, BS, ESP, OC, K. Predictive accuracies (1-RV) for the parameters ranged from 0.01 for pH to 0.62 for BS. Sand and silt had relatively good predictions at both depths and scales, with values ranging from 0.42 to 0.57. The parameters silt/clay, K, Al, H, ECEC, and Al+H, had better prediction at subsoil with values ranging from 0.26 to 0.58. The manuscript map had improved prediction at the topsoil for Al, H, Al+H, BS, ESP, OC, and TN with values improving from a range of 0.04-0.25 to one of 0.15-0.62. At the subsoil, the same map had improved prediction for silt/clay ratio with values changing from 0.17 to 0.32. Despite being at a small scale too, the manuscript soil map brought out the soil's potential better, which fact makes it a better base map for more detailed mapping of the soils than the published one. The study thus recommends making reference to the manuscript map for further studies.

According to WRB (World Reference Base for Soil Resources) andosols are dark soils with high organic matter content formed on young volcanic rocks. Their characteristics are determined primarily by allophanes, imogolite, ferrihydrite and Al/Fe-humus complexes. Their macro-structure is very loose with low value for volume mass, thixotropy, high cation exchange capacity and phosphorous retaining capacity are characteristic for them. Geographical distribution, upper and lower limits of andosols in Romania are still to be made clear. Limited publications give controversial data in relation to the latter. Their appearance on maps published in recent years is controversial and hard to interpret especially in the cases of the Harghita and the Gurghiu Mountains. According to Romanian pedological literature andosols can be found above 1200 m a.s.l., however, on soil maps of the scale 1:200.000 covering the Cȃlimani-Gurghiu-Harghita volcanic chain as well they extend up to only 1500 m.

Food insecurity and environmental degradation are the recurrent problems in Niger Delta. Yearly flooding from Niger River improves the fertility of the floodplain. Farmers have utilized flood-recession farming for cultivating crops since time immemorial. Farmers in this approach produce crops in the floodplains' moist, fertile soil after the water levels have receded and harvest them before the river floods. This conventional approach to food production is vital for the preservation of the environment and the wellbeing of humans. The experiment was conducted between Asaba and Illah, using a stratified sampling methods. The results showed that the floodplain soil overlying the Niger River had a high potential for crop production with a high amount of available phosphorus (13.88-15.65 mg/kg), total nitrogen (16.03-21.03 gkg-1), organic matter (23.3-31.1gkg-1), cation exchange capacity (16.76-20.87 cmol/kg), and pH 5.5-7.0. The result showed that the soils are very good for agricultural purposes. However, to improve the floodrecession farming system and the food security of household small farmers, soil fertility management techniques in the areas should also focus on water use efficiency, agro-biodiversity conservation, soil health maintenance, climate change mitigation, and incorporating this practice into policy-making for food security.

The paper emphasized the characteristics of the pedoplasma of two soils from Pădurea Craiului Mountain, in relations with the soil fertility and biodiversity of the two pasture ecosystems. Plasma is one of the most important and mobile component of the soil which show the dynamic of soil profile. The researchers were performed in the northern part of Pădurea Craiului Mountain, on a Luvisol located in "Dâmbul Tânăr Hill", and a Red Soil located in "Glimeii Hill". The studied soils were characterized on the basis of micromorphological, physical and chemical analysis. The data showed that the organic component of the pedoplasma is very low in Luvisol and higher in Red Soil. The clayey component of the pedoplasma is low in the upper part and high in the lower part of both soil profiles, as a result the Idt in Luvisol is 1.53 and 1.6 in the Red Soil. The clay mineralogy showed high differences between the two soils: smectite is dominant in the Luvisol, while caolinite is prevailing in Red Soil. The Fe component of the pedoplasma is presents in high quantity in both studied soils. However in Luvisol, Fe has been accumulated in hydromorphic conditions and appears as redoximorphic features, while in Red Soil Fe accumulation is the result of a previous evolution in a Mediterranean climate and appears as matrix pigmentation. The high mobility of the pedoplasma in Luvisol induced high acidity, very low soil fertility and low biodiversity of the pasture ecosystem, while the very low mobility of the pedoplasma in Red Soil favor high fertility and high biodiversity.

Management options proffered with respect to the chemical properties along a toposequence are a key to sustainable crop and soil productivity since nutrient status and soil properties are related to topography of the land area. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of slope and depth on selected soil chemical properties at the University of Ilorin Teaching and Research Farm in 2013. Three points: upper, middle and bottom slope, along a toposequence with an average distance of 200 m apart were delineated and sampled for soil analysis at depths of 0-30 cm, 30-60 cm and 60-90 cm using core sampler and auger. Soil chemical properties which included pH in water, pH in KCl, electrical conductivity, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K, Na), exchangeable acidity, effective cation exchange capacity, base saturation, exchangeable sodium percentage and sodium adsorption ratio were determined in the laboratory/ computed afterwards. Data from the analysis were subjected to ANOVA using 2x3 factorial combinations of factors slope and depth-in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five replicates. Results on the effects of slope and soil depth on soil chemical properties showed that soil depth affected all the measured soil chemical properties except exchangeable sodium. The pH (both in water and KCl), electrical conductivity, available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium were not affected by slope. Also, pH, exchangeable magnesium and sodium were not affected by the interaction between the effect of slope and soil depth.

Many temperate climates, like most of the Italians, are characterized by considerable daily temperature ranges. In these cases, the thermal inertia of the building structure has a significant influence on the management of solar and internal heat gains, then on energy demand for HVAC, especially during the cooling period. Winter and summer requirements regarding the thermal inertia may conflict with each other, particularly when the use of the building is discontinuous, as in the case of offices. A lower thermal inertia may allow a more rapid heating in the morning and lower nocturnal losses during the winter days, whereas a higher inertia may allow a better exploitation of night free cooling in the cooling period. In this study, a typical office room has been studied by means of computer simulations. The only external wall of the room faces south and is entirely glazed; therefore it requires some device for solar control to avoid glare phenomena and excessive solar gains, resulting in overeating and high cooling loads. Relatively to this room, the combined effects of some different solar control strategies and three different constructive technologies have been explored. They were used weather data of Gorizia, in the North East of Italy

The paper presents authors’ contribution to the improvement of the manufacturing technique of foam glass using the microwave energy. Due to the physical and mechanical characteristics, this material, obtained by the sintering process of waste glass at high temperature, constitutes a viable replacer of existing similar materials, used especially in construction. Unlike the conventional heating methods used worldwide, the company Daily Sourcing & Research SRL Bucharest tested lately microwave heating techniques in the manufacturing process of foam glass. In the paper it is presented an original method based on the feature of the powder mixture composed by waste glass (over 97 wt.%) and the foaming agent (calcium carbonate) to absorb the microwave energy and convert it to heat since the ambient temperature, using a silicon carbide and silicon nitride (80/ 20 weight ratio) crucible with thin wall (2.5 mm), which allows both a preponderantly direct heating and partially an indirect heati...

Although topography and climate are known to affect soil micronutrient mobility, some related aspects like micronutrient bioavailability to plants and implications to human intake are not fully understood. This paper aimed to study the effects of different topographic positions and seasons (dry or humid) on micronutrient levels in soils and Solanum scabrum. A randomized complete block design with four replications was adopted for each topographic position. Fieldwork was completed by a battery of soil and vegetable analyses. The main results revealed that soil micronutrient levels appeared as follows: Al>Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu for all positions and seasons. The soil micronutrient levels were lowest for the midslope in relation to its steeper gradient that affects downwards migration of matter. Zn and Cu were below the recommended range for agricultural soils, while Al was far above in relation to the strongly acidic pH. In S. scabrum, micronutrients appeared as Mn>Fe>Zn>Al>Cu. Globally, vegetable metal levels were higher in the dry season for all positions. Except Al, all metals were below permissible and toxicity levels in food, while only Fe, Mn and Zn where above recommended range for normal plant growth. Metal transfer factors, apart from midslope, were higher in the dry season. Only Mn and Zn for all positions and seasons as well as Zn at footslope, were above 1. Globally, micronutrient levels in soils and vegetables were higher in the dry seasons for all positions. Micronutrient intake rates were higher in the dry season for all positions but lowest in the midslope for all seasons. Except Fe and Zn in adults, metal levels were above the recommended daily dietary intake indicating excess micronutrients intake by the inhabitants. Overall, a combination of steep slope and humid season reduces soil micronutrient level, limit uptake by vegetables and hence reduce mean daily intake in humans.

Due to the increasing land degradation in southeastern Nigeria – with particular reference to the ubiquitous gully network in the region – selected soils formed from the Coastal Plain Sands of the Imo River Basin were evaluated and characterized to determine their potentials and capabilities. , Three profile pits were consequently dug on the upper slope (Umuariam), -mid-slope (Umulogho), and foot slope (Umungwa) of three towns on the Imo River Basin underlain by the coastal plain sands. The soil color ranged from greyish brown (5 YR 5/2) to dull brown (7.5 YR 5/3) in the topsoil and from dull orange (5 YR 6/4) to orange (5 YR 6/7) in the subsoil. The soils had sandy topsoil and relatively more clayey subsoil. The pH (in KCl) ranged from very strongly acidic (4.5 – 5.0) to moderately acidic (5.1 – 6.0). They had low organic matter, low total nitrogen, low ECEC, low Al saturation, and moderate base saturation. The soils of Umuariam (Upper Slope) and Umulogho (Mid Slope) were classifie...

The study on the effect of different weed management techniques on some chemical properties of soil was carried out on the university teaching and research farm in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State. This project was aimed at determining whether there will be a difference between soil chemical properties in areas treated with herbicide and those without herbicide treatment in the study area. The soil was examined in the field during the survey period after which eight profile pits were dug. Four of the pits were treated with herbicide, while four was not treated with herbicide. The soil samples were taken to the laboratory for analysis. The pH of the soil was found to range from moderately acidic to moderate alkaline with a mean pH values of 6.52 and 6.64 in herbicide and non herbicide use respectively. The electrical conductivity was found to be very low with mean values of herbicide and non-herbicides use of 0.02 and 0.25 respectively. Organic carbon of the soil was found to be moderate. And only organic compound was found to correlation with a significant difference. The exchangeable cations were generally found to be low and the total nitrogen was also found to be low. Generally, soils with chemical weed management practices were found to differ from those managed without chemicals. The major limitation of this project is that, other factor which may cause changes in the soul chemical properties were not considered in this study. I will recommend that further research be done to eliminate all other factors that can cause a change in soil chemical properties in other to determine more accurately the effect of herbicide on soils.

This study demonstrates the significant influence of toposequence position on soil properties and hydrological conditions, affecting crop yield. Variations in toposequence position lead to differences in soil properties; physical and chemical properties may vary minimally or maximally depending on the slope's location. As slope increases, soil moisture and organic carbon rise, while bulk density, pH, and soil temperature decrease. Soils along a toposequence reveal that landscape position, erosion, aspect, and drainage impact soil depth, particle size distribution, and CEC. Understanding topography's influence on soil characteristics is crucial for evaluating soil productivity and devising conservation strategies. This knowledge is essential for assessing soil value and avoiding uneven input distribution in agricultural fields on diverse terrains. This review paper summarizes the impacts of toposequence on soil physical and chemical properties. The study utilized databases such as Google Scholar, African Journals Online (AJOL), Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) to identify relevant studies.

There has been increased interest in soil organic carbon in recent times because of its role in carbon sequestration. Different parent materials affect soil properties and hence will influence how much carbon is sequestered by soil. The study was conducted in June 2019 to investigate soil carbon stock in forest soils with respect to their parent materials in three States in Southeastern Nigeria. Sampling was aided by the location map of the area and free soil survey method was used to locate sampling points. 0ne profile was dug in each location and described using the Food and Agricultural Organization guideline. A total of twelve soil samples were collected and analyzed for selected properties. Results showed that sand content was significantly higher in soils under coastal plain sands (851.96 g•kg −1) and was lowest in soils of Imo clay shale (605.60 g•kg −1). Clay content was higher in soils of Imo clay shale (277.34 g•kg −1) and was lowest in coastal plain sand (118.80 g•kg −1). Silt and clay had moderate variation in coastal plain sand (>15 ≤ 35%) and high variations in Asu River and Imo clay shale (CV > 35%). The soils studied were generally acidic with values ranging (3.52) in soils formed from coastal plain sand, followed by forest soils of Imo clay shale (3.64) and Asu river group (3.85). Soil organic carbon decreased with increase in soil depth in all soil parent materials studied. Mean values ranged from 6.14 g•kg −1 in soil underlain by coastal plain sand to 10.62 g•kg −1) in soils of Imo clay shale. Soil carbon sequestered under the three different parent materials ranged from 1575-4676.41 (g•cm −2). Also, soil depth had a notable impact on carbon sequestration with values ranging from 1529.42-4374.0541 (g•cm −2) and the thicker the horizon, the more carbon sequestered. Hence, the study concluded that more carbon is sequestered in the subsurface horizons of the soil pedons than in the epipedons.

This document also considers different options for outsourcing transcription work including the possibility of using an electronic marketplace website where tasks can be assigned to workers. The outcomes of its use in other domains has been reviewed including ethical concerns. It also discusses the issues and procedures for organising a large transcription project from the viewpoint of a commercial party including transcription rules, logistics of running a large-scale transcription project, t r a i n i n g n e w t r a n s c r i b e r s a n d t h e w o r k f l o w o f t h e p r o j e c t i t s e l f. F i n a l l y o u t l i n i n g a s e t o f recommendations based on the commercial company's experience of running a large-scale transcription project. To maximise the use of specimens in research it is necessary to determine the point of collection from the textual information on the label by a process known as georeferencing. This process is currently extremely time-consuming and hence very costly. Therefore, methods to speed up georeferencing need to be investigated for implementation. A review of the available tools for automating some of these processes is discussed. This report highlights several recommendations for DiSSCo to enhance the quality of specimen records, including providing tools to aid label transcription, georeferencing and data cleaning to try and maximise their fitness for use.

This paper discusses the application of taxonomic distance calculations for the correlation of soil units from different soil classification systems. Conceptual and centroid-based methods were tested on the brown forest soil types of the Hungarian Soil Classification System, correlated with the Reference Soil Groups of the World Reference Base for Soil Resources. The results of the distance calculations were compared and evaluated with previous expert based correlation studies. Earlier studies to derive taxonomic distances between soil taxa based on their dominant identifiers were further developed with the introduction of finer coding, and the application for correlation purposes. For the centroid-based approach, values were calculated from legacy laboratory data of different soil properties of the studied soil classes to derive the taxonomic distances. The results of the three different approaches are concordant, but as each method studied has its own limitations, we recommend their joint application. Therefore the methods complement each other and provide a good tool to assist correlation tasks. We found this study very helpful in identifying the shortcomings of certain definitions and the conceptual conflicts within and between systems. The numerical approaches should be applied in the evaluation of current systems in the efforts toward a Universal Soil Classification System.

Up-to-date digital soil resources information, and its comprehensive understanding, is crucial to support crop production and sustainable agricultural development. Generating such information through conventional approaches consumes time and resources, which is difficult for developing countries. In Ethiopia, the soil resource map that was in use is qualitative, dated (since 1984), and small-scale (1:2 M) which limits its practical applicability. Yet, a large legacy soil profile data accumulated over time and the emerging machine learning modelling approaches can help in generating a high-quality quantitative digital soil map that can provide accurate soil information. Thus, a group of researchers formed a coalition of the willing for soil and agronomy data sharing and

The study on the effect of different weed management techniques on some chemical properties of soil was carried out on the university teaching and research farm in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State. This project was aimed at determining whether there will be a difference between soil chemical properties in areas treated with herbicide and those without herbicide treatment in the study area. The soil was examined in the field during the survey period after which eight profile pits were dug. Four of the pits were treated with herbicide, while four was not treated with herbicide. The soil samples were taken to the laboratory for analysis. The pH of the soil was found to range from moderately acidic to moderate alkaline with a mean pH values of 6.52 and 6.64 in herbicide and non herbicide use respectively. The electrical conductivity was found to be very low with mean values of herbicide and non-herbicides use of 0.02 and 0.25 respectively. Organic carbon of the soil was found to be moderate. And only organic compound was found to correlation with a significant difference. The exchangeable cations were generally found to be low and the total nitrogen was also found to be low. Generally, soils with chemical weed management practices were found to differ from those managed without chemicals. The major limitation of this project is that, other factor which may cause changes in the soul chemical properties were not considered in this study. I will recommend that further research be done to eliminate all other factors that can cause a change in soil chemical properties in other to determine more accurately the effect of herbicide on soils.

The study was carried out to assess soil physic-chemical properties of an erosion site in Ikeduru, Imo State Nigeria, which has experienced land degradation over the years. Three profile pits were dug, described and samples collected for the physico-chemical laboratory analysis. Data obtained were analyzed using Genstat Discovery, Edition 4 for a CRD experiment. The outcome shows soils was deep, fine weak, dark brown, brown, red and dark reddish brown in the Munsell colour code. An LSD, a correlation at 5% probability level was used to separate the means significantly. Correlation investigation was carried out to explain relationships among selected physico-chemical properties of the studied soil. The particle size distribution indicated high sand content and low clay content in the three profiles selected with SCL as dominating textural class, except for 1.85 g cm-3 bulk density which was observed to be safe in all the profile pits examined, the silt ─ clay ratio was low (<1), except at the surface soil in the foot-slope (1.09). Soil pH (KCl) was moderately acidic at the summit. The organic matter had significant positive correlations with TN (r = 0.99***), Ca (r = 0.85**), Mg (r = 0.59*), K (r = 0.61*) and ECEC (r = 0.74**). Phosphorus maintained significant positive relationships with all basic cations with correlation coefficients that ranged from 0.51* for K to 0.59* for Ca. Total exchangeable acidity had a significant (P<0.001) negative relationship with %BS (r =-0.98***). It has been seen that the main causes of erosion are unprofessional land use forms.

The field study was carried out in Okigwe South-eastern Nigeria. Three profiles were sunk in soils of each of each parent material. Soil samples were subjected to routine and standard laboratory analysis for selected physic- chemical properties. The morphological and physic-chemical properties of the soils varied widely, sand size particles dominated other particle sizes with the mean values of 448, 538 and 648 g kg-1 on sandstone, while soils derived from Imo clay shale was 583 g kg-1 for Umuna. Clay in Imo Clay Shale and bulk density recorded highest values at NIHORT 1, 416 and 15 g kg-1 respectively. All pedons exhibited sandy clay loam on topsoil and relatively more clayey subsoil. Total nitrogen correlated positively and significantly (0.5) with organic matter in both soils. Clay correlated negatively with ECEC in sandstone and positively in clay shale, and both were not significant. The soils derived from false bedded sandstone (NIHORT 1, 2 and 3) were classified according to ...

The assessment of the distribution of soil physico-chemical properties facilitates the use of proper soil management practices. Hence, the study was conducted in Izombe rainforest of Nigeria to ascertain the profile distribution of physical and chemical soil properties. Samples were collected from two profile pits base on horizon differentiation for laboratory analyses using standard procedures. Data generated were analyzed statistically using coefficient of variation and correlation. The result indicated that sand recorded 760 g kg-1 in pedon 1, 730.20 g kg-1 in pedon 2 and was predominant in the soil with higher amount at the surface horizon while clay and silt increased down the pedons. Bulk density ranges from 1.14 – 1.79 g cm-3. The AB horizon was the least acidic of the pedons. Most soil chemical properties decreased down the profile. Sand and pH had low variation (≥4.80 % ≤12.60 %) while silt, organic carbon, total nitrogen had high variation (≥41.52 % ≤79.58 %) among the hor...

The study on the effect of different weed management techniques on some chemical properties of soil was carried out on the university teaching and research farm in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State. This project was aimed at determining whether there will be a difference between soil chemical properties in areas treated with herbicide and those without herbicide treatment in the study area. The soil was examined in the field during the survey period after which eight profile pits were dug. Four of the pits were treated with herbicide, while four was not treated with herbicide. The soil samples were taken to the laboratory for analysis. The pH of the soil was found to range from moderately acidic to moderate alkaline with a mean pH values of 6.52 and 6.64 in herbicide and non herbicide use respectively. The electrical conductivity was found to be very low with mean values of herbicide and non-herbicides use of 0.02 and 0.25 respectively. Organic carbon of the soil was found to be moderate. And only organic compound was found to correlation with a significant difference. The exchangeable cations were generally found to be low and the total nitrogen was also found to be low. Generally, soils with chemical weed management practices were found to differ from those managed without chemicals. The major limitation of this project is that, other factor which may cause changes in the soul chemical properties were not considered in this study. I will recommend that further research be done to eliminate all other factors that can cause a change in soil chemical properties in other to determine more accurately the effect of herbicide on soils.

Up-to-date digital soil resources information, and its comprehensive understanding, is crucial to support crop production and sustainable agricultural development. Generating such information through conventional approaches consumes time and resources, which is difficult for developing countries. In Ethiopia, the soil resource map that was in use is qualitative, dated (since 1984), and small-scale (1:2 M) which limits its practical applicability. Yet, a large legacy soil profile data accumulated over time and the emerging machine learning modelling approaches can help in generating a high-quality quantitative digital soil map that can provide accurate soil information. Thus, a group of researchers formed a coalition of the willing for soil and agronomy data sharing and

There has been increased interest in soil organic carbon in recent times because of its role in carbon sequestration. Different parent materials affect soil properties and hence will influence how much carbon is sequestered by soil. The study was conducted in June 2019 to investigate soil carbon stock in forest soils with respect to their parent materials in three States in Southeastern Nigeria. Sampling was aided by the location map of the area and free soil survey method was used to locate sampling points. 0ne profile was dug in each location and described using the Food and Agricultural Organization guideline. A total of twelve soil samples were collected and analyzed for selected properties. Results showed that sand content was significantly higher in soils under coastal plain sands (851.96 g•kg −1) and was lowest in soils of Imo clay shale (605.60 g•kg −1). Clay content was higher in soils of Imo clay shale (277.34 g•kg −1) and was lowest in coastal plain sand (118.80 g•kg −1). Silt and clay had moderate variation in coastal plain sand (>15 ≤ 35%) and high variations in Asu River and Imo clay shale (CV > 35%). The soils studied were generally acidic with values ranging (3.52) in soils formed from coastal plain sand, followed by forest soils of Imo clay shale (3.64) and Asu river group (3.85). Soil organic carbon decreased with increase in soil depth in all soil parent materials studied. Mean values ranged from 6.14 g•kg −1 in soil underlain by coastal plain sand to 10.62 g•kg −1) in soils of Imo clay shale. Soil carbon sequestered under the three different parent materials ranged from 1575-4676.41 (g•cm −2). Also, soil depth had a notable impact on carbon sequestration with values ranging from 1529.42-4374.0541 (g•cm −2) and the thicker the horizon, the more carbon sequestered. Hence, the study concluded that more carbon is sequestered in the subsurface horizons of the soil pedons than in the epipedons.

Soil erosion and a decline in fertility are influenced by insidious topography, which results in the problem of food insecurity in developing countries. Tula is a slope terrain, thus, prone to soil degradation due to continuous cultivation, hence the need to assess soil variability and quality to guide on suitable management practices to adopt across the slope classes. Hence, this study was conceived to assess the effect of toposequence on soil properties and quality in Tula, Gombe state Nigeria. Three slope classes were selected (upper, middle and lower slope). Soil samples were collected from each slope class at depths of 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm and analysed for soil physical and chemical properties using standard procedures. The results show that the soil texture varies from loamy sandy to sandy. The bulk density ranges from 1.02 to 1.12 mg.cm−3 and were rated medium at &lt;1.6 mg.cm−3. Soils on the lower slope were significantly (p &lt; 0.05) higher in soil pH. The soils were gener...

Soil erosion and a decline in fertility are influenced by insidious topography, which results in the problem of food insecurity in developing countries. Tula is a slope terrain, thus, prone to soil degradation due to continuous cultivation, hence the need to assess soil variability and quality to guide on suitable management practices to adopt across the slope classes. Hence, this study was conceived to assess the effect of toposequence on soil properties and quality in Tula, Gombe state Nigeria. Three slope classes were selected (upper, middle and lower slope). Soil samples were collected from each slope class at depths of 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm and analysed for soil physical and chemical properties using standard procedures. The results show that the soil texture varies from loamy sandy to sandy. The bulk density ranges from 1.02 to 1.12 mg.cm−3 and were rated medium at &lt;1.6 mg.cm−3. Soils on the lower slope were significantly (p &lt; 0.05) higher in soil pH. The soils were gener...

Soil quality and fertility are of fundamental importance in sustainable agriculture and environmental management. This study aimed at evaluating soil quality under date palm plantation in Gombe State University. The study area was demarcated into two slope classes, upper and middle slope. Eight (8) composite samples were collected using a soil auger at a depth of 30 cm and analyze using standard methods. The result shows that sandy loam dominated the textural class. The pH for both slope class ranges from 6.18 - 6.40 were rated slightly acid. Organic carbon (3.5 – 7.2 gkg−1) was rated low, total nitrogen value of 1.05 - 1.75 gkg−1 was low to medium, available phosphorus value of 10.56 – 51.29 mgkg−1 were rated high. Soil carbon stock and percentage soil quality were 22.13 - 20.08 t C/ha and 60 - 53% for upper and middle slope respectively. Generally, t-test results indicate no significant difference between the two slope classes. The soils are moderate in quality and have higher pot...

A study was conducted in Gantsare village, Wamakko local government, Sokoto state to determine the effect of cement dust emitted from Sokoto cement factory on the fertility of fadama soils. Soil samples were collected in June, 2008 from the eastern, northeastern, and southeastern parts of the village and Girabshi; a nearby village with least effect of the dust. The samples were collected at two depths (0-15 and 15-30 cm) using simple random sampling method. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) was employed, replicated three times, making a total of 24 samples. The samples were analyzed for pH, OC, CEC, total N, available P, exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K and Na) and particle size. Almost all parameters determined were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.01). OC was found to be lower in concentration in the areas closer to the factory; eastern part<northeastern part<southeastern part<Girabshi village; 1.31<1.36<1.50<2.59 g kg-1 respectively, available P also followed similar trend. While pH indicated a reverse trend; eastern part>northeastern part>Southeastern part>Girabshi village; 7.77>7.76>7.75>6.25 respectively, likewise CEC and exchangeable bases. The trend in the results observed may be attributed to possible adverse effects of the dust on microbial population, reduction in the availability of some nutrients and a favour on the concentrations of exchangeable bases and CEC. The topsoils showed better results of all the soil chemical properties. The study recommends minimization of the amount of dust reaching agricultural soils and the use of phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizer supplements as soil management practices to enhance soil fertility status and enhance adequate crop yield in the area.

This study assesses soil fertility status under continuous irrigation farming in Nigerian Savanna. Soil samples were collected from eight irrigated farm plots in Zaria while adjacent uncultivated soil was used as the control. Soil samples were collected from 0-20cm (topsoil) and 20-50cm (subsoil). 108 soil samples were collected and analyzes using standard laboratory methods. Soils were analyzed for texture, bulk density, porosity, moisture content, Soil pH, Organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K, Na), exchangeable acidity (H+Al), exchangeable cation exchange capacity (ECEC) and base saturation. Descriptive statistic was used to compare the results while Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used to test the elements at 0.01 and 0.05 alpha levels. From the result, the textural grades are loamy. The mean values obtained for each elements at the irrigated plots are: sand (50.38%), silt (39.63%), clay (10%), bulk density (1.38), porosity (47.75%), moisture content (0.26cm 3), pH in water (5.44) and in CaCl2 (5.7). organic matter 1.74%, total N 0.12%, available phosphorus (58.36cmol/kg-1), cations (Ca (7.76cmol/kg-1), Mg (1.48cmol/kg-1), K (0.36cmol/kg-1), and Na (0.61cmol/kg-1), H+Al (0.59cmol/kg-1), ECEC (10.62cmol/kg-1) and base saturation (93%). The control plot showed better improvement in terms of both soil physical and chemical properties. It is recommended that soil testing should be carried out from time to time to monitor the rate of soil deterioration under continuous irrigation.

The study investigated changes in soil reaction among surface and near surface horizons of four soil groups as affected by wet and dry seasons in Southeastern Nigeria. A geological map of the area guided soil sampling. Free survey approach was used in locating soil profiles. Soil samples were collected based on horizon differentiation and samples were collected from the AB-horizon (near-surface) and the A-horizon (Surface). Routine laboratory analyses were conducted on these soil samples after sieving through a 2-mm sieve. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS Statistical Computer Package. There were significant (p&lt;0.05) changes in soil reaction in A- and AB-horizons in the dry seasons of 2016 and 2017.  Similarly, in the wet season, soil pH varied significantly (p&lt;0.05) in 2016 and 2017. Soil reaction significantly (p&lt;0.05) differed in AB-horizons in both 2016 and 2017 irrespective of the season. All soil samples were acidic irrespective of litholog...

Accurate estimation of wetland carbon densities is a prerequisite for wetland conservation and implementation of carbon sink enhancement plans. This study was designed to investigate spatial distribution in Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) and Total Nitrogen (TN), and Soil Organic Carbon density (SOCD) and Total Nitrogen  density (TND) stocks in Lagos lagoon wetlands and the influence of other soil physicochemical. The SOC content generally exhibited high seasonal variations for all the sampling points in the wetlands. During wet season it ranges from 12.71±0.15 - 164.995±1.65 g/kg with a coefficient of variation of 40.99%, and dry season ranged from 132.02±3.520 - 383.570±8.43 g/kg with a coefficient of variation of 34.45%. The soil carbon content in the wet season was much lower than the dry season. The total nitrogen content in the wet season ranged from 4.53 – 16.58 g/kg with a COV of 27.96%, while the dry season ranged between 10.16 and 40.31 g/kg with a coefficient of variation of 29...

Soil erosion and a decline in fertility are influenced by insidious topography, which results in the problem of food insecurity in developing countries. Tula is a slope terrain, thus, prone to soil degradation due to continuous cultivation, hence the need to assess soil variability and quality to guide on suitable management practices to adopt across the slope classes. Hence, this study was conceived to assess the effect of toposequence on soil properties and quality in Tula, Gombe state Nigeria. Three slope classes were selected (upper, middle and lower slope). Soil samples were collected from each slope class at depths of 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm and analysed for soil physical and chemical properties using standard procedures. The results show that the soil texture varies from loamy sandy to sandy. The bulk density ranges from 1.02 to 1.12 mg.cm −3 and were rated medium at <1.6 mg.cm −3. Soils on the lower slope were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in soil pH. The soils were generally slightly acidic to neutral. Soil organic carbon was medium in the upper and lower slopes (>10 mg.kg −1), while the middle slope was low. The exchangeable bases were rated medium to high across the slope. The soils in the upper slope were of high quality (17 = SQ1), soils in the lower slope were moderate in quality (22 = SQ2) due to low effective cation exchange capacity, and soils in the middle slope were poor in quality (26 = SQ3) due to low soil nutrients. The implication to farmers is that crop grown on upper and lower slope will grow better than those on middle slope due to variations in nutrients. The middle slope was more afflicted by denudation processes because its steep slopes favour erosion. In conclusion, our data show that soil nutrient and quality varies across slope classes and different management practices should be adopted based on slope classes for sustainable crop production. Farmers are therefore advised to add more organic manure and crop residues as well as practice terrace farming on the middle slope for sustainability.

Soil quality is an essential factor in Agricultural sustainability and its combination with water and human factors substantially determine the quality of the output (crop) within a particular ecosystem. The goal was attained through: identification of the extant management systems; determination of some key properties in the soil, water and vegetable in the area; comparison of the heavy metals content of plants and soil to confirm whether the concentration of metals in soil is in available form for plant uptake. A total of twenty farm plots were sampled randomly at both upland and lowland areas. Soil, plant and water samples were collected and tested for both micro and macro elements. The results of the analysis revealed that the soils possess moderately acidic pH (6.0) with permissive rate of EC (0.45 mm hos/cm), low N (0,08%), very high P content (27.1 mg/kg), very high values of OC (1.65%), cation exchange indicates low levels of Na (0.2 cmol/kg), medium Ca (6.0 cmol/kg), very h...

The study on the effect of different weed management techniques on some chemical properties of soil was carried out on the university teaching and research farm in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State. This project was aimed at determining whether there will be a difference between soil chemical properties in areas treated with herbicide and those without herbicide treatment in the study area. The soil was examined in the field during the survey period after which eight profile pits were dug. Four of the pits were treated with herbicide, while four was not treated with herbicide. The soil samples were taken to the laboratory for analysis. The pH of the soil was found to range from moderately acidic to moderate alkaline with a mean pH values of 6.52 and 6.64 in herbicide and non herbicide use respectively. The electrical conductivity was found to be very low with mean values of herbicide and non-herbicides use of 0.02 and 0.25 respectively. Organic carbon of the soil was found to be moderate. And only organic compound was found to correlation with a significant difference. The exchangeable cations were generally found to be low and the total nitrogen was also found to be low. Generally, soils with chemical weed management practices were found to differ from those managed without chemicals. The major limitation of this project is that, other factor which may cause changes in the soul chemical properties were not considered in this study. I will recommend that further research be done to eliminate all other factors that can cause a change in soil chemical properties in other to determine more accurately the effect of herbicide on soils.

Biosolids are an option for improving the physical characteristics and chemical of soils of low fertility since they can incorporate organic matter and nutrients. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to assess how modify the properties of fertility and also to determine if biosolids application represents an environmental hazard. Biosolids increased the content of organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and exchangeable bases of soil, potassium and magnesium; while sodium and calcium decreased, the textural class was modified by sandy clay loam to loam due to the incorporation of smaller particles. It was concluded that the biosolids are materials capable of application to agricultural soils to improve their physical and chemical properties if adequated evaluations are carried out to ensure the safety of soils and the trophic network. However, it is necessary to monitor the soils that are incorporated since there is a risk of contamination by a high concentration of nutrients a...

In the context of major global environmental challenges such as food security, climate change, fresh water scarcity and biodiversity loss, the protection and the sustainable management of soil resources in Africa are of paramount importance. To raise the awareness of the general public, stakeholders, policy makers and the science community to the importance of soil in Africa, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission has produced the Soil Atlas of Africa. To that end, a new harmonised soil map at the continental scale has been produced. The steps of the construction of the new area-class map are presented, the basic information being derived from the Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD). We show how the original data were updated and modified according to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources classification system. The corrections concerned boundary issues, areas with no information, soil patterns, river and drainage networks, and dynamic features such as sand dunes, water bodies and coastlines. In comparison to the initial map derived from HWSD, the new map represents a correction of 13% of the soil data for the continent. The map is available for downloading.

Abstract: The present study aims at rendering the way the geomorphologic features of the eastern and northeastern regions of the Romanian Plain, influenced by the subsidence movements, is reflected in the soil cover. For its achievement, there was used Romania ...

The study was carried out on a floodplain formed by Okitankwu River, Uratta South-eastern Nigeria with the aim of characterizing and studying the variability of soils of the area for optimal management and utilization. A transect survey technique was used to align the physiographic positions at an equidistance of 100 m. Three pedons were dug on each of the physiographic positions which consist of the upland, terrace and backswamp. Samples were collected and subjected to routine analysis. Data generated was analyzed statistically using coefficient of variation. The pH (H2O) indicated that soils were moderately acidic with ranges of 5.375.48 at upland, 5.38 5.50 at terrace, and 5.39 – 5.93 at backswamp. However, the soil horizon of each physiographic position show that soils were generally low to moderate in cation exchange capacity (2.80 – 6.80) cmol/kg, low to moderate in percent base saturation (24.19 – 65.22) % and low in organic matter content (0.15 – 3.41 %). The coefficient of ...

Soil map is one of the basic tools in any agricultural development planning and generating a digital one is even more effective and more productive for natural resources evaluation. Moreover, remote sensing and GIS have added to soil classification different concept and enforcement. The study aim was to produce digital soil maps for the study area following different classification systems (ST and WRB) and to define the spatial distribution and characteristics all the soil classes in the study area, which will be indispensable for future development planning. This work has been done as a part of the 29 th Course Professional Master in IAO institution, Florence, Italy. The study area was Kilte Awulaelo district in Tigray region, Ethiopia, Which is characterized by different topographies and geomorphologies with different agro ecological conditions. Eleven main soil groups and sixty soil types were identified in the study area. The main soil groups are: Leptosols, Vertisols, Fluvisols...

Soil classification and suitability evaluation are requirements for attaining optimum utilization of the available land resources. Detailed soil survey of  a top sequence at Alabata, Southwest Nigeria was carried out using the rigid grid method. The soils were characterized, classified, and evaluated for rain-fed rice production. The results of the study showed that the soils were loamy sand to sandy clay loam texture, fine to coarse sub-angular blocky structure and loose to hard consistency. Soil reaction ranged from strongly acidic to slightly acidic (pH 4.2-6.1) with low organic carbon (5.6-19.0 g/kg) and total nitrogen (0.5-1.7 g/kg). The potassium contents were moderate while exchangeable cations and available phosphorus were  very low. Pedon 1 was classified as KandicPaleustalfs, pedon 2 as TypicHaplustalfs and pedon 3 as Aeric Kandiaqualfs. The index of current productivity (IPc) by linear model ranged between 8.7 and 10.3, while by square root models ranged between 16.2 and ...

Accurate estimation of wetland carbon densities is a prerequisite for wetland conservation and implementation of carbon sink enhancement plans. This study was designed to investigate spatial distribution in Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) and Total Nitrogen (TN), and Soil Organic Carbon density (SOCD) and Total Nitrogen  density (TND) stocks in Lagos lagoon wetlands and the influence of other soil physicochemical. The SOC content generally exhibited high seasonal variations for all the sampling points in the wetlands. During wet season it ranges from 12.71±0.15 - 164.995±1.65 g/kg with a coefficient of variation of 40.99%, and dry season ranged from 132.02±3.520 - 383.570±8.43 g/kg with a coefficient of variation of 34.45%. The soil carbon content in the wet season was much lower than the dry season. The total nitrogen content in the wet season ranged from 4.53 – 16.58 g/kg with a COV of 27.96%, while the dry season ranged between 10.16 and 40.31 g/kg with a coefficient of variation of 29...

Horizon differences in soils influence ability of crops to obtain nutrients and indeed support other uses. The study aimed at investigating the micronutrient (Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn) contents of horizons of two different pedons which lies on similar parent material (Coastal plain sand) in Imo State. Random survey technique guided by the geologic map of the area was used in siting one profile pits on each of the locations. The profile pits were described; and identification and delineation of horizon boundaries were accomplished using FAO guidelines before actual sample collection for laboratory analyses. Soil data were subjected to coefficient of variation (CV) analysis. The results of the micronutrients indicated range values of 0.02- 0.36 mg kg-1 for Mn, 36.6-108 mg kg-1 for Fe, 0.091-0.256 mg kg-1 for Cu and 0.205-0.774 mg kg-1 for Zn in pedon 1. In pedon 2, the ranges were 0.13-1.09 mg kg-1 for Mn, 19-50.6 mg kg-1for Fe, 0.143-0.613 mg kg-1 for Cu and 0.22- 0.962 mg kg-1 for Zn respecti...

Soil classification and suitability evaluation are requirements for attaining optimum utilization of the available land resources. Detailed soil survey of  a top sequence at Alabata, Southwest Nigeria was carried out using the rigid grid method. The soils were characterized, classified, and evaluated for rain-fed rice production. The results of the study showed that the soils were loamy sand to sandy clay loam texture, fine to coarse sub-angular blocky structure and loose to hard consistency. Soil reaction ranged from strongly acidic to slightly acidic (pH 4.2-6.1) with low organic carbon (5.6-19.0 g/kg) and total nitrogen (0.5-1.7 g/kg). The potassium contents were moderate while exchangeable cations and available phosphorus were  very low. Pedon 1 was classified as KandicPaleustalfs, pedon 2 as TypicHaplustalfs and pedon 3 as Aeric Kandiaqualfs. The index of current productivity (IPc) by linear model ranged between 8.7 and 10.3, while by square root models ranged between 16.2 and ...

The study was conducted to determine the fertility status and irrigation potentials of selected Fadama soils in Adamawa State, Northeastern Nigeria. An area of about 54 ha of Fadama land was randomly selected within each site based on their usage for intensive irrigation agriculture. Three transects that are 300 m apart were cut in each of the Fadama areas. Four sampling points that are 150 m apart were located along each transect. The latitude and longitude of the areas sampled were determined with the aid of Global Positioning System (GARMIN, 12 Channel Receiver Model). The samplings were made at (0 to 20 cm) depth with hand trowel at each point. All soil samples were analyzed for physical and chemical properties. The soils were Silt loam, loam and silty clay loam. Soil reaction varied from slightly acidic to neutral. The selected Fadama soils of Adamawa State, Northeastern Nigeria in their present status has low to moderate nutrient with moderate buffering capacity. These areas have potential for irrigation of rice, vegetables and maize crops, using underground and surface water. The incorporation of crop residues and application of inorganic fertilizers to the soils will play an important role in nutrient availability of these soils. Regular soil evaluation is imperative for sustainable crop production and increase yield.