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Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Forest Soil in Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria

Received: 27 August 2013     Published: 30 November 2013
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Abstract

Most studies on soil characteristics had centered on suitability for agricultural production. Once a soil does not support crop production, it is referred to as poor, unproductive, and finally abandoned. Such soil could be very useful for forest crop plantation. This study was designed to investigate characteristics and describe the forest soil in Ombi, southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. Soil samples were collected randomly from three locations around the engineering department of Nasarawa State Polytechnic Lafia, at depth of 0-30cm. Samples (1kg each) were taken in plastics bags to the laboratory for studies. Physical and chemical properties were analyzed according to standard procedures. Results show that sand had the highest % in soil of the area (74.96). Bulk densities were within the same range (1.68; 1.77 and 1.78g/cm3) for sand, silt and clay respectively. Sand had the highest porosity (37.7%) while clay had the least (31.6%). Aggregate stability was least for sand (9.74%) and highest for clay (56.82%). Soil reaction was neutral (7.05); nitrogen and CEC were 1.6 and 12.3 Cmol kg -1 among others, while organic carbon was 4.82g/kg-1. The soil is described as light and falls under sandy loam. Forest plantation establishment will be worthwhile.

Published in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Volume 2, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.aff.20130206.15
Page(s) 229-234
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Forest Soil, Southern Guinea Savanna, Sandy Loam, Forest Plantation

References
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[2] S.W.Boul, Soil genesis and classification, Ames, Lowa: Lowa State University Press,1990, pp. 36, doi:10.1081/E-ESS.
[3] H.B. Milford; E.J.A. McGaw, K.J. Nixon, Soil Data Entry Handbook for the NSW . Soil and Land Information System (SALIS), 3rd ed., New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation Resource Information Systems Group, Parramatta, 2001, pdf pp. 30–32.
[4] O.E.Unanaonwi, Acidity, Organic carbon and Nitrogen status of soils under Acacia senegal L. (Willd.) Plantation and Natural forest in Gummi forest reserve, Zamfara State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Forestry, 2009c ,Vol.38 (2): 91-99.
[5] R. Micheal, Factors Affecting Soil Development, Soil Systems, The Physical Environment: an Introduction to Physical Geography, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, October 1, 2009, retrieved January 3, 2012.
[6] A. James, The Terrestrial Influence: Geology and Soils. Columbia University, 2008, pp46.
[7] R. Janet, Dirt Is Not Soil. ScienceNews ,July 17th, 2008.
[8] R. P. Voroney, The Soil Habitat. Soil Microbiology, Ecology and Biochemistry, Eldor A. Paul (ed). 2006, 12-546807-5
[9] ASA., 2005. American Society of Agronomy.www.agronomy.org Retrieved 28th October,2012.
[10] R.B. Brown, ‘Soil Texture" .Fact Sheet SL-29. 2003, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
[11] D. E. Baker., V.J. Eldershaw, Interpreting soil analyses - for agricultural land use in Queensland. Dept. of Primary Industries, Project Report Series, 1993, QO93014, Australia.
[12] R. Lines-Kelly, Soil Sense Soil Management for NSW North Coast Farmers. NSW Agriculture, Wollongbar, 1994, NSW, Australia.
[13] Soils., Yearbook of agriculture. Alfred Sefferud. ed. , The United States Department of Agriculture 1957, pp. 17.
[14] IUSS Working Group WRB, "World Reference Base for soil resources - A framework for international classification, correlation and communication" , 2007, FAO, Rome.
[15] Soils, An Introduction to Soils and Plant Growth. Prentice Hall Inc. 1977, pp. 101-102.
[16] A. Walkey; I.A. Black, 1934. Soil Science. 37: 29-38.
[17] M.A. Bremner, Total nitrogen. In Methods of soil analysis part 1. (Ed) BLACK, C.A. 1965, American Society of Agronomy. Monograph No.9. pp371.
[18] R.H.Bray; L.T. Kurtz, Determination of total organic and available forms of phosphorus in soils. Soil Sc. 1945, 59:39-45.
[19] F. Liu, Handbook on Environment Monitoring for Agriculture. China Standard Press, Beijing, 2001, Pp 699.
[20] ASA. American Society of Agronomy, 1971, www.agronomy.org Retrieved 28th October,2012.
[21] O.E.Unanaonwi, Effects of nitrogen, calcium and cation exchange capacity on gum yield in Acacia senegal under plantation and savanna woodland conditions in northern Guinea savanna, Nigeria. iForest 2011, 4:190-194 {online 2011-08 11}URL:http://www.sisef.it/iforest/show.php?id=587
[22] O. E. Unanaonwi Relationship between gum yield and soil chemical properties under natural stands of Acacia senegal L. Journal of Research in Agriculture. 2009b,Vol.6 (4): 79-83.
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  • APA Style

    Chinevu, Christian Nnaemeka, Unanaonwi, Okpo Esio, Amonum, et al. (2013). Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Forest Soil in Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2(6), 229-234. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20130206.15

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    ACS Style

    Chinevu; Christian Nnaemeka; Unanaonwi; Okpo Esio; Amonum, et al. Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Forest Soil in Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. Agric. For. Fish. 2013, 2(6), 229-234. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20130206.15

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    AMA Style

    Chinevu, Christian Nnaemeka, Unanaonwi, Okpo Esio, Amonum, et al. Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Forest Soil in Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. Agric For Fish. 2013;2(6):229-234. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20130206.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.aff.20130206.15,
      author = {Chinevu and Christian Nnaemeka and Unanaonwi and Okpo Esio and Amonum and Joseph Igba},
      title = {Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Forest Soil in Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria},
      journal = {Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries},
      volume = {2},
      number = {6},
      pages = {229-234},
      doi = {10.11648/j.aff.20130206.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20130206.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aff.20130206.15},
      abstract = {Most studies on soil characteristics had centered on suitability for agricultural production. Once a soil does not support crop production, it is referred to as poor, unproductive, and finally abandoned. Such soil could be very useful for forest crop plantation. This study was designed to investigate characteristics and describe the forest soil in Ombi, southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. Soil samples were collected randomly from three locations around the engineering department of Nasarawa State Polytechnic Lafia, at depth of 0-30cm. Samples (1kg each) were taken in plastics bags to the laboratory for studies. Physical and chemical properties were analyzed according to standard procedures. Results show that sand had the highest % in soil of the area (74.96). Bulk densities were within the same range (1.68; 1.77 and 1.78g/cm3)   for sand, silt and clay respectively. Sand had the highest porosity (37.7%) while clay had the least (31.6%). Aggregate stability was least for sand (9.74%) and highest for clay (56.82%). Soil reaction was neutral (7.05); nitrogen and CEC were 1.6 and 12.3 Cmol kg -1 among others, while organic carbon was 4.82g/kg-1. The soil is described as light and falls under sandy loam. Forest plantation establishment will be worthwhile.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Forest Soil in Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria
    AU  - Chinevu
    AU  - Christian Nnaemeka
    AU  - Unanaonwi
    AU  - Okpo Esio
    AU  - Amonum
    AU  - Joseph Igba
    Y1  - 2013/11/30
    PY  - 2013
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20130206.15
    DO  - 10.11648/j.aff.20130206.15
    T2  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    JF  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    JO  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    SP  - 229
    EP  - 234
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5648
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20130206.15
    AB  - Most studies on soil characteristics had centered on suitability for agricultural production. Once a soil does not support crop production, it is referred to as poor, unproductive, and finally abandoned. Such soil could be very useful for forest crop plantation. This study was designed to investigate characteristics and describe the forest soil in Ombi, southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. Soil samples were collected randomly from three locations around the engineering department of Nasarawa State Polytechnic Lafia, at depth of 0-30cm. Samples (1kg each) were taken in plastics bags to the laboratory for studies. Physical and chemical properties were analyzed according to standard procedures. Results show that sand had the highest % in soil of the area (74.96). Bulk densities were within the same range (1.68; 1.77 and 1.78g/cm3)   for sand, silt and clay respectively. Sand had the highest porosity (37.7%) while clay had the least (31.6%). Aggregate stability was least for sand (9.74%) and highest for clay (56.82%). Soil reaction was neutral (7.05); nitrogen and CEC were 1.6 and 12.3 Cmol kg -1 among others, while organic carbon was 4.82g/kg-1. The soil is described as light and falls under sandy loam. Forest plantation establishment will be worthwhile.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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