Land suitability assessment for sustainable cassava production in Ishiagu, South-eastern Nigeria.

Abstract

Cassava is of considerable importance to Sub-Saharan African, especially Nigeria, where it is an important source of carbohydrate. Therefore, a pedological study was conducted on the soils of Ishiagu Ebonyi State, South-eastern, Nigeria to assess their suitability for sustainable cassava production. A total of 500 hectares of land were surveyed using the rigid grid format. Three mapping units were delineated based on similarities and differences observed in the morphological properties from the augered points and profile pits were dug in the identified mapping units. The pits were sampled according to genetic horizons and taken to the laboratory for analyses. The results showed that soil texture/class ranged from sandy clay loam to clay, soil pH ranged from 4.6 to 5.2, organic carbon ranged from 0.19 to 2.68 %, total nitrogen ranged from 0.01 to 0.34 % and available phosphorus ranged from 1.40 to 5.43 mg kg_1 . Cation exchange capacity ranged from 6.19 to 13.70 cmol (+) kg_1 , base saturation ranged from 20.60 to 50.70 % and available Iron (Fe) ranged from 12.00 to 52.80 mg kg_1. Land Suitability classification was evaluated by slightly modifying the Productivity Index method. The results indicated that the actual productivity index of the soils ranged from 53.20 to 59.06 %. Therefore, all the mapping units studied were moderately suitable for production of cassava.