Agricultural Fadama Soils in Maikunkele-Minna, Southern Guinea Savanna Ecological Zone of Nigeria.

Abstract

A study was carried out to assess the physical and chemical content in systematically selected soils of Maikunkele fadama soils southern Guinea Savannah ecological zone of Nigeria. To evaluate the different physical and chemical properties of the study area, the soils were sampled during the dry season of 2014 and early 2015. The study area was divivded into five transect of the 500m2 farmland which resulted into 50 sampling points. The samples were taken within a depth 0 - 20 cm depth. Each soil sample from heavily cultivated area was collected using an auger. Chemical and physical measures were performed on the various soil samples. Three types of soil textural class existed within the study area (loam, loamy sand and sandy loam). The average sand, silt and silt content 81.18, 9.29 and 9.58% respectively. It was observed from the data that the sand content of the various samples decreased with distance. pH of the soil/water solution ranged between 6.50 and pH in soil/Calcium Chloride solution ranged between 4.59 and 5.62. No traces of heavy metals such as zinc, iron, manganese, cadmium and copper, but sodium and potassium are detectable, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus were also detectable for the five sampling stations. The soils of the study area as at present were therefore concluded to be free of heavy metals.