Journal of Agricultural Science and Engineering Vol. 2, No. 3, 2016, pp. 18-23 http://www.aiscience.org/journal/jase ISSN: 2381-6821 (Print); ISSN: 2381-6848 (Online) Evaluation of Fertility Status of Soils of Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State Amhakhian Sunday Okhonfoh *, Oyelude Ifelola, AINA Oluseyi Abel Department of Soil and Environmental Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria Abstract The study was conducted to evaluate the current soil fertility status of different farmlands in Yagba West Local Government area of Kogi state. A total of 24 samples were taken from two districts at a depth of 0-15cm and 15-30cm from each ward. The samples were analyzed each for their Physio-chemical properties. The results obtained showed that particle size distribution ranged from loamy sand (LS) to sandy loam (SL). The pH of the area were within 5.0-6.54, a pH range suitable for most agricultural crops, while EC of the soils ranges from 0.10-0.60µmhos/cm. Available phosphorus (P) in the soil ranged from 2.26-20.42mg/kg with a mean value of 8.02mg/kg at depth of 0.15cm and 1.23-14.2mg/kg with a mean value of 5.66mg/kg at depth of 15-30cm, which is below the critical value of 15ppm. Total nitrogen and organic carbon fell below their critical values of 0.78% and 0.64% respectively. Exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K, Na) gave mean values of 3.21, 1.14, 1.38 and 0.64Cmol/kg respectively of Ca, Mg, K and Na. Exchangeable acidity has a mean value of 1.0(Cmol/kg) a condition that indicated moderate acidity, meaning that the soil should be properly managed for optimum productivity, with percentage base saturation of 86.91 (mol/kg) mean value. Keywords Electrical Conductivity, Exchangeable Cations, Optimum Productivity Received: July 14, 2016 / Accepted: August 4, 2016 / Published online: August 19, 2016 @ 2016 The Authors. Published by American Institute of Science. This Open Access article is under the CC BY license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Where the soil is disturbed, the effect on soil fertility are 1. Introduction complex, (i.e.) it may be direct (acting on each component The fertility of the soil is influenced by various factors such separately or indirect whereas a change in a physical aspect as biological, physical and chemical (Abbot and Murphy, leads to a change in the chemical or biological aspect.) 2003). The level of soil fertility depends on the inherent (Abbot, 2003). The physical character of soil is determined characteristics of the soil to compaction which are dependent by the balance of clay, silt and sand particles and by the on the parent material (original rocks). These three organic humus content of the soil. The soil structure also components of a soil influence each other, it is likely that the influences the soil workability, drainage arid management. physical nature of the soil has the most impact, whereas the The pH has significant influence on the solubility and bio- soil organisms has greater impact on the chemistry of a soil availability of Nutrients, in calcareous soils with pH (7.5 and than the physical components. The physical and chemical are above) there is reduced availability of phosphorus (P). The linked by processes. Such as nutrient absorption and phosphorous in soil with high concentration is washed off. It desorption from surfaces. The soils are subjected to a variety is not because phosphorus itself can greatly enhance of disturbances, and it can alter the linkages between the productivity but status is frequently the factor that limits the three soil components.(Abbot 2003). plant ability to exploit other resources principally Nitrogen, * Corresponding authorE-mail: E-mail address: [email protected] (A. S. Okhonfoh) 19 Amhakhian Sunday Okhonfoh et al. : Evaluation of Fertility Status of Soils of Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State and other micro nutrients such as iron, copper, zinc, (1962). The textural classes of the soils were determined manganese (Donald Mclntyre, 1990). using the textural triangle. Organic carbon and organic matter Weathering/leaching causes the loss of soluble nutrient, both were determined by wet dichromate acid oxidation method (Nelson and Sommers, 1982). The nitrogen content of the nitrates No 3 and NH 4. The available potassium (k) varies soil was determined using Kjeldahl method. (Bremner and with soil texture, depending upon the parent material and its degree of weathering. (Donald Maclntryre 1990). Presently Mulvancy, 1982). Available phosphorus was determined by very little is known about the fertility Status of soils in Yagba Bray and Kurtz (1945) extraction procedure. The exchangeable cationsCa 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na 2+ and K + were extracted West Local Government Area of Kogi State, no work has in ammonium acetate solution (NH OAC) buffered at pH 7 been carried out in the area of evaluating the fertility status of 4 (Thomas, 1982). Exchangeable Acidity (Al 3+ and H +) were soils in the area. The aim of this study was to determine the variability of the soils, as well as to proffer management extracted with KCl (Thomas, 1982) and determined by practices for the soils in the area. titration with 0.05n NaOH using phenolphthalein as indicator. Percentage base saturation was calculated by multiplying the quotient of TEB to ECEC by 100. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. The Area of the Study 3. Results and Discussion The study was carried out in Yagba West Local Government PHYSICAL PROPERTIES: The physical and chemical Area of Kogi State. The area is located at the Western part of properties of soils in the area are presented in Tables 1 and 2 the State adjoining Kwara State, latitude of 8,15N and 5,33E, below. From the result in Table 1, particle size distribution of total land area of 11,276km, and population at 149.023[2006 the soil from the studied area showed that silt properties of census]. The local government is made up of two districts the soil which had the lowest content ranged from 2.28%- and fourteen [14] wards, with the Egbe district made up of 10.28% at a soil depth of 0-15, with a mean value of 6.24% seven wards which include Egbe Oke-Egbe, Egbe Idisin, in Ejiba (a) and 2.20-10.28 at depth of 15-30cm in Odo Ere Igbogbo, Ilenla, Isaba, Okua, Ijalu. The other seven wards are (b) and OdoAra (b) with a mean of 5.07% respectively. The Ejiba, Odo-Ere, Odo-Eri, Odo-Ara, Igbaruku/Iyamerin, clay properties of the soil ranges from 8.71-17.20% at soil Okuran/Okoloke, Isanlu Esa, Ogbe. But for the purpose of depth of 0-15cm with a mean of 10.7% in Ilemla (6.61)Egbe this research work, only twelve wards were used. The area (a) and Okua (a) (6.58) and 8.71-19.20% at soil depth of 15- falls within the humid belt zone of Nigeria, which is 30cm in Egbe-Okedisin (b) and Odo Ere (b) with a mean of characterized by the wet and dry season, the wet season starts 13.6%. The sand properties of the soil was highest with towards early April and ends towards late October which is values ranging from 72.52-86.05 at a depth of 0-15cm with a called the raining season. The dry season sets in November mean of 82.2% in OdoAra (a) and Ilemla and 71.52-86.05 at and last up to march. The area consist of the Sahel Savannah, depth of 15-30cm in OdoAra (b) and Egbe-Okedisin (b) with trees such as Shea butter, Locust beans trees, Cashew, Mango mean value of 80.7% respectively. and Orange trees can be found in the area. The major Variability in particle size distribution of the different soil in occupation of the people is farming, but this is practiced on a the studied area was not much. The sand fraction appears not subsistent level. Food crops majorly staple food such as to play significant roles in the soil. This is probably because Maize, Guinea corn, Yam and cassava are grown. Animals the sand fraction which occur in large fraction are normally such as Goats, Sheeps and poultry birds are reared. in-active in the soil. The textural classes of the soils in the 2.2. Soil Sampling area ranged from sandy loam to loamy sand. Soils had high percentage of sand, with low silt and clay fractions. The Soil samples were taken from the 12 wards of the Local sandy nature of the soil could result to low water retention Government at two depths: 0-15 and 15-30cm. In each ward capacity and good aeration. Soil texture is an important soil four samples were taken at different locations and a characteristic. It implies high drainage rate, good aeration composite sample was taken from each. The samples were air low organic matter content Brown (2008). The result also dried at room temperature, gently crushed and sieved with a showed that the pH of the soils ranged from 5.12-6.54 at 2mm sieve, for physical/chemical analysis in the laboratory. depth of 0-15cm in Ijalu (a) and Igbaruku (a) with a mean of A representative of each sample collected was analyzed. The 5.99 and 4.91 and 6.57 at a depth of 15-30cm with a mean of H H P of each sample was read using a P meter according to 5.82. This indicates that the area has a pH range that is Mclean, 1982.