Characterization and classification of three major soils at the college of agriculture, Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

Adequate information on land resources have been identified as a pre-requisite for sustainable land management. The present study was carried out to characterize and classify the soils of College of Agriculture, Jalingo, Taraba State, and to suggest soil management recommendations for optimum crop yield. Digital elevation model (DEM) of the study location was obtained and the slope map of the area generated using ArcGIS (ESRI, US) software. This was used to identify the major soils (MU1, MU2 and MU3). Two soil profile pits were sited in each of MU1 and MU2, and one pit was sited in MU3. The soils were described and sampled for laboratory analyses. The results revealed the dominance of transitional horizons namely; AB, BC and CB which also showed raised proportions of clay. The soils were shallow to bedrock and dominated by brown, dark yellowish brown and gray colours (moist) in the surface soils and reddish to yellowish brown in the subsurface horizons. Sand size fraction dominated the particle size distribution and resulted in sandy loam and sandy clay loam textural classes. All the soils had bulk density < 1.50 g cm−3. Soil pH was slightly acid to neutral and values in water were higher than those in CaCl2 in all horizons. Organic carbon, total N, available P and exchangeable bases were low in most of the soils, while base saturation was high. Two of the soils (MU1 and MU2) were classified as Alfisols while MU3 was classified as an Entisol according to the USDA system. According to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources system of classification, MU1 and MU2 were classified as Lixisols and MU3 as a Gleysol. The incorporation of organic manure, cropping across slopes, and practicing afforestation are recommended for soil nutrient management.