Spatial Variability of Soil Morphorlogical and Physico-Chemical Properties in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Cashew Plantation, Ogbomoso.

Abstract

To study the spatial variability of soil morphological, physical and chemical properties in the Cashew plantation of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State of Nigeria eight profile pits were dug, described and examined. The result of the analysis and the variability grouping put colour value in AP and B₁ as least variable. Stoniness (AP) and structure (AP and B₁) were moderately variable properties. Colour (AP, B₁ B₂ and B₃), structure (B₂ and B₃), stoniness (B₁, B₂ and B₃), concretion (AP B₁, B₂ and B₃) and boundary forms (B₁, B₂ and B₃) have extremely variable properties. pH (H₂O and KCl), Na⁺ base saturation were least to variable. Fe²⁺, cu ²⁺, Mg²⁺, k⁺, CEC, Ex. Acidity, extractable Mn²⁺ , organic carbon (g/kg), organic matter (g/kg), and available phosphorus were extremely variable soil properties.
The available moisture of soil was very low thus water holding capacity (WHC) and wilting point (WP) of the soil was very low. .The gravel content of the land was high at the surface and reduced down the slope... Bulk density parameter of the land was very high at the surface. The land was very low in plant nutrients, this result show that the soil of the cashew plantation is highly variable and that management techniques that would be flexible enough to carter for the variation noticed should be adopted, such as organic fertilizer application.