Iron distribution on a chronosequence located at Imo River floodplain, South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted on soils of a floodplain to investigate the occurrence and distribution of iron (Fe) and relating it to soil properties. Silt-sized particles dominated in the backswamp (2—6%) unlike other locations on the floodplain (2—3%) soil pH was distributed as follows: 4.2-4.6 (Backswamp), 4.1-4.5 (Levce) and 3.6-4.1 (Terrace). Crystalline iron (Fe_di) dominated over amorphous iron (Fe_ox), having 15.83g/kg and 4.46g/kg respectively. The Fe_ox: Fe_di ratio 0.2 suggested the predominance of Lepidocrite, goethite and haematite in the backswamp. We also postulated that soil pH could be used to predict availability of Fe forms based result of correlation (r = 0.78 -0.82, p=0.05, n =15) and coefficient of determination (r² = 0.61 - 0.70, p = 0.05 n =15).

International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 7(1) 2006: 99-104