Extractable Micronutrients Status and Their Relationship with Some Inland Valley Soil Properties in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted in some inland valley soils of Delta State, Nigeria. The aim was to evaluate the status of extractable plant micronutrients of Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), and Copper (Cu), and their relationship with some soil properties using 0.1 N dilute HCl and
DTPA solutions. Four mapping units designated as pedons A, B, C and D were randomly selected for the study and in each of them, a standard profile pit representative of the pedon was dug, examined and described. Soil samples were collected from each of the horizons for the study of the soil’s physical and chemical properties. The results of the study showed that 0.1 N HCl extracting solution has better affinity for extraction with mean values of 18.36 ppm for Fe; 9.12 ppm for Zn, 8.59 ppm for Mn and 2.36 ppm for Cu as against 13.62 ppm 5.71 ppm; 7.18 ppm; and 1.86 ppm for the corresponding DTPA extractable Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu. Relationship between micronutrients and some soil properties showed positive correlation between 0.1 N HCl extractable Zn and soil pH (0.3548X). and DTPA extractable Mn with organic carbon (0.4217X) and total nitrogen (0.3643X). There was also significant correlation Mn ad Fe (0.684XX), CU and Mn (0.667 XX) and Hcl extractable Cu and Mn (0.524 XX) DTPA extractable Mn (r = 0.684XX ) and Cu (r = 0.347X ). 0.1 N HCl therefore has better affinity for extraction of plant available micronutrients of Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), and Copper (Cu) in the inland  valley soils of Delta State, Nigeria.

Keywords: Extractable micronutrients, inland valley and soil properties.