Indigenous Description of Soils in Some Communities in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Local people and small holder farmers have knowledge of their land based on soil and land characteristics that remain largely unknown to the scientific community. It is therefore important for researchers to understand farmers’ knowledge of soil classification and management. A study was carried out using a semi structured questionnaire to elicit indigenous knowledge of soil description from households in three different communities (Rumuche, Isiodu and Eliberada) in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State. It was found that farmers’ soil classification was based mainly on top soil colour, texture and other criteria such as erodibility, drainage and crop yield. The fertility rating of the different soil was established from laboratory analysis of the soils.

Keywords: indigenous knowledge, soil description, ethnopedology

Journal of Agriculture and Social Research (JASR) Vol. 11, No. 1, 2011