Productivity Assessment Of Upland Soil In Abakaliki, Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

A productivity assessment of upland soil was carried out in Ebonyi State University teaching and research farm, Abakaliki, southeastern Nigeria for five years. The research was
conducted from 1999-2003 farming seasons. The productivity indices assessed were particle
size distribution, total porosity and pore size distribution, available water capacity, bulk
density, pH in KCl, percent organic carbon and available phosphorus. The results from the
study showed that the textural class for the soil was sandy clay loam. Mean values for total
porosity, macroporosity and microporosity at the topsoil were 44%, 21% and 21%,
respectively. Similarly, mean values for available water capacity and bulk density were 0.20
cm/cm and 1.55 mg m-3, respectively at the topsoil. Furthermore, mean values at the topsoil
for pH in KCl, percent organic carbon and available phosphorus were 4.4, 1.54% and 38 mg
kg–1, respectively. Relationship between available water capacity and grain yield of maize
was highly significant at (R2=0.78 at P < 0.01). Other indices were not significant. This
probably suggests that available water capacity is very fundamental among others to upland soil productivity and production of maize.

Keywords: productivity, upland, indices, sandy clay loam, topsoil

Journal of Technology and Education in Nigeria Vol. 10 (2) 2005: pp. 38-41