Assessment of Some Physico-Chemical Properties of the Soils of the Flood-Plain Soils of Sokoto Rima River

Abstract

The study assessed the micronutrient status of the flood-plain Soils of the Sokoto Rima River specifically the physico-chemical properties at the up-stream of the flood-plain soils of Sokoto Rima river, assess the physico-chemical properties at the mid-stream of the flood-plain soils of Sokoto Rima river and assess the physico-chemical properties at the down-stream of the flood-plain soils of Sokoto Rima river. The flood-plain was divided into three zones (up-stream, mid-stream and down-stream). Thirty (30) composite samples were collected each from the 3 zones and a total of ninety (90) samples were used for the study. The Soil samples were prepared and analysed for some micro-nutrients using standard laboratory procedures. Routine analysis for Soil texture, Soil pH, organic carbon, CEC, EC, total Nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, Ca and Mg were carried out. Result of the study indicated that, the soils of the study area were slightly acidic (6.4, 6.2 and 6.1 for up, mid and down-stream respectively) mainly due to leaching, flooding and use of chemical fertilizers such as urea. Electrical conductivity (EC) was within the permissible limit (434.3, 654.3 and 742.8 µscm).  Sodium was high (mean=1.7, 2.5 and 2.3 Cmolkg^-1) and so the likelihood of sodicity problem in the area. Except calcium which was low (mean= 0.7, mean= 0.7 and mean=1.2 Cmolkg^-1), Nitrogen (mean= 0.5, mean= 0.5 and mean= 0.4 gkg^-1), potassium (mean= 4.5, mean=3.7 and mean=4.1 Cmolkg^-1) and magnesium (mean=1.1, mean = 1.2 and mean=0.8 Cmolkg^-1) were high and their deficiency is unlikely to occur under good agronomic practices. Higher contents of the micro-nutrients were also observed in the study area. Manganese was significantly higher in the mid-stream than in the up-stream and down-stream (mean=2.2, mean= 2.9 and mean=2.2 mgkg^-1). Molybdenum was significantly higher in the up-stream but statistically similar in the mid and downstream (mean=1.9, mean=1.6 and mean=1.4 mgkg^-1). No significant differences were observed in the zinc and Fe content in all the 3 zones. Copper contents of the mid-stream and down-stream were statistically similar but significantly higher than the up-stream (mean=3.2, mean=4.3 and mean=4.3 mgkg^-1). Micro-nutrients were sufficiently supplied in the studied area and their deficiencies are unlikely to occur in the study area.