Characterization And Classification Of Selected Soils Of Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike (Mouau) Farm.

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to determine the agricultural potentials of selected soils of south-western farm of Michael Okpara University of Agiruclure, Umudike, Abia State. It was carried out on about 1 O,000m2of land to know and determine the various soil types, the morphological characteristics of the various soil type and also the physical and chemical characteristics of the soils in the area. Three (3) representative profiles were studied in detail described and classified based on the guidelines in the USDA soil classification (1974) special publication for soil profile description. The soil samples collected from each identifiable horizon, and were taken for laboratory analysis. The data showed that the colour of the soils examined varied from dark brown at the surface and reddish yellow and reddish brown at the subsurface horizon. The texture ranges between sandy loam to sandy clay. The percentage organic carbon and total nitrogen of the area are generally low. The pH level ranges indicate that the soil is very strongly acidic to moderately acid while exchangeable cations are low in Na, K while Mg and Ca were moderate. According to USDA soil taxonomy, the soils' in UMU 1 —3 pedons belong to the soil order Ultisol and sub-group Typic Kandiudult and Haplic Nitisol (FAO/UNESCO).