ABSTRACT
A detailed soil
survey of 1.8ha forest pedosite at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,
Umudike (MOUAU), Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria, was conducted to evaluate land
capability, degradation status and pedodiversity of the site. Rigid grid method
of soil survey was adopted at a scale of 1: 10 000. Datas obtained were
analyzed using descriptive statistics. The soil samples were carried to the
laboratory to analysis its physical and chemical properties. Three profile pits
were dug measuring 1m x 2m, its depth ranged 0.40 -1.50 m Results showed that
two soil mapping units FPMOUAUI and FPMOUAU II were identified. Mapping unit
FPMOUAU I (0.25ha) is well drained, shallow (≤ 50 cm deep), gravelly and is
located on an elevation ranging from 103 – 108 m above sea level. Mapping unit
FPMOUAU II (1.55ha)is deep (> 100 cm deep), imperfectly drained, and found
on a lower landscape (≤ 103 m above sea level) to mapping unit FPMOUAU I. Using
silt-clay ratio as an index of degradation, the soils are degraded ranging from
0.17 – 0 5 and 0.12 – 1 8 for mapping units FPMOUAU I and FPMOUAU II,
respectively. At the epipedon, the soils are strongly to moderately acid (pH{H20}4.9
– 5.8), medium to high in organic matter (2.27 – 5.8 %), low to high in total N
(0.07 – 0.34 %), low to high in available P (14 – 29 mg/kg) and medium in
exchangeable K (0.24 – 0.33 cmol/ kg). The soils are classified as Lithic
Udorthents (USDA); Eutric Loamic Regosols (WRB) for mapping unit FPMOUAU I and
Typic Paleudalfs (USDA); Stagnic Loamic Luvisols (WRB) for mapping unit FPMOUAU
II. The pedosite is arable land belongs to Land Capability Class II. However,
land capability unit for mapping unit FPMOUAU I is Class IIs based on
shallowness of the soils and Class IIw for mapping unit FPMOUAU II due to
imperfect drainage. The Shannon entropy was 0.65 and evenness was 0.69, while
the Simpson’s dominance index was 0.05 indicating that the soils are not
homogeneous. I recommend that the need to apply soil conservation measures such
as construction of an embankment at the upper part of the forest pedosite to
reduce run off into the pedosite causing its degradation beyond expectation. The
land capability classification has generated data to assist in the choice of
appropriate trees (shallow – rooted and deep - rooted) for afforestation
programme. The heterogeneity of the site as further revealed by the
pedodiversity is a vital soil information to aid in the management of the forests
ABIGAIL, A (2023). Land Capability, Degradation Status And Pedodiversity Of A Forest Pedosite At Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. Repository.mouau.edu.ng: Retrieved Dec 09, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/land-capability-degradation-status-and-pedodiversity-of-a-forest-pedosite-at-michael-okpara-university-of-agriculture-umudike-abia-state-nigeria-7-2
ANULIKA, ABIGAIL. "Land Capability, Degradation Status And Pedodiversity Of A Forest Pedosite At Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria" Repository.mouau.edu.ng. Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 11 May. 2023, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/land-capability-degradation-status-and-pedodiversity-of-a-forest-pedosite-at-michael-okpara-university-of-agriculture-umudike-abia-state-nigeria-7-2. Accessed 09 Dec. 2024.
ANULIKA, ABIGAIL. "Land Capability, Degradation Status And Pedodiversity Of A Forest Pedosite At Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria". Repository.mouau.edu.ng, Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 11 May. 2023. Web. 09 Dec. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/land-capability-degradation-status-and-pedodiversity-of-a-forest-pedosite-at-michael-okpara-university-of-agriculture-umudike-abia-state-nigeria-7-2 >.
ANULIKA, ABIGAIL. "Land Capability, Degradation Status And Pedodiversity Of A Forest Pedosite At Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria" Repository.mouau.edu.ng (2023). Accessed 09 Dec. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/land-capability-degradation-status-and-pedodiversity-of-a-forest-pedosite-at-michael-okpara-university-of-agriculture-umudike-abia-state-nigeria-7-2